With the whole deck department orchestra in tune, as mentioned yesterday, we managed to anchor the ship in a nice position by 7 am. and sent the first tender ashore to collect the authorities. By 8 am. we were up and running and the guests were streaming ashore. We were together with the Elation and they came in at 9 am. But as that ships sails on ships = read San Diego time, it was for them still 8 am. They were going to leave at their 3 pm. time which was thus an hour later than ours.
I am saying Elation but officially it is now called the Carnival Elation. As part of the rebranding process of the fleet, Carnival has now added the prefix Carnival to all its ships. A tradition that began with the Carnival Victory which was baptized as such. Celebrity is doing a similar thing and now all their ships have the prefix Celebrity in front of the name. All meant to more easily recognize not only the ship but also the company who operates it. Luckily with our Dam names HAL does not have to go that way. Our name company relation is so distinctive that everybody knows who operates the “Dam” ships.
The weather was indeed cooler than predicted in the weather forecast and gentle 77oF topped the thermometer for the day with this breeze coming from the Pacific Ocean. It resulted in a very pleasant day in Cabo san Lucas and no doubt all the guests must have enjoyed the stay. We left nicely on time and as the water becomes very deep as soon as you are off the anchorage, I could sail by Los Arcos, which comprises the “Cabo of San Lucas” at a distance of about 1700 feet without fear of shallow waters.
Just around the corner to the West is a beautiful stretch of white beach that was named sometime in the past by Playboy magazine one of the most seven beautiful beaches in the world. As we all know that Playboy magazine is known for its authorative and in-depth articles, we have to assume that they know what they are talking about. However that title was given when there was only one Hotel on that whole beach but now the whole coastal stretch has been developed with hotels and condominiums. No doubt a lot of people are very happily living there but I still prefer what I saw back in 1982, with that one hotel, and a little fishing port with a single restaurant and flea market.
At the end of this white stretch of beach is another cape. Cabo Falso. This is the western corner of the southern tip of California. It is also called the “Cold Cape” because as soon as you come around the cape, the water temperature starts dropping from 26oC to 17oC in a few hours. The whole weather pattern changes due to the convergence of the different water currents and it is one reason for the abundant sea life in the area. The meeting of cold and warmer waters brings a lot of krill to the surface. Whales like to come and feed here in the summer and there was a whole fleet of Tuna fishermen floating off the Cape waiting for the fish to arrive. Tomorrow will be a sea day and the temperature will be a lot lower than in the past days but it is expected to be sunny.
April 27, 2008 at 8:06 pm
“As we all know that Playboy magazine is known for its authorative and in-depth articles, we have to assume that they know what they are talking about.”
Good one Capt and so true! 😉
Btw, did you know that dolphins are so intelligent that within only a few weeks of captivity, they can train humans to stand at the very edge of the pool and throw them fish
April 28, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hello Captain Albert,
I very much enjoy your blog. When I read it from behind my computer at home, I can smell the sea breeze already.
You often tell about the sealife you experience during crossings. How do you deal with these special creatures? Are there areas known where whales often group or feed so you can sail around those areas to avoid collisions and disturbing them?