Thursday, February 13, 2014

Zihuatanejo to Isla Grande (Ixtapa) then to Manzanillo

We left Zihuatanejo bay on February 8th for Isla Grande.  We did the short hop there in a couple of hours. We planned to stay one night and then shoot to Manzanillo. It was so nice there, we stayed Tuesday. Just perfect. 
Our kids and the Sand Dollar kids went on this crazy couch that gets towed by a jet ski. The kids looked so happy, us adults took a turn. Then the owner of the palapa took all the kids for a spin on the 140hp jet ski. Needless to say they loved it. 
This island is about 1/2 a mile from the coast and just 5 miles from Zihuatanejo. Gold sand, blue water....we loved it.  
Tuesday we left for Manzanillo. Without Max. Just Jen and I handling the boat.  200 miles. Forecast showed no wind. They were partly right. 
We left at 6:45 in the am with the land around us just starting to show itself.  No real wind. We motored and charged the batteries and made about 60 gallons of fresh water.  The wind never showed itself all day or night.  
Jen and I really didn't do shifts during the day. I stayed up till 3am or so after a quick nap at 11pm. Jen got up at 3am and took over.  Nothing to report. No wind. No ships. No fishing lines. Just the steady drone of the Perkins diesel. 
Jen got me up at 8 am and the wind was coming up. The wind was heading out of the direction we wanted to go but we still wanted to sail some. Up went the sails for about 2 hours and then the wind shut off.  About 1045 we started to see the dreaded plastic 2 liters bottles stretched out before us indicating fishing lines.  We came across 8 strings of fishing lines and had to stop forward progress to transverse the lines.  Once we got to the end of the lines, we could go around. Hours this took. The lines are couple miles long. When you come up to them you don't know if you are in the middle or the end.  Just take a guess and turn to port or starboard. I got so sick of that crap. Oh well. You gotta be able to make a living.  I make it a point to not eat fish because then I can bitch about the fishing lines.  
Sun coming up as we left Isla Grande. Jen's blog has more photos of this island. 
We had about 40-50 dolphins swim with us for about 20 minutes. They are as common as squirrels to us now but I never tire of them at the bow. 
Our buddies sailing with us to Manzanillo. This is Unleashed. Hardin 42 foot ketch. Paul and Carol.
Sam reading during our passage. Beginner's Bible.  After finding it on a friend's boat, she has been going through it quite regularly. 
Sunset at sea. 8 miles from shore.  Motoring at 6 knots.  This passage was suppose to take 36 hours. One overnight. 
Wednesday afternoon about 3pm the wind started to build and finally topped out at 25 knots. Couple reefs in the main and small bit of jib had us doing about 6 knots or so.  The waves built and built.  Eventually the waves got big enough that we started to get wet. Ben and I went to the bow to get doused and got absolutely soaked by a couple of the waves. I'd say they were about 6 feet high or so. 
At 6pm we still had 8 miles to go and the wind was cranking. Appa started to fall off the wave fronts with a resounding crash that sent spray everywhere.  The waves slowed our forward progress a bit.  I'm having fun at this point but even I think that it would be good to be sitting at anchor, gentle rolling with the waves rather than bashing through them.   Jen was feeling ok but definitely was ready to get off the water.  
The swell was running with the wind waves and after hours of blowing the waves got big. 10 footers once in a while. Felt like the boat was getting mugged at times.  Occasionally we would drop off one wave and land in the tough.  The next wave would knock the snot out of us. Stop all forward momentum. Clobbered is the word I think of. Water up and over the cockpit.  Standing water on the decks. Guess who left the windows open. Me. I know better but was having fun sailing in this slop and forgot. Not till Ben went down the stairs and said "Water is everywhere!!" did I remember. 
Took most of today to clean that mess up. Ugh. I have a stupid brain at times. 
This breadbox is about 8 inches deep. This is after I bailed it for a bit then decided to take a picture. 
Ben is under her. A bit seasick. That yellow bit you see is part of his life jacket. I love that boy. Gets seasick, pukes, and states that he is ready for more.  Told me "better soak up this good feeling because the seasickness is sure to follow again.". Love my kids. 
Finally got into Manzanillo at 8pm. Sam was asked by Jen how she liked the trip up to Manzanillo. "Wow. That was traumatic" Sam said. 
 Fell asleep at 9pm and woke up at 9am. Carpel tunnel screaming at me woke me up. Wouldn't have it any other way. 
We anchored in front of Las Hadas resort again. Swimming in the pool right now. Typing this, my swimsuit is wet. 
Tomorrow we go to Bahia Santiago. Right around the corner. 


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