Christmas Day

Thank You GYC and Feliz Navidad!!

After looking at the Christmas packages nicely put together by members of the GYC, we had to resist opening them all at once. So we followed the directions to the T and opened them accordingly. We were thrilled to have some mementos from home as well as some lovely Christmas decorations, CDs, and cards to name a few things. It has definitely added the Christmas cheer on Kewao! The Christmas lights were also a nice touch as we lined them along the top of the boom. Thank you to all those who took the time to put this together and we wish you all a Feliz Navidad from Kewao!!

Thanks,
Tom, Pam and Marilyn

Christmas in Mazatlan

Marilyn joined Tom and Pam for Christmas in Mexico. She arrived on the 14th of Dec. and will be staying until New Years. Looks like it's warmer there than here in the NW!!

Mazatlan, MX - December 2008

Mazatlan

Some light sailing and much motoring brought us to El Cid Marina. . A resort with its bars, pools and restaurants, we treated ourselves to Christmas and New Years Eve here. A favourite marina among Canadians, we now met the boats we have heard on the VHF from Cabo onwards. Periccles, a boat from Comox, spent much time showing us around Mazatlan as its their second visit here and my, this helped. As Tom pinched a nerve in his back giving him trouble with his leg, we arrived here earlier than planned and will continue to rest and relax here. Fortunately, his leg is improving. Mazatlan is a large, busy city with much to offer. The local buses and pulmonias (like golf carts) fly through the streets into Old Town which has the cobbled narrow streets and 18th century buildings. The central plaza is filled with families, artists, food and bars. A stunning, old theatre joins the plaza. We will attend a Mariachi band Christmas concert there! Its sold out as this band is famous here!? After New Years, we plan to head "south". We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy new Year!

Los Frailles, MX - November 2008

Los Frailes

Forty five miles north of Cabo San Lucas is a pretty, sandy cove with good protected anchorage that acts as a place for those going further North eventually to La Paz or for those crossing the Sea of Cortes for 166 miles to Mazatlan. Our sail to Los Frailes was a BEAT. What! We had not been beating since we left the Strait of Georgia. In went the dodger windows and we settled into 15-20 kts with slightly steeper seas than the Strait of Georgia (Its shallow here). A comfortable sail, we realized our years of beating in Georgia Strait were evident. We watched a ketch power sail into this sea and knew we had a more comfortable ride. On shore we could see several tents and learned some university students were here studying turtles. Again, good warm water for swimming was here.

Cabo San Lucas, MX November 2008

Cabo San Lucas

The sailing to Cabo was wonderful. Cruising shoot, main, jib were all put to use day after day in warm winds varying from 10 to 20 knots. With Martin Pengelly along as crew, we were able to travel several days at a time with good rests.

A Bonita was our only fish along the way as we lost our two lures in what was prime fishing country! Stops at Bahia de Tortogas and Bahia de Santa Maria broke up this 800 mile run.

Bahia de Tortogas is described as “coyote ugly” and this is a compliment. We had heard in San Diego that the two diesel fuel men who bring very small barges of fuel to your boat were at odds and that one (Gordo) was known to flagrantly cheat while (Annabelles---Enrique) was slightly better. Each came to the boat to tell us how dreadful the other was. Fortunately, we needed little fuel so went with good, clean fuel from Annabelles. The town is poor, very dusty with fishing (and fuel) as limited work.

Bahia de Santa Maria is a large, beautiful bay bigger than English Bay but surrounded by a sandy low shore that blocks the swell. A lonely hill at one side holds several small huts and fishing pangas. We bartered for two fish trading a tin of Spam, corned beef and coke. These two round flat “Tiger fish” were the toughest we’ve ever tasted! We know who got the better deal. The swim in lovely green coloured water was warm and relaxing.

FINALLY!! Cabo San Lucas

Rounding Cape Falso and Cabo San Lucas was a monumental event. The armada of early morning charter fishing boats roared past us as we approached the arches and hole in the rock and added to our excitement. The temptation to sail through the Arches soon passes for the size of the Pinnacle, Arches and other reddish brown rocks is immense. Sitting at anchor (since a daily rate at a marina was $131.00 US), we were entertained each evening with four hotel bands and three to four boat tours’ bands. The shore was always a maze of lights. The day was filled with pangas whirling around us along with water taxis and jet skis buzzing us all afternoon. Still we managed to enjoy this vibrant place as the noise and action all seemed to fit. We swam off the boat and beach, walked the malecon, saw that the Margaritaville bar no longer existed, and walked some of the town. Martin left this warm, sunny climate to return to Vancouver and we moved on to Los Frailes.

Ensenada, MX November 2008

Ensenada

Hola, mi amigos. Como esta usted ? El barco de vela es bueno y nos vamous mucho gusto. (You didn’t expect English, did you?) In Ensenada, Mexican checking-in procedures truly are efficient. Only TWO hours for Tom in one small building and then Martin Pengelly and Pam passed Immigration, Customs, Harbour Captain and the Bank! The trip to Ensenada was part motor and sail to arrive at Baja Naval Marina and Boatyard--the most clean and organized yard we’ve ever seen. No wonder the mega power and sail yachts were there. If we had known about the quality of this yard, we would have hauled the boat here rather than in Vancouver. Best of all, everyday the workers stopped mid-day after lunch and played volleyball for an hour. Isn’t this something we should do during our work days by taking a ‘real” break? The central plaza had the military band practising every night playing the same tunes. They kept their automatic rifles strapped to their backs while they played either drums, tubas or trumpets. On the malecon just off the marina, families strolled in the evening while several streets up, the tourists were hustled. A very unique place from San Diego, we began to appreciate a different culture.