December...its late in the season and North Baja ll receive visit of other lows; we decide to rush south  with an offshore course to classical anchorage of TURTLE BAY with only one  stop in SAN BENITO ISLANDS .

Light wind, no moon, ALCYONE wear the Code 0 and cut 2 phosporescent lines in a flat sea...a magic last sailing night with gifts in the morning with 3 small squids on the deck ! But we miss by lack of patience a huge yellow fin tuna the following morning.

SAN BENITO ISLANDS, west of CEDROS island are the most western island closed to the peninsula. Despite the non accurate chart, it's an easy daylight anchoring south of the center island, not to closed to the shore to escape the numerous and  noisy sea lions. We are very quick boarded by a local panga "Vigilente" from the lobster/abalones cooperative... A very friendly mexican team, happy to talk n to offer lobsters.

From there, its only a short sail to TURTLE BAY. This place is a traditional first stage of the rallye "BAJA HA HA"wich is organizing the yearly migration of 500 cruisers from San Diego to the south. the fleet was here last month a found in TURTLE BAY a lot of space to anchor , a large protection from the north winds, on bard fuel delivery,  food n a friendly mexican welcome.  But despite individual efforts, its still a long way and a lot of work to move this kind of decaying shore in a cosy mexican village !

Time change for cruising: Before internet,  a few cruisers in a spot always immedialtly socialize... now every one (n us included) get the shore wi fi passcode and dive in his smart-phone !

First evening after leaving ENSENADA area before a magic sailing night; winter arrive n we must sail south now...

SAN BENITO ISLAND anchoring...not the most confortable, but secure...

...no sea elefants yet here but a sea lion mother barking without result...

...as undisciplined teenagers play with our dinghy.

After the friendly visit of the "Vigilencia",  let's pay a visit to the tiny village...

In fact only 8 guys here, including 5 for the vigilencia team. The powerfull CEDROS Cooperative control the place...

Abalones fishing ll start soon by teams of 3 people limited to 2 tons each...

JESUS from the coop: abalone fishing regulation sent him as far as Tasmania !

Lobster are plentifull here n the team is happy to swap it for anything !

Day later, Light breeze push ALCYONE back to mainland's very famous TURTLE BAY...

Kelp was our daily view from remote CANADA,  but not for long anymore...

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A few seconds after anchoring in TURTLE BAY, fuel  panga visit any vessel

The place is a huge anchorage but has no floating dock...this floating creature...

...is a real "duck";  3 venerable units were bought as the best solutions...

...to load or unload any cargo from visiting boats to the village's beach.

Fishing ? Yes, but only tiny fishes to fill the numerous lobster traps .

TURTLE BAY shore's side ... far to be a source of positive inspiration...

...but TURTLE BAY sea side view is different: The best is from the friendly and good restaurant !