Listened to Sand Dollar 2 days ago on the South Bound Cruisers Net on the SSB. They were over 800 miles away and we talked with them like they were on the VHF radio. SSB is pretty old school but it works and it is always amazing to me just how it works. Takes some power though to throw our voices that far. Our antenna is our backstay and word around the campfire is don't touch the backstay while transmitting. Could get a minor burn. So they say.
Heard that there is a chance for a tropical storm down near Acapulco. It is hurricane season now so anything is possible. We are keeping our eyes on it.
Leaving the islands Monday. I'll miss this. Sitting in 15 feet of water and clearly able to see the chain of our anchor and the anchor itself. If it was on it's side I could read the label on it. Can't do that in Seattle area. Oh well. All good things blah blah. It is getting really hot out. Over 100 yesterday. We swam for couple hours total yesterday. Hard to do schoolwork in that kinda of heat.
More later...
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I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Esenada del Candelero
Left La Paz couple days ago after 5 days in La Paz getting the sails fixed and using the internet to order some stuff for our upcoming trip to Hawaii.
I purchased a PLB which stands for Personal Locator Beacon. It fits on your life vest and if you fall overboard AND remain conscious, you pull out a little antenna and push a button and a signal gets sent into space and alerts the good ol' USA that you are in trouble. My thought is that at night, we might only have one person up and topside. Say that person falls over, harness is not attached to the boat for whatever reason. No one wakes up for the next couple of hours. Boat is driving itself doing 7 knots (5 knots if on Non Sequitur), 21 miles away before someone notices...I shudder everytime I think about it. Imagine being in the ocean with the boat sliding away from you. The whistle isn't waking anyone, your yelling goes unheard. You are dead. Right then you know it. Just have to wait for it. I realize even with the PLB/EPRIB turned on, it will take someone hours to get to you but at least they will have an idea where the hell you are. The crew on Appa will realize that someone is missing and turn around and also call the SAR team to get the coordinates to help with the search.
Typing all that out, it sounds pretty remote that someone can fall overboard especially since the crew is ALWAYS tethered on the boat when topside. One more layer of safety. Also if the boat's main EPIRB goes out, we'll have a spare.
I also bought DeLorme inReach SE. Handheld satellite thingy that transmit our position every 10 minutes. The faithful reader of this blog will get a link and upon clicking on it you can see EXACTLY where we are anywhere in the world. You can also text us, using satellites, and we can respond. It also has a COME GET ME button.
Satellites. I love them. Using them to send this email as we are once again out of reach by normal, terrestrial means.
CK Louis has a great thing about technology and using satellites to communicate. Google it. I laughed anyway.
The plan is for us to spend time in the Isla Espirtu Santo and Isla Partida area. Clear, warm water with that turquoise color that I love so much. Like having your boat with you in a swimming pool.
Went swimming yesterday with tons of fish and just splashed around. Projected to be 100 degrees today. Light wind. Probably stayed anchored today and tomorrow head up to Caleta Partida or maybe El Cardoncito.
We will start heading south to San Jose Del Cabo on the 19th. Just a couple days left.
Kids are ready to get back home and see their friends. Max wants to drive his car that his dad got for him. Jen wants to be there for her dad and mom. Me? I'm good. I got 5000 miles of open ocean sailing ahead of me. If that does scratch my sailing itch, nothing will.
End of August I am going to fly to Chicago and sail with my brother on his new boat. A J105. Angry Sloth. Carly LOVES sloths. We are going to race in the Chicago to St. Joesph race. Overnighter. Great fun and even better party.
Next year the Mackinaw race from Chicago. 333 miles of Lake Michigan sailing.
That's it for now...
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I purchased a PLB which stands for Personal Locator Beacon. It fits on your life vest and if you fall overboard AND remain conscious, you pull out a little antenna and push a button and a signal gets sent into space and alerts the good ol' USA that you are in trouble. My thought is that at night, we might only have one person up and topside. Say that person falls over, harness is not attached to the boat for whatever reason. No one wakes up for the next couple of hours. Boat is driving itself doing 7 knots (5 knots if on Non Sequitur), 21 miles away before someone notices...I shudder everytime I think about it. Imagine being in the ocean with the boat sliding away from you. The whistle isn't waking anyone, your yelling goes unheard. You are dead. Right then you know it. Just have to wait for it. I realize even with the PLB/EPRIB turned on, it will take someone hours to get to you but at least they will have an idea where the hell you are. The crew on Appa will realize that someone is missing and turn around and also call the SAR team to get the coordinates to help with the search.
Typing all that out, it sounds pretty remote that someone can fall overboard especially since the crew is ALWAYS tethered on the boat when topside. One more layer of safety. Also if the boat's main EPIRB goes out, we'll have a spare.
I also bought DeLorme inReach SE. Handheld satellite thingy that transmit our position every 10 minutes. The faithful reader of this blog will get a link and upon clicking on it you can see EXACTLY where we are anywhere in the world. You can also text us, using satellites, and we can respond. It also has a COME GET ME button.
Satellites. I love them. Using them to send this email as we are once again out of reach by normal, terrestrial means.
CK Louis has a great thing about technology and using satellites to communicate. Google it. I laughed anyway.
The plan is for us to spend time in the Isla Espirtu Santo and Isla Partida area. Clear, warm water with that turquoise color that I love so much. Like having your boat with you in a swimming pool.
Went swimming yesterday with tons of fish and just splashed around. Projected to be 100 degrees today. Light wind. Probably stayed anchored today and tomorrow head up to Caleta Partida or maybe El Cardoncito.
We will start heading south to San Jose Del Cabo on the 19th. Just a couple days left.
Kids are ready to get back home and see their friends. Max wants to drive his car that his dad got for him. Jen wants to be there for her dad and mom. Me? I'm good. I got 5000 miles of open ocean sailing ahead of me. If that does scratch my sailing itch, nothing will.
End of August I am going to fly to Chicago and sail with my brother on his new boat. A J105. Angry Sloth. Carly LOVES sloths. We are going to race in the Chicago to St. Joesph race. Overnighter. Great fun and even better party.
Next year the Mackinaw race from Chicago. 333 miles of Lake Michigan sailing.
That's it for now...
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Los Gatos
Sitting at anchor in Los Gatos. About 70 north of La Paz. Heading south tomorrow but not far. Might even go today.
Started the day off with a boat project, then at 1030 went swimming with Sam. Ben and Max doing school work.
Had fresh caught lobster last night and tonight fresh chocolate clams.
Adios
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Started the day off with a boat project, then at 1030 went swimming with Sam. Ben and Max doing school work.
Had fresh caught lobster last night and tonight fresh chocolate clams.
Adios
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Monday, May 5, 2014
In Agua Verde
Sitting in Agua Verde and have been for the past couple of days. Beautiful water and weather. \
Jen is on the beach this morning and I'm getting coffee going right now as I type this.
The local fishermen are buzzing around picking up bait from their bait traps and then heading out. We will be following them out and heading south. First stop is 18 miles south. Los Gatos.
Sea Otter caught a Mahi Mahi yesterday just outside of Agua Verde around the reef and we are going to steam out there and try to get Max some fish to land.
After Los Gatos, I think we are going to head top Timbabiche (Bahia San Carlos). Not sure after that.
The trip is winding down and the kids are excited to get home. Max wants to get back and drive as he is almost 17 and hasn't driven since last August. Ben wants to see his friends and so does Sam. She really wants to play with all the toys she remembers.
Max's electronic equipment is taking a hit now. After being exposed to salt air for almost a year, Max's computer has died, his iPhone died, lost his watch during a vicious gybe, etc.
The hot water heater's safety valve is leaking and that will get fixed in La Paz. Sails need work. Using your boat all the time is hard on her. Appa is holding up well though. Knock on wood.
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Jen is on the beach this morning and I'm getting coffee going right now as I type this.
The local fishermen are buzzing around picking up bait from their bait traps and then heading out. We will be following them out and heading south. First stop is 18 miles south. Los Gatos.
Sea Otter caught a Mahi Mahi yesterday just outside of Agua Verde around the reef and we are going to steam out there and try to get Max some fish to land.
After Los Gatos, I think we are going to head top Timbabiche (Bahia San Carlos). Not sure after that.
The trip is winding down and the kids are excited to get home. Max wants to get back and drive as he is almost 17 and hasn't driven since last August. Ben wants to see his friends and so does Sam. She really wants to play with all the toys she remembers.
Max's electronic equipment is taking a hit now. After being exposed to salt air for almost a year, Max's computer has died, his iPhone died, lost his watch during a vicious gybe, etc.
The hot water heater's safety valve is leaking and that will get fixed in La Paz. Sails need work. Using your boat all the time is hard on her. Appa is holding up well though. Knock on wood.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Sammy's birthday and some long delayed photos
We are in Bahia Candeleros which is just south of Puerto Escondido. Currently in this super fancy resort with Appa at anchor. Today is Samey's 4th birthday. We sprung for a day pass at this resort and have the all inclusive package going. Pretty swanky.
The crews from Sea Otter, Antipodes and Sand Dollar are all here. Very sweet of them to join us. Plans for today are just hanging out and swimming in the pools and the beach. Well maybe not the beach. Stingrays are hiding in the sand and we are all worried about getting stung. Poolside seems easier.
Not sure where we are going tomorrow. I think we are going to head out to Isla Carmen and hit a couple of the anchorages there. Then maybe up the Sea of Cortez a bit more. Have to start thinking about heading south at some point.
The picture below is the anchorage and you can see that I am ashore typing this. Finally getting some internet that is half way decent.
On the way north couple days ago we had a 30 or so mile spinnaker run. At the hoist, Max and I had the mother of all wraps. Damn solent stay is a sail magnet. Got the wrap undone and then had a great sail. Upon dropping the sail 4 hours later, we promptly ripped it a bit. No big deal really. But it will have to get repaired before the Hawaii trip. That and the clew is starting to rip out of the jib. Have a couple of upgrades to do the hatches and some small repairs but other than the sails and some odd jobs, we are looking good for Hawaii.
Here are some photos that I can finally upload....
The next day. Motoring and fending off Sea Otter who was lobing water balloons at us. Max is returning fire.
Ben D. on Sea Otter taking Ben's picture.
We just love Ensenada Grande!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Crossing to the sea
Left yesterday for Isla del Partida. They have seals at the north point of the island and they are pretty tame (for wild animals) and you can swim with them. They play pretty rough so not sure about the kids going in but we'll see.
Left Mazatlan around 1100 and hoisted sail soon after. We were able to sail till 0330 today. Our boat is a little more <cough> "high performance" then the other boats we sail with right now, so while we sailed, they motored. Suckers.
The forecast now looks like no wind and it seems to be correct as we have been motoring steadily now since 0330.
Chris Tutmark ran all new wiring in the mast including VHF antenna wiring. With new connectors, new antenna, you get the picture. We have consistently been able to broadcast farther then anyone else in our group. Love that stuff. Anyway, yesterday I made like I was having a conversation with Antipodes on the VHF. Mind you Antipodes was 200 miles away at this point. People know that we have pretty good reception so they bought it for awhile. I almost broke my arm patting myself on the back.
Haven't caught anything yet.
Ben was sick all day yesterday and Jen is a bit queasy today. The seas are sloppy from yesterdays wind. It should settle down later today. Sammy is having no trouble and Max had one short bout of nausea. He can't be downstairs for long.
93 miles to go. Per the computer we will be at anchor around 1100 tomorrow.
Boat is working fine and the rudder fix seems to be working a treat.
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Left Mazatlan around 1100 and hoisted sail soon after. We were able to sail till 0330 today. Our boat is a little more <cough> "high performance" then the other boats we sail with right now, so while we sailed, they motored. Suckers.
The forecast now looks like no wind and it seems to be correct as we have been motoring steadily now since 0330.
Chris Tutmark ran all new wiring in the mast including VHF antenna wiring. With new connectors, new antenna, you get the picture. We have consistently been able to broadcast farther then anyone else in our group. Love that stuff. Anyway, yesterday I made like I was having a conversation with Antipodes on the VHF. Mind you Antipodes was 200 miles away at this point. People know that we have pretty good reception so they bought it for awhile. I almost broke my arm patting myself on the back.
Haven't caught anything yet.
Ben was sick all day yesterday and Jen is a bit queasy today. The seas are sloppy from yesterdays wind. It should settle down later today. Sammy is having no trouble and Max had one short bout of nausea. He can't be downstairs for long.
93 miles to go. Per the computer we will be at anchor around 1100 tomorrow.
Boat is working fine and the rudder fix seems to be working a treat.
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Monday, April 7, 2014
Leaving Mazatlan
Writing this in Puerto Escondido. Easter Sunday.
We left Mazatlan days ago after spending a bunch of time and money there. While in Mazatlan we met up with my cousin Tim and his wife, Jackie along with her sister Jamie and her husband Chuck. Gail the mom of Jackie and Jamie was there also. Had a great dinner one Sunday night with them, come to think of it we had dinner with them Friday also.
Great times with great family. Glad we got to make the connection again. Weird how things work. Tim lives in Portland and we never see each other. It takes almost a random encounter like this to reconnect. Had a great time with him and his family.
Below are the photos of the rudder fix. The first photo shows the rudder stock and the square fitting on top of it. Another solid piece of steel tubing attaches to the stock via a sleeve and then 8 set screws. The top of the new piece goes into a carrier bearing and that is glassed into the seats. Very solid now. No wiggle at all.
Here are some photos of the first island we hit after our 240 mile trip across the Sea of Cortez.
This is Esenada grande on Espirtu Santo. Love it here
Here are some from Isla San Francisco. Beautiful here also.
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