Mantanchen Bay to La Paz

March 27,2017 I'm so behind in writing this that I'm just going to use parts of the log to try and catch up.  I know its not to interesting or creative but later it will help us remember the trip, which all and all wasn't too bad for a crossing.

Leaving Mantanchen Bay and warmth !

  0805 anchor up and underway to Isla Isabella as Al did not get to go ashore last year.  No wind motoring at 6.5 kts. 1119 wind up to 19 kts on the nose.  Miserable.   Goal changed.  Now Mazatlan by morning with mizzen, staysail and main.  Wind increasing. 1500 reefed the main for the night, still tacking up the coast and by morning the wind was down.  March 28

Mazatlan by morning

Good morning

0600 off of Mazatlan Harbor we decided since the weather was predicted to be favorable for a crossing of the sea that we would set a course for La Paz via Los Muertos Instead of stopping at Mazatlan.  We altered course to C 302 degrees to sail a little high of the rum line of 273 degrees.  

Captain's Keens were failing

 

Too cold

  1830 wind up to 18 kts apparent so reefed main for the night but by 2100 wind topped at 28kts with 2nd reef in Main, now beating into the wind. March 29  at 0000 wind 18 to 22kts with short steep wind waves which is definitely not smooth sailing. 0300 the Mazatlan Ferry and a container ship passed to starboard from opposite directions which added a little interest to Henry and Janet watch, since that was the only traffic we had seen on the crossing.  By 0600 the seas 3-5 ft with wind 22-26kts none of which were in the forecast.  145nm in 24 hrs. 1000 seas and wind down 14-16 kts and sunny sky. 1430 Anchored in Ensenada de Los Muertos.  The crossing was 196nm in 32 hrs. from Mazatlan to Los Muertos.  It wasn't a bad crossing but it is so nice to have the boat stop bucking so much.  The constant movement is tiring and such a beautiful place to be, out of the rough water on a boat quietly floating on its very secure anchor.  At peace.

Greeted with Welcome Home at Restaurant in middle of the beach

Model trains around balcony and gorgeous brick ceiling.

Cool drinks Hot sand

Ensenada de Los Muertos

Love our wheels

Guess we anchored a long way out !

Chez Nous at Anchor in Los Muertos

  March 30 a wonderful day on shore and got caught up on wifi/internet, enjoyed breakfast at a lovely resort restaurant who's waiter greeted us with ''welcome home".  Dinner at Rest. 1535.

Navionics track

  March 31 anchor up at 0700 NW winds at 17kts headed for La Paz though the Cerralva channel then tacking though the Canal de San Lorenzo.  Docked at Marina Palmira at 1550.  77NM from Los Muertos.  The total nm from Paradise Village Nuevo Vallarta to Marina Palmira, La Paz was 471nm.

Los Muertos/ChezNous

Places we have been !

 

Nuevo Vallarta to Ensenada Mantanchen

Leaving Paradise Village and another boat like ours, Violeta.

3/26/2017- we departed Paradise Village at 0800 with Janet , Henry , Al and JoLinda aboard.

Love early morning fisherman

Mangrove Swallows ? came in with us and left with us.

Only one at a time please.

Entrance to La Cruz

Tied up at La Cruz fuel dock at 0915.  Took on 110 l. of diesel.  We were underway at 1000 after Janet and jl checked out the Sunday market.    Nancy and Jeff both friends made in ZIHUATANEJO showed up to say Hi and wish us fair sailing.  We had a lovely day of motor sailing mostly on a close reach with avg wind speed 10 to 12 kts.  Our plan was to go to Chacala and anchor but it was so nice we decided to con't on to Mantanchen Bay outside of San Blas 22 more miles north.   We anchored at Mantanchen Bay at 1805 mountain standard time.  Bar pressure 1007 compared to 1010 this am.   We did 68 nm in 11 hrs. Counting refueling.  Settled in just before sunset and had delicious arrachara fajitas on the grill.  

Mantanchen Bay Sunset

BBQ Time

 

RETURN FROM ZIHUATANEJO TO PV FEB21-27-2017

Jim and Jill Morgan arrive on Feb. 20 and JL arrived on the 21.   AL had the boat provisioned so after a lovely dinner and a good night  sleep we took off going north again.  

Sunset

Cheers  

Beautiful Jill

Beautiful Restaurant

Bye to the Bay hope to be back someday.  Of course we had wind on the nose and fairly large swells.  By 2000 both were increasing so we pulled into Caleta de Campos and were anchored in a quiet cove by 2300 for a perfect sleep.   

Sunrise in Caleta de Campos          

HEADING BACK OUT TO SEA.          

VILLAGE SHINES IN MORNING LIGHT.

We had a great day and night with light winds and decreasing swells.

Moon in the morning

Coming into Barra          

Barra Entrance

Grand Bay Hotel in Barra

 Had planned on staying overnight in Barra de Navedad but instead only went to the fuel dock and decided to take advantage of the goood weather to get as far north as we could.  

Mexican coast

We knew we needed to kill a day before going around Cabo Corrientes so around 1600 we pulled into Chamela and by the time we got anchored it was blowing over 20 in the protected end of the cove with probably 20 boats in there a a couple dragging anchors but in smooth water.  We decided not to put the dinghy in to go to shore for dinner.  Instead we had a nice BBQ on the boat and another good nights sleep.

Sunrise in Chamela

 

CHAMELA

                                                         LEAVING  CHAMELA.            https://youtu.be/CgaqK0bH0EE Arrive 2300 feb.25 to our old slip at Paradise Village Marina so we had a couple of days to hang out with Jim and Jill before their plane left on the 27 th.  What a fine time with great friends and the best crew anyone could wish for.

IGUANA ARE STILL HERE

A FAVORITE PLACE TO KAYAK

 

SAILFEST 2017

Holding this blog space for Al's post of Sailfest in Zihuatanejo while I flew back to the States for a family emergency.

 

Jan2017Part 3

Las Hadas

SISTER SHIP SITING OF FANTASIA

MANZANILLO Market

 

 

LEAVING LAS HADAS WITH REEFED MAIN

 

 

Weather outside Manzanillo was getting rough with big seas, my blood pressure and my anxiety were getting out of control so after talking to my Dr and making some changes to my blood pressure meds  and Al agreeing to delay our departure we left at 7:30 on Tues the 24th.  A 6ft swell with a couple ft. Wind waves.  Swell from the north and waves from the S.  Interesting washing machine for a while.  Wind from the south east so had to tack offshore with a reef but soon the wind lighted and eventually come in behind us at about 5kts.  A pretty good trip compared to others that started before and after us.   Arrived the 25th and anchored in 12 feet of water off  the Municipal Beach here at Zihuatanejo.

 

PANGA FISHING FLEET IN ZIHUA

 

 

Just bought more water.   Used only 65 gals in 2 1/2 weeks.   Suzanne left yesterday , the 30th and took the kit and the old water-maker head/pump back with her and we have ordered an already rebuilt one.   Anyone coming this way?

 

And the generator is still having issues at times.   Cross my fingers the engine is perfect.

 

 

 

FEB 2....JL had to return to the states for a family emergency.