From La Cruz to Chamela

Chamela Bay

January 16, 2012

Here we sit once more in Chamela Bay.  Last year when we tried to  turn into Chamela our steering quit.  This year we entered the bay with steering intact.  Much nicer.

We did leave La Cruz at 4 am Saturday morning (January 14).  Both of us were concerned about leaving the marina in the dark so didn't sleep very well.  Bob did an admirable job of getting us out of the marina.  He is getting much better at this steering business.

Our trip across Banderas Bay was without incident and we motor sailed at over 6 knots, sometimes even 7.  And then we entered the ‘Cabo Zone’.  Bob would say that it was a piece of cake, and compared to the gale we were in last year it was.  BUT..The seas were muddled around the cape…wind waves one way, swell the other and then we had a bit of wind for a while.  The autopilot did not like the mixture and it quit.  After about 2 tries of resetting it, Bob took over the steering.  The nasty stuff lasted about 2 hr and then calm returned.  I know that I over react to those situations, and I know that Cabo can be much worse but when I am in the thick of it, the dog and I get very anxious.

And what does Patches do under those conditions?  He wants to be held the entire time.  I tried to take him below but he wouldn’t stay,so there we were all together in the cockpit just rockin’ and rollin’.

At noon, 8 hours after leaving La Cruz we arrived in Ipala.  This year they have even more aqua culture than last year so we had to anchor out a bit more which translates into more rolling.  After we were anchored, a cold beer was in order followed by a nap.  In to shore we went about 3 pm for our celebratory lobster meal.  It was just as delicious as last year.

When we returned to the boat Bob decided to clean a water filter (the water that cools the engine passes through this filter), and while removing it, a fitting broke.   Bob then  by passed the filter (removed it) and replaced it with some fitting he had on board.  Needless to say we did not have the correct fitting with us.  As my confidence was shaken and  my nerves were frayed, I had some moments of real anxiety.  Then I realized that I was very tired and definately over reacting.  Even so I kept waking up and worrying. 

January 15, 2012

Sunday morning we were up bright and early  (6 am) as we had another long day ahead.  Chamela is about 55 miles from Ipala and we were hoping to make it there before dark.  (If not Patches would have a long wait for his ‘beach visit’.)  The winds were practically not existent for most of the way.  All the weather forecasts had said northwest winds and guess what?  They were southeast AND we were going southeast.  That is not a recipe for good sailing. In the afternoon a little breeze came up and up went our headsail.  The main is almost always up to catch any wind and to stabilize the boat.  For about 2 hr we increased our speed dramatically and that enabled us to arrive in Chamela at 5:45 pm.  We had left Ipala at 8 am so we were happy with our arrival time.  It is dark at about 7 pm.  There was time to ready the dinghy for a quick trip to shore.

Chamela always has some surf so we decided to use the dinghy wheels.  Yes they do make a difference.  We have made 2 trips in and the results have been good.  Of course the surf has not been huge but now I can jump out with the dog and Bob can drag the dinghy into shore.  Before I would hold the dog and help drag. 

Patches has developed a new set of phobias.  Perhaps a shrink is in order.  Waves used to terrorize him but now he is fine with waves.  His nemesis at the moment  is any kind of bee or bee like insect.  Yesterday he saw a wasp in the cockpit and as a result stayed below all day.

When we went into shore this morning Bob was able to find the fitting we needed,  and now has replaced the little piece of copper that he  used with a plastic fitting about twice as long.

Chamela seems to have been ‘discovered’ and by Canadians.  This morning I saw 6 pick ups, all either from BC or Alberta.  The beach itself is much cleaner than it was last year.  According to Bob, the town itself has a good hardware, large grocery store, and a pharmacy.  I am sure they were there last year and we missed them, or not.

This morning has been a working morning.  I have cleaned the fridge and Bob has been cleaning the exterior of the boat.  That wind that hit us off  Cabo was dirt laden, and left a covering of mud on the bow of the boat.  Bob is finickity about the exterior but does not seem to have the same interest in the interior.

Yesterday when we sailing, I was below reading.  I chanced to look up at Bob in the cockpit.  He had the radio blaring out ‘60s tunes and was singing and dancing in the cockpit obviously enjoying life on the boat.   Happiness personified!!  It is not often that one sees Bob outwardly showing joy.  It made me happy just watching him.

It is a beautiful sunny day today with just a bit of a  breeze to keep it fresh in the boat.  The boat rocks gently while I sit writing this blog.  When I am sitting here, my anxieties seem so ridiculous.  Let’s hope this too will pass.