0900 hrs. Under sail in light breeze of Ixtapa. 12 nm to go but winds are light and contrary so will be later today when we  in  Zihuatanejo.  
Deb called at 0200 hrs and just when on watch the wind filled in. Had a slow but steady sail.

Jan 30

Had a good night rest in Caletto De Campos despite the big swell coming in. The sometime big breakers hit the beach with a roar only a couple hundred feet behind our transom. This is normal for this place as we have seldom been here when it is calm.

Pulled up the SB bow  anchor and slacked off on the Port Anchor and backed the boat over the stern anchor. Retrieved the stern anchor and hauled up the Port anchor and underway. Set sail soon out of the bay and sailed all day. Stood out to sea  with a land breeze in the morning and than the winds swing around slowly to the SW came around and sailed SB tack.

A track close to the beach and great view of the little beach places.
In the mid afternoon passed the wreck of a beached freighter the ocean eroding it away at a fast pace. A bit later the industrial port of Lazaro Cardenas on our port with its big factories and plants. Several deep sea freighters waiting for a berth. Busy place. Around 2000 hrs lost all wind. turned on the engine but shut it down shortly after after discovering a leak in the exhaust and like to play it safe. All took a dip in the ocean amidst the bioluminescent (glowing in the dark). A few dolphins came to visit and leave long lighted trails behind them. Deb stood a  4 hour night watch while waiting for the winds to pick up. Drifted till 0200 hrs and picked up the land breeze.

Jan 29
Left Cabo Negro at 0200 hrs as the land breeze had set in and the rolling was getting to us in the anchorage. sailed most of the night and at 1200 arrived in Maruetta. This anchorage is always marginal and this time no exception. Went for a swim and had lunch. Then proceeded to pechilinquillo another cove and decided to move to Calleto De campos. Arrived at 1700 hrs and set 3 anchors in the big swell.

Jan 28
Departed from Santiago Bay and stopped at Las Hadas to drop off Rusty. On the way up got whaled big time as we had a mother and calf taking turns breaching out of the water. Got underway and motored the first few hours then set sail for most of the day. Arrived in dark at Cabeza Negro. Like a lot of places the bay is contaminated with mooring buoys so had to look for a spot. Set anchor in 30 water.  

Jan 27
Took a dip in the water first thing in the morning. Nice and refreshing. Water is getting nice for swimming more South. After breakfast went exploring with the zodiac. The West side of the bay has some caves and interesting rock formation. Saw fish swimming and went back to get our snorkel gear. Had a great swim with the fish as there is a good variety and red & green live corral.  

Sailed away late morning under Genoa alone to Santiago Bay next on our list.
Anchored in 30' of water off the beach. Dick and Rusty exploring the beach. A large wreck of a old sailing vessel is laying in the shallows. Interesting to explore, lots of fish and corral. Stayed for the night. A quiet night onboard.

Jan 26
After a quick trip to Malaque by bus to get some vegetables departed for Ensanada De Carrizal just outside Manzanillo. The buses are definitely getting very old  and did not see such old ones in years down here. 

Light winds and more turtles every mile we go South. Ocean is smooth and whales every where. Arrived late afternoon in this pristine bay. Crystal clear water and very calm. A starry night to cap off another great day.

Jan 25
Woke up after a beautiful night at La Tamarinda. It is not hard to image to be in the South pacific looking at the beach with all the palm trees. Sailed away around 0900 hrs with light winds. Narrowly missed a whale and a collision was averted by both action of the whale and of our vessel. Matter of inches. Sure gets you going seeing a whale tail a couple feet off the rail.

Soon got on to another whale and followed it for a while and soon we where miles off our track. These giants of the deep keep on fascinating us.
Arrived in Malaque and anchored off and proceeded a hour later to the lagoon in Barra. Deb, Dick & Rusty took us out for dinner. Thanks guys. Dick & Rusty are checking out the town.

Jan 24
Left Late morning and expected to find a light NW wind as that is normal for the area. However for whatever reason the wind was SW and we had to beat into it although it was a nice light wind. Spend some time watching a whale playing around. Deb caught more fish. Arrived late afternoon at La Tamarindo a world renowned resort owned by the Yellowstone group. A pristine bay with lots of fish. Had the search light out and shine in the water and seeing fish scattering all different ways. Wireless from the resort!

Jan 23
Decide to check out Careyes a little anchorage 15 miles north. Sailed most of it and arrived mid afternoon. As usually many whale and turtle sightings. Deb caught several Jack Crevella's but as they are not good eating let them go. Rough the last bit in but once snugged up behind the island a idyllic spot. A number of resorts are hanging on the cliffs. Very colorful. All went for a swim as the sun was making it toasty. Scraped some barnacles off the bottom and the keel and had a great following of fish picking away at the debris.

Jan 22
As the tide was high around 0900 hrs decided to do the jungle tour with the dinghy. There is a mangrove river of about 2.5 nm leading close to the ocean and it is a real trill traveling it seeing the many birds. Iguana and crocodile are among the more exotic inhabitants and make it a real adventure. The river is shallow at the entrance and at low tides can be hard to get into as the surf can break nasty. But with a high tide it is easy.
Just in case all prepared with the cameras in bags.

All went well and we made it through the surf without incident. A great trip although we did not see the the croc's, we saw a iguana hanging in a tree. Lots of red crabs climbing around in the branches.
Where back onboard early afternoon and after lunch pulled up the anchor and hoisted the sails for a spirited little sail to the outer bay.
Anchored next to a shrimper about 200 m off the beach. A quiet night. 

Jan 21
Waited till mid morning and decided to set coarse for Tenecatita Bay a mere 14 Miles North. Sailed against head winds and dropped anchor late afternoon. Several Whales and turtle sightings. A great start of our trip. Found anchorage in the second bay among several other yachts.

Jan 20 Barra Lagoon.
It is absolutely quiet in the lagoon. Not a roll or a whisper from the boat unless there is a panga going by at full speed but even that is not to bad. A real treat to lay still on this coast as the norm is always a bit of motion.

And of course the noise from town but we are about a mile away so it is not bad at all. Normally this is a hot place but this year everything is a lot cooler down here so it is ideal temp.

Went to town to church in Malaque and took a big load of vegetable back from the Hawaiian store. Rusty had taken a water taxi into town when we got back.

Had made arrangement with Dick & Deb to wait by the water taxi dock to pick them up but no show and decided to go back to the boat. Found Rusty and together we took the Zodiac back. While we are racing along a panga overtook us and Deb & Dick where in it. What a coincidence, glad we found them. Settled in aboard and went to sleep.

Jan 19

 Our friend Rusty boarded. Arrived in water taxi who are running up and down 24 hours a day.

Jan 17
Washed the boat down with the pressure washer and got ready for our guest arriving. Oil change on the engine among the more fun things.
 
Barra De Navidad is a very quaint little town. Clean and lots of stores and many small apartment but not overrun with tourist like the big centers. The lagoon is a mangrove estuary that was dredged out for the movie Mc Hale's Navy. This part of the coast is very nice and is in the center of the Mexican Riviera. All along the coast some of the biggest villa's and all the elite are having a little shack here.

Jan 15
Weather looked favorable for our passage South. Pulled up the hook and set course for Cabo Coriente under power. Several other vessels had the same sailing plan and some where ahead of us and some behind.

Lots of whale activity and a real good show around the Cape. Then wind strengthened sufficient and we proceeded under sail alone. Wind freshened to almost 30 KTs and seas rough. Almost normal conditions for the Cape.

Plans where to anchor at Ipala but as the sea was rough and the winds fair elected to sail on and go non stop. Made good progress and by Sun up where 30 Miles from Barra. At 1300 entered the break water into the lagoon and slowly navigated to the anchorage. 13:30 at anchor Barra Lagoon read the log book. 28 hrs. We are tired these night watches are getting harder.

 

Jan 15

Left yesterday (Tuesday) morning around 0900 hrs from La Cruz. The first few hours light winds and we had the engine going till 1400 hrs. Good thing as our batteries needed a good charge. At Cabo Coriente the winds as always picked up and we had close to 30 Kts at times during the afternoon. With a rough sea again normal for here. Triple reefed main and a full Genoa to sail as deep as possible.

Just at midnight shook out the reefs as wind are going lighter and are veering  more from the land. At first had planned to go to Ipala but as we had a honking wind carried on and now have a course set for Barra De Navidad nonstop.

Yesterday afternoon got a double strike on the fishing line and had two small tunas on. Dilly dallied a bit and lost one but got the second one, Then a 20 lbs Jack Crevasse hit and had it one the transom but let it go as the meat is to dark for my liking. A great fighter that fish.
Stop fishing now as Deb is coming onboard in Barra and she is usually fishing and will have soon more fish than know what to do with.
   
Really slowing down and the seas are settling down.  Well had a good ride. The sky is full of stars and several meteors are shooting by.   This is the time of the Aloe Vera when the ocean light up in big green flashes when the water is disturbed. Sailing along the coast you can see the breakers hitting the coast at night from miles away.
Hope to be in the lagoon later today as all bets are off now we slowing down. 50 Miles to go.

Jan 13

Had a wonderful week with Paul, Solange, Rebecca & Leah. Did some great sailing and had almost every day a whale encounter. Explored the Tres Marietta's and crawled around in the caves. The water is cooler than normal and we did not swim at all. At barely 69 it is definitely a La Nina year.

Paul did get some hands on docking and it all worked out very well. We had a great sailing crew! Thanks guys!

Dropped them off at the fuel dock on Friday and made for the anchorage off La Cruz. The recently constructed marina makes landing difficult as they want to force anchored boats to use there dock facility by charging excessive for dinghy tie up $10 US. Their thinking is that boats will come in and dock but as it is not finished and there is nothing there but a dock and lots of construction nuisance most prefer to anchor. All they are doing is creating bad feelings. Well this is Mexico and service is still a strange concept to them. So for the 30+ boats they go and do beach landings next to the harbor on the beach.

Went to church this morning and marvel at the construction going on. There is all over sign for help wanted from construction to store clerks and hotel personal. This place is booming. Prices of everything are shooting up. Wondering how long this will last as the US economy seems to be slowing. There is a massive inventory of condos and hotel rooms and do not see how that can get full. There are also many project completing the next year so expect a crunch.

Plans are to set course for Barra De Navidad tomorrow to meet our friends who are going to sail with us to Zihuatanejo.
 

Jan 7

We did not have a very exiting New year celebration as we where both tired and turned in early. Around midnight woke up and briefly watched the fireworks from around the bay. The sky as far as the eye can see is lighted up.

That was all and went back to my bunk. However next morning we where up bright and early and the only one awake in miles around.

To start of the New Year decide to take the laptop and explore the coast looking for a internet connection we can use. Found one a few miles down the coast. So together with our friends on True Love (a steel waterline 53) with Bill and Diana aboard moved closer to Bucerias and anchored about a mile offshore. Internet was reasonably but in real Mexican fashion is interrupted at least ones a day.

Amazing to be able to see the grand kids on web cam.

Cool overnight as the land breeze out of the Oroyo brings cool air from the mountains. It warms up quickly when the Sun is getting over the mountain and at a day time it is nice and toasty.

Jan 3
Moved into Paradise Marina to get ready for our next trip. Cleaned the decks with our new pressure washer. This is  a real time saver and small enough to store onboard.

Jan 5
Paul, Solange, Leah & Rebeca boarded. We stayed overnight and on the 6 th departed for Boca De Tomathlan. sailed in a light breeze and had some great whale encounters. Too many boats around to have that special just for us show but will get our chance later we hope. The bay is very calm a real treat from last trip as the swell was big and anchorages where rolly.
Arrived 1600 Boca and set bow anchor in 118' water with stern anchor on the beach. As always a bustling place with panga's coming and going all day.