We arrived back in PV at 1Am last night and dropped anchor under a full moon. In the morning we moved into the marina for more luxurious living.
We have only had access to internet ounce in the last two weeks as we travelled down to Manzinillo and back to PV. After we left Manzinillo we motor sailed up to Tenacatita and spent 4 nights there. The first day we arrived there a dinghy raftup was organized which we were invited to. One dinghy put down a anchor and all the other dinghies tied to it in a big circle and passed food around. There was about 20 dinghies in circle.
We did about a 12 km walk to a small town down the road/beach for a look around and to see some 12 ft crocodiles. Most of the walk was pleasant except for a section on the main highway which had no shoulders. The crocodiles were pretty impressive especially considering that they are in the wild not a zoo, there are several warning signs around about croc's and not to swim. Then we took a taxi back as our out of shape sailing legs were not up to the walk back and we had some shopping to carry. The next day we did a dingy ride through mangrove swamps for about 3 miles to a small town and tourist resort which is accessible from the other direction by car.
From Tenacatita we then went up to Chamela and spent 2 nights there. These last two places were a bit of a challenge when one wanted to get ashore in the dinghy due to the surf. We would go to the far corner of the beach were surf is smallest and then try to time the surf when a small set of waves was coming and then scoot in quickly on the back of the last wave and hope to get ashore before the next one came. We put our gear in a dry bag in case we miss-timed things and a wave dumped us.
We left Feb 27 about 8am for PV figuring it would be an overnighter to do the 95 miles so did not leave real early. But once out there, even thou we were bucking into the prevailing nw swell we were making good speed because there was a 1 to 2 knot current pushing us so we got there about 1am dropped anchor outside the marina at La Cruz and went to bed. Dorothy had been sleeping until I got her up a couple of miles out.
We will probably be here for the next 3 weeks or so getting boat ready for the next leg. The marina rates are pretty good here and there are alot of conviences to staying in the marina compared to anchoring out. Like free internet and showers, shore power although we don't really need that as long as it is not to cloudy for the solar panels. Also it is a lot easier to get work done on the boat and go for walks on shore and provisioning.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Manzanillo 19deg lattitude.
We left Puerto Vallarta on Feb 13 to head South to Manzanillo. We decided to go all the way to Manzanillo without stopping and then come back to P V slowly stopping at the different anchorages. So we did a 140 mile overnight sail to Laguna de La Navidad which is about 21 miles North of Manzinillo. As it was slower going than we thought with a 5 to 15 knot headwind and a sloppy sea most of the way. So we did not quite make it to Manzinillo yet. We spent 2 days here at Bahia Navidad as it was a beautiful spot with a beach with 5 to 10 feet dumping surf. we did a long walk down to other end of beach to town of Melaque
We ran aground will trying to get into this anchorage which is up a long marked channel and then no markings after you pass the marina, you supposedly line up with a little island and then sort of guess when you turn to get into anchorage. We got stuck on some sand at the edge of the channel, so I called in the radio for someone anchored in the bay with a dinghy in the water to come push our bow over. Two dinghys responded and soon had us off and back in the channel. The anchorage is only 7ft deep at low tide.
After two nights here we left for the 21 mile run down to Manzanillo which is to be as far South we will go in Mexico. We arrived around 1pm and anchored at las Hadas about 5 miles north of the actual downtown Manzanillo. A 106ft schooner came in later and anchored very close to us, I just hope he does not drag anchor.
Today it was drizzling rain when we got up and it did that for most of the day off and on, it looked just like Vancouver out there today, but alot warmer and the ocean water temp is now 80 degrees. We did a bus trip into town today for a look around and some grocery shopping.
We will stay here another day or 2 and then head slowly back to PV.
We ran aground will trying to get into this anchorage which is up a long marked channel and then no markings after you pass the marina, you supposedly line up with a little island and then sort of guess when you turn to get into anchorage. We got stuck on some sand at the edge of the channel, so I called in the radio for someone anchored in the bay with a dinghy in the water to come push our bow over. Two dinghys responded and soon had us off and back in the channel. The anchorage is only 7ft deep at low tide.
After two nights here we left for the 21 mile run down to Manzanillo which is to be as far South we will go in Mexico. We arrived around 1pm and anchored at las Hadas about 5 miles north of the actual downtown Manzanillo. A 106ft schooner came in later and anchored very close to us, I just hope he does not drag anchor.
Today it was drizzling rain when we got up and it did that for most of the day off and on, it looked just like Vancouver out there today, but alot warmer and the ocean water temp is now 80 degrees. We did a bus trip into town today for a look around and some grocery shopping.
We will stay here another day or 2 and then head slowly back to PV.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Finaly out and about
Today we are both finally feeling better after trying some pills that kills stomach bugs, that a fellow cruiser gave us. We took a bus ride for 8 pesos (13 pesos=$1) to a big Mega grocery store about 8 miles up the highway and got as much groceries as we could carry. The bus ride was fun seeing all the different places along the highway.
We are still hearing lots of storys about the Hurricane force weather bomb that came through here 3 days before we got here. There was a number of shredded fore-sails. Apparently the wind would get under the rolled up part higher up the forestay, and then as it got a better purchase would roll out a bit more until it shredded the sail. Lots of damaged canvas work on the boats at docks. Out in the anchorage most boats dragged slowly towards the beach but luckily by the time several had touched the beach the wind changed direction and blew them back off.
A number of the boats ran into each other trying to stay off the beach as they could not see a thing.
We will probably do a short trip South maybe as far as Manzinillo in a few days and then come back here for a month. Dorothy is flying back to Toronto for a week on March 14 to see her father.
We are still hearing lots of storys about the Hurricane force weather bomb that came through here 3 days before we got here. There was a number of shredded fore-sails. Apparently the wind would get under the rolled up part higher up the forestay, and then as it got a better purchase would roll out a bit more until it shredded the sail. Lots of damaged canvas work on the boats at docks. Out in the anchorage most boats dragged slowly towards the beach but luckily by the time several had touched the beach the wind changed direction and blew them back off.
A number of the boats ran into each other trying to stay off the beach as they could not see a thing.
We will probably do a short trip South maybe as far as Manzinillo in a few days and then come back here for a month. Dorothy is flying back to Toronto for a week on March 14 to see her father.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Puerto Vallarta
We left San Blas for Chalaca about 22 miles further South. It was an uneventful trip with only a few whales off in the distance. We anchored off a small gringo resort beach and went ashore at the Panga dock to avoid the surf on the beach. It was a tiny village with narrow streets cobbled with rocks and a super sand beach out front. The next morning I found I had the same flu bug Dorothy had got 2 days ago. I christioned the side of our boat by tossing my cookies over the side for the first time ever. We decided to go straight through to PV rather than stop at the next anchorage since we were both feeling so weak.
We got into the La Cruz marina about 8 miles North of PV about 4:30pm and after tying up and checking in we both crashed without dinner as we had no appetites. There was a potluck that night for the puddle jump crowd (those thinking of going to the South Pacific) in the marina but we were not up to attending which was dissapointing for me.
We got into the La Cruz marina about 8 miles North of PV about 4:30pm and after tying up and checking in we both crashed without dinner as we had no appetites. There was a potluck that night for the puddle jump crowd (those thinking of going to the South Pacific) in the marina but we were not up to attending which was dissapointing for me.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
San Blas
We left Isla Isablea Island at dawn to get to San Blas 42 miles away at a decent time. Had no wind, sailed only 2 or 3 miles. Winds generally alot lighter down here. Arrived off entrance channel to the estuary and marina at low tide with a big swell running and saw large swells right across entrance almost breaking and there is no chart and we had no info on entrance so we kept going another 2 miles and anchored in Mantanchen Bay about a mile offshore in 15 feet of water. Even out here a few no-see-ums found us and were biting. We are far enough south to be geting real heat now during the days. The Baja had perfect air temperatures but the water was a bit chilly. The water temp down here is now up to 79 degrees so it makes my nightly dip off the stern (when at anchor) more pleasant.
The next morning we were suprised to here a cruisers 8am morning net on chan 22 so we got some info on entering the channel and some waypoints. Charlies Charts for Mexico, which has been our main cruising guide, had a waypoint for San Blas but it was not anywhere near the entrance so was not help for navigating channel and it did not mention you can anchor inside or that there was a cruisers net. So we headed back for the entrance just before high tide and cruised right in on calm seas, no problemo. We are now at the dock which is very cheap here and they even threw in a free night. Dorothy is happy, we got fantastic showers here compared to Mazatlan, internet and easy access to fresh veggies.
In the evening had to put bug screens on windows as this is the first buggy place we have been.
Last night we had some excitment as about 1030pm an unforcast blow of about 40 to 50 knots come through along with heavy rain. My wind vane shaft got bent before I could get the vane off. Apparently this was a big unforecast blow that was right up and down the coast and Puerto Vallarta got 70 knots.
People in are marina recorded 45 to 50 knots. Every one was out tighting up dock lines and tieing down loose gear. It rained for almost 2 days straight some times very heavy so we did not get all the sight seeing done we wanted to and missed out on the jungle tour.
Plan to head down to Puerto Vallarta over next few days with one or two stops in between.
The next morning we were suprised to here a cruisers 8am morning net on chan 22 so we got some info on entering the channel and some waypoints. Charlies Charts for Mexico, which has been our main cruising guide, had a waypoint for San Blas but it was not anywhere near the entrance so was not help for navigating channel and it did not mention you can anchor inside or that there was a cruisers net. So we headed back for the entrance just before high tide and cruised right in on calm seas, no problemo. We are now at the dock which is very cheap here and they even threw in a free night. Dorothy is happy, we got fantastic showers here compared to Mazatlan, internet and easy access to fresh veggies.
In the evening had to put bug screens on windows as this is the first buggy place we have been.
Last night we had some excitment as about 1030pm an unforcast blow of about 40 to 50 knots come through along with heavy rain. My wind vane shaft got bent before I could get the vane off. Apparently this was a big unforecast blow that was right up and down the coast and Puerto Vallarta got 70 knots.
People in are marina recorded 45 to 50 knots. Every one was out tighting up dock lines and tieing down loose gear. It rained for almost 2 days straight some times very heavy so we did not get all the sight seeing done we wanted to and missed out on the jungle tour.
Plan to head down to Puerto Vallarta over next few days with one or two stops in between.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Isla Isabela
We left Mazatlan around 1030am to do the 85 miles to Iala Isabela a tiny island about 15 miles offshore from the mainland. We planned it so that we would arrive first thing in the morning.
After motoring about 15 miles a light North wind filled in and we started sailing at about 3knots and then up to 5 knots and this went on all night. We had a full moon all night, it rose exactly the same time the sun set 180 opposite on the horizen and the planet Mars followed the moon around the sky. This was probably our best night sail of the trip, gently seas nice easy sailing, no boat traffic to worry about, fantastic.
The wind died near morning and we motored the last few miles to anchor at the South end of the island with only one other sailboat there.
After a short nap, we rowed ashore in the dinghy to the beach where there were a number of fishermen shacks on the beach. We hiked up a trail to the top of the hill where a small light house stood. This turned out to be one of our most incredible walks ever. Almost every tree was filled with nesting Frigate birds and their chicks which had already hatched and had there heads sticking out of their nests. The trail took you so close to the birds nests which were in the trees that were only 5 to 8 feet tall, you could almost reach out and touch them if you desired. The birds seemed totally comfortable with humans around. We saw our first Blue Footed Boobys (see pictures) here and you could walk right up to them. We also walked another trail along some stunning cliffs and saw more of the same birds nesting. I dont know how the ecosystem here can support such a large population , the sky is teaming with birds. Also saw lots off whales around island.
We left the following morning for San Blas about 42 miles away.
After motoring about 15 miles a light North wind filled in and we started sailing at about 3knots and then up to 5 knots and this went on all night. We had a full moon all night, it rose exactly the same time the sun set 180 opposite on the horizen and the planet Mars followed the moon around the sky. This was probably our best night sail of the trip, gently seas nice easy sailing, no boat traffic to worry about, fantastic.
The wind died near morning and we motored the last few miles to anchor at the South end of the island with only one other sailboat there.
After a short nap, we rowed ashore in the dinghy to the beach where there were a number of fishermen shacks on the beach. We hiked up a trail to the top of the hill where a small light house stood. This turned out to be one of our most incredible walks ever. Almost every tree was filled with nesting Frigate birds and their chicks which had already hatched and had there heads sticking out of their nests. The trail took you so close to the birds nests which were in the trees that were only 5 to 8 feet tall, you could almost reach out and touch them if you desired. The birds seemed totally comfortable with humans around. We saw our first Blue Footed Boobys (see pictures) here and you could walk right up to them. We also walked another trail along some stunning cliffs and saw more of the same birds nesting. I dont know how the ecosystem here can support such a large population , the sky is teaming with birds. Also saw lots off whales around island.
We left the following morning for San Blas about 42 miles away.
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