More from Isabela

Isla Isabela

November 14, 2007-11-19

We finally tired of the bustle of Cabo San Lucas so departed the anchorage last night just after midnight, in order to arrive at our next stop, Isla Isabela, mid-day on the 15th (after a 37 hour passage). It is always best to enter a new harbor in the daylight, and preferably with the sun high in the sky. This we did, and so set out anchors (bow and stern) on the volcanic rock seabed that is the most protected anchorage at Isabela.


November 19, 2007

We’ve been at Isla Isabela for four days now and will stay for several more. Isabela is a marine and bird sanctuary managed by the Mexican government. It was cleaned up several years ago after many years of neglect. It is beautiful, rough, isolated (45 miles from San Blas on the mainland), and home to Boobies of several varieties, Frigate birds, and Iguanas. It also has a transient population of Mexican fishermen who go out several times a day in pangas (small boats) to tend their long lines. We bought several red snapper from one panga yesterday (our fishing success is terrible) which we barbequed for last nights dinner party. Our guests were the crew of Capricorn Cat: Wayne, Carol, Christian, and Mary, who are anchored nearby.


November 21

Bread is baking today on Snow Goose. Another hike today. Same birds…..

November 22

Thanksgiving Day

Dinner today was aboard Capricorn Cat with Wayne, Carol, and Mary. The crews of 3 other boats joined us: Endless Summer, La Sirena, Eupsychia, and Solstice. Everyone brought something. We brought fresh baked bread, wine and yams. The “turkey” was a nice Dorado that Wayne traded for with the “pangueros” (local commercial fishermen).

November 24

Finally sated with the natural beauty of Isla Isabela, we motored 45 miles today to Mantanchen Bay, Nayarit, Mexico. It’s on the mainland north of Puerto Vallarta. On the way we caught our first “keeper”, a nice Dorado which we will BBQ one of these nights. After anchoring, we took a long dinghy ride into San Blas for a quick look around the “real” Mexican town. No touristas other than ourselves. There’s an internet café for us to visit tomorrow.
San Blas is our first taste of tropical Mexico: Palm trees, mountains, warm breezes and occasional rain. Showers last night left a couple inches of fresh water in the dinghy and nicely rinsed Snow Gooses’ topsides (and everything we left drying on the lifelines).

November 27

Sailed from San Blas to Chacala today: a 4 hour spinnaker reach in perfect conditions. San Bals was near paradise. Chacala IS paradise. Photos later...I got sand in my camera.

November 28

We had planned to stay here only one or two nights. That will not be enough time.

Sitting, relaxing, waiting...

Today we relax at anchor. We finally launched the dinghy to avoid paying the $50 peso ($5 US) taxi fee (each way) to shore. Then, for the first time since we got here, the winds picked up to 18 knots, making the one mile dinghy ride a guaranteed e-ticket, waterslide ride. We’ll wait for drier conditions.

Property in Turtle Bay

I may have found what I am looking for after Snow Goose....a little paint, a few pictures on the wall...

Awards Party

The awards party was held last night. Much fun, good stories, and free beer. We captured a 2^nd place for our sailing/motoring performance over the three legs. The first place award for our section went to Talion, a Gulfstar 50, skipper Patsy Verhoeven, who sailed the entire course…NO MOTORING!! An amazing performance requiring great patience in the light airs we were plagued with during the 2^nd and 3^rd legs. I had no such patience, so arrived at each destination hours ahead of Talion, but paid the price by officially finishing 2^nd. Still, there was the FREE BEER.

November 10, 2007

David left to go back to work, and 767 Captain training, this morning. Minutes later, and just as I finished moving the boat to a quieter part of the anchorage, Greg arrived by water taxi. He was accompanied by Cherie, his girl friend, who will join us for the sail to Isla Isabela and on to Banderas Bay (Puerto Vallarta).

Tonight is the awards party. We will find out how well we sailed compared to other boats in our class. It’s a friendly competition, but then, any time two sailboats are sailing within sight of each other, it’s a race. Egos are at stake. Good thing I’m above all that.

Notes from the sail to Cabo San Lucas

October 27, 2007

Carolyn informed me this morning that she would not be leaving San Diego aboard Snow Goose. I am not sure why she made this choice, especially after all the hard work she put in during the previous six weeks. Perhaps it was the all work, no play atmosphere. Either way, I now need one more crew to make three. My former co-pilot, David Zogg, is due in tomorrow, making it possible to continue with two onboard, but three makes all things easier.

10-28-2007

Today, at the Ha Ha party, I ran into an old acquaintance, Rennie Waxlax, who has sailed this course several times. He introduced me to a young friend of his, Greg Retkowski, who has also done this several times and is an accomplished racing/cruising sailor. Greg thought about my crew situation for a few moments and then offered to go along to Cabo San Lucas. I agreed on the spot. Problems come, and then, poof, they go!

10-30-2007

The Ha Ha started on time yesterday, and we started with it. By evening, we were miles ahead of all but the fastest boats. The winds built to 15-25 knots overnight, and by 5am we needed to take down the spinnaker before it took itself down in small pieces. We did. It didn’t. And all was well!

We ran downwind all day (30^th) wing and wing, making great time and increasing our lead on all but 5 boats (out of 178). The speeds we sailed at put some stress on some equipment. First to fail was the DuoGen water driven electrical generator. It didn’t like constant speeds above 8 knots. It may not be cut out for life on a 50’ boat.

10-31-2007

We arrived at Turtle Bay at 1320 on the 31^st, still ahead of all but 5 boats. Altogether a fine performance by Snow Goose and her pick-up crew! After few minor repairs, we will leave again on the 3^rd of November.

7pm: Went into “town” for a beer and dinner. Very few boats have arrived so far, so “restaurant” was empty. We are tired but happy.

On another note, the long range e-mail system I had installed just before departing San Diego has worked extremely well. I’ve exchanged e-mails with the kids, Mom, and friends. I also get timely weather reports. It’s not like browsing the web, but it sure works!

11-3-2007

Leg 2 began at 0800 today. Sailed well until a small but necessary part caused a problem with the spinnaker. Took it down, and motored for a while. Then, on Day 2, when a better wind appeared, sailed again until the wind died 7 hours from Bahia Santa Maria. Motored the rest of the way, getting into the bay around midnight.

Bahia Santa Maria has only some fishermans shacks. Picturesque. A beach party was held the dafter our arrival: complications arose from large surf breaking on beach. Local fishermen provided water-taxi service to beach, but had to stop ferrying people back to boats at sunset due to size of swells (caused by storms in south Pacific). 75 people spent night on beach…including our crew, Greg. He’ll have stories to tell for years.

Nov 9:

Anchored in Cabo San Lucas. Have wi-fi with good signal!! Dinner in town last night! Mmmmmm, dinner. Will be here a few days, then sail to Isla Isabela bird sanctuary.