Log Book
April 2008
April 2008
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| April 2008 |
Sea of Cortez Race Week
April 1 thru 6
We set sail Tuesday morning – No April Fools – with the Sea of Cortez Race Week 2008
Fleet. Sails were up as we crossed the starting line off Roca Lobos and we began the run
to Caleta Partida. We sailed for a couple of hours in a 10-12 knot northerly breeze, then
drifted in the doldrums, and finally motored into the anchorage at Caleta Partida, dropping
the hook about 6 PM. There were only four boats that actually sailed the entire course.
Everyone in the fleet was invited for cocktails and snacks aboard Profligate, the boat
belonging to Richard Spindler of Latitude 38. It was the first time for both Sam and Susie
to see this HUGE catamaran. Room for all the participants – captains and crew of 14
boats, probably close to 50 people.
April 2 was a play day – hiking in the morning for those hardier souls and volleyball on the
beach in the afternoon. That evening we had another get-together on Profligate, a pot
luck. Susie fixed oriental tuna salad and we enjoyed other people’s baked goodies.
April 3 the fleet sailed over to Isla San Francisco. We arrived slightly ahead of a norther
that started blowing in the late afternoon and dropped our hook at “The Hook” which is a
really beautiful anchorage. Our old friends Ellen and Michel on Solla Sollew were there as
well and we joined them in the evening for drinks and popcorn.
April 4 was supposed to be a lay day for the fleet, but they decided to sail in the now-
waning norther back to Caleta Partida. We opted to remain at The Hook and take the lay
day by ourselves. Solla Sollew came over in the afternoon to play Mexican Train.
April 5 we followed Solla Sollew over to Ensenada Grande – because now we were official
drop-outs from the fleet. We had a beautiful day and were extended an invitation for
dinner on the beach with the National Geographic tour group that was also in this small
anchorage. This was a large boat with over 100 people as paying guests and a full staff.
We were delighted to accept. The galley crew prepared BBQ ribs, seared ahi steaks,
roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, corn bread, salad and fresh baked brownies. We went
through the buffet line and then sat on the beach watching the sunset and enjoying our
delicious meal – this certainly was not the kind of food prepared in OUR galley! After
dinner there was a short star lecture and smores prepared at the bonfire. We were
extremely impressed with this operation – there were plastic plates and real flatware (not
paper or styrofoam or toss-away plastic) used to serve the meal. The beach was left
cleaner than it was before the dinner was served.
April 6 we pulled out of Ensenada Grande and began heading back towards La Paz. On
the way we encountered the fleet leaving Caleta Partida and re-joined them for the sail
back. We sailed a while, then motored a while, then caught the breeze later in the
afternoon for a nice beam reach back to the La Paz Channel. This time, we actually
crossed the finish line under sail! When we arrived back in La Paz and set the anchor, we
showered and went ashore to join everyone for the awards ceremony that evening at Ciao
Molino. Seems everyone won 1st place in their individual division. We won as the
“gadabouts” for abandoning the fleet for better eats with National Geographic.
We got some new tee shirts, made some new friends, got to go aboard Profligate and got
to eat some of the best food on the beach. It was a lot of fun.
La Paz
April 6 thru 30
After Race Week, we got some work done on the boat. Pedro the Carpenter reinforced
the cabinetry around the sink and engine compartment. Victor the Electrician fixed the
radar screen. Durango Bombas re-built the spare raw water pump. Banjo Jane custom
fitted our blanket for the v-berth. Sergio the Stainless Steel Guy made an extension on
the bow for our spinnaker. During this time, sometimes we were at anchor and sometimes
we were in the marina. And we also got our FM3’s renewed – this is like having a 12-
month visa to be in Mexico.
It became apparent after several dinghy landings that we had two other problems: the
outboard engine was failing and Susie’s knees were failing. Seems the diaphram in the
fuel pump on our 2-year old Mercury outboard had deteriorated because of the high
alcohol content in Mexican gasoline. Parts were not available in Mexico anywhere. Sam
started rowing back and forth when we were anchored out, but this was a real difficult task
in adverse tidal current and wind conditions. And Susie could no longer crawl out of the
dinghy on her hands and knees, because of the severe arthritis and lack of cartilage. So
we moved in to Marina La Paz the middle of April.
We ordered a spare fuel pump for the outboard but knew we would have to wait until the
end of April for it to arrive. Susie began acupuncture treatment 3 times a week in hopes of
getting some relief from the constant pain in her knees, especially the right. So this month
we have been in a type of holding pattern – waiting for things to happen.
Susie seems to be having some success with the acupuncture, but there are good days
and bad days. Some days she has to take pain meds, which makes her slightly “dopey” as
she says. But even so, she has learned how to play bridge with the Wednesday and
Saturday groups.
Summer Plans
On April 30 we visited the house where we will be house sitting this summer. It is a very
beautiful home with landscaped grounds and a great view of the ocean (Sea of Cortez)
and Isla Cerralvo. You can see the wind surfers and kite surfers playing in the waves.
Hunter, Susie’s grandson, will arrive May 31. We will take him up into the Sea of Cortez for
a month of swimming and playing in June. He will fly back home July 10. We have made
plans for Susie to have right knee replacement surgery in July. It will be possible to do this
because we will be in a house during her recovery time. Reservations have been
confirmed to keep the boat at Costa Baja Marina for the summer while we are house
sitting.
April 1 thru 6
We set sail Tuesday morning – No April Fools – with the Sea of Cortez Race Week 2008
Fleet. Sails were up as we crossed the starting line off Roca Lobos and we began the run
to Caleta Partida. We sailed for a couple of hours in a 10-12 knot northerly breeze, then
drifted in the doldrums, and finally motored into the anchorage at Caleta Partida, dropping
the hook about 6 PM. There were only four boats that actually sailed the entire course.
Everyone in the fleet was invited for cocktails and snacks aboard Profligate, the boat
belonging to Richard Spindler of Latitude 38. It was the first time for both Sam and Susie
to see this HUGE catamaran. Room for all the participants – captains and crew of 14
boats, probably close to 50 people.
April 2 was a play day – hiking in the morning for those hardier souls and volleyball on the
beach in the afternoon. That evening we had another get-together on Profligate, a pot
luck. Susie fixed oriental tuna salad and we enjoyed other people’s baked goodies.
April 3 the fleet sailed over to Isla San Francisco. We arrived slightly ahead of a norther
that started blowing in the late afternoon and dropped our hook at “The Hook” which is a
really beautiful anchorage. Our old friends Ellen and Michel on Solla Sollew were there as
well and we joined them in the evening for drinks and popcorn.
April 4 was supposed to be a lay day for the fleet, but they decided to sail in the now-
waning norther back to Caleta Partida. We opted to remain at The Hook and take the lay
day by ourselves. Solla Sollew came over in the afternoon to play Mexican Train.
April 5 we followed Solla Sollew over to Ensenada Grande – because now we were official
drop-outs from the fleet. We had a beautiful day and were extended an invitation for
dinner on the beach with the National Geographic tour group that was also in this small
anchorage. This was a large boat with over 100 people as paying guests and a full staff.
We were delighted to accept. The galley crew prepared BBQ ribs, seared ahi steaks,
roasted potatoes, grilled veggies, corn bread, salad and fresh baked brownies. We went
through the buffet line and then sat on the beach watching the sunset and enjoying our
delicious meal – this certainly was not the kind of food prepared in OUR galley! After
dinner there was a short star lecture and smores prepared at the bonfire. We were
extremely impressed with this operation – there were plastic plates and real flatware (not
paper or styrofoam or toss-away plastic) used to serve the meal. The beach was left
cleaner than it was before the dinner was served.
April 6 we pulled out of Ensenada Grande and began heading back towards La Paz. On
the way we encountered the fleet leaving Caleta Partida and re-joined them for the sail
back. We sailed a while, then motored a while, then caught the breeze later in the
afternoon for a nice beam reach back to the La Paz Channel. This time, we actually
crossed the finish line under sail! When we arrived back in La Paz and set the anchor, we
showered and went ashore to join everyone for the awards ceremony that evening at Ciao
Molino. Seems everyone won 1st place in their individual division. We won as the
“gadabouts” for abandoning the fleet for better eats with National Geographic.
We got some new tee shirts, made some new friends, got to go aboard Profligate and got
to eat some of the best food on the beach. It was a lot of fun.
La Paz
April 6 thru 30
After Race Week, we got some work done on the boat. Pedro the Carpenter reinforced
the cabinetry around the sink and engine compartment. Victor the Electrician fixed the
radar screen. Durango Bombas re-built the spare raw water pump. Banjo Jane custom
fitted our blanket for the v-berth. Sergio the Stainless Steel Guy made an extension on
the bow for our spinnaker. During this time, sometimes we were at anchor and sometimes
we were in the marina. And we also got our FM3’s renewed – this is like having a 12-
month visa to be in Mexico.
It became apparent after several dinghy landings that we had two other problems: the
outboard engine was failing and Susie’s knees were failing. Seems the diaphram in the
fuel pump on our 2-year old Mercury outboard had deteriorated because of the high
alcohol content in Mexican gasoline. Parts were not available in Mexico anywhere. Sam
started rowing back and forth when we were anchored out, but this was a real difficult task
in adverse tidal current and wind conditions. And Susie could no longer crawl out of the
dinghy on her hands and knees, because of the severe arthritis and lack of cartilage. So
we moved in to Marina La Paz the middle of April.
We ordered a spare fuel pump for the outboard but knew we would have to wait until the
end of April for it to arrive. Susie began acupuncture treatment 3 times a week in hopes of
getting some relief from the constant pain in her knees, especially the right. So this month
we have been in a type of holding pattern – waiting for things to happen.
Susie seems to be having some success with the acupuncture, but there are good days
and bad days. Some days she has to take pain meds, which makes her slightly “dopey” as
she says. But even so, she has learned how to play bridge with the Wednesday and
Saturday groups.
Summer Plans
On April 30 we visited the house where we will be house sitting this summer. It is a very
beautiful home with landscaped grounds and a great view of the ocean (Sea of Cortez)
and Isla Cerralvo. You can see the wind surfers and kite surfers playing in the waves.
Hunter, Susie’s grandson, will arrive May 31. We will take him up into the Sea of Cortez for
a month of swimming and playing in June. He will fly back home July 10. We have made
plans for Susie to have right knee replacement surgery in July. It will be possible to do this
because we will be in a house during her recovery time. Reservations have been
confirmed to keep the boat at Costa Baja Marina for the summer while we are house
sitting.
| no photos for April 2008 |