Category: 2020 – 2021 Season 2

We got up early as in about 6, got our act together had breakfast and got the boat in order. We had gotten permission to leave at 8 am, and we were out on time. The guard came by as planned, got the last of our paperwork and bracelet that opens the gates and bathrooms and since there was no wind we were easily able to get out of the slip. The dredge was still where it had been when we came in (apparently it is broken and waiting on repair, as opposed to what they told us in the office the day before). The channel is narrow and the water was flat calm, until we got to the mouth of the harbor. The mouth of this harbor points south, which is good in that it blocks the waves that are coming from the pacific from going straight into the marinas. But it is bad when you get to the end of the breakwater and you find yourself at 90 degrees to the waves! Oh, and with the dredging you have to continue this direction (due south, with the waves from the west) for several hundred feet, as the sand from the dredging is piled under the surface to the west. Water depth I saw as we rolled with the waves was as high as 10 feet and as low as 4.5 feet. (The problem there is that we draw 5 feet, so that suggests we found the bottom for at least a little bit!). As we were coming out, I had Renee’ sit near the bow and watch for other boats or issues, she kept suggesting we turn into the waves (I wanted to but the bottom was an issue) eventually we got through the surf and headed west.

We had to get out far enough to get around the islands near Mazatlan (probably less than a mile out but still it was pretty ruff as the waves were coming from the North West and we were at a wrong angle and getting rolled pretty good all the way out. Eventually we turned and got pointed in about the right direction, and I put the auto pilot in Auto to keep us going that direction and headed below to set up the chart plotter and course.

As you might recall, the backlight on the chart plotter on deck is out, so we can’t see the screen in the daytime. So, I got the course figured out and determined how many degrees I had to turn to get us on track and went back on deck and started lining us up. Over the next half hour or so, I made several trips below to get it set up and then engaged the chart plotter to the auto pilot so it would keep us on course. The Auto pilot will only keep the boat pointed in one direction by itself, the chart plotter working with the autopilot will keep the boat going to the right spot, it will actually alert us when it is time to turn and when we say yes, it will turn the boat to the new course. This part of keeping the boat going to the right spot sounds much the same as keeping the boat pointed in one direction, but the difference is that between when you set the autopilot and when you get to the spot you were aiming at nature gets to have a say on where you go, there are waves and current both water and wind that push the boat around. The autopilot by itself does not correct for this, with the chart plotter engaged it does.

Once we were headed south on the track to get us to Isla Isabel (the island where we planned to meet the Nacarotto’s) we settled into a routine, Renee’ did some reading and I watched where we were going. About an hour into this, we talked about when we would arrive at the island. Which is when we put it all together, and decided we needed to change our plan. At the speed we were going (6-7 knots) we were on track to get to the island about midnight. This is why we wanted to leave at 2 in the afternoon. The problem with that is the wind in Mazatlan comes up about then, and the port gets closed. So, we had to leave in the morning to get out of the port. We debated staying at an anchorage near the south side of Mazatlan, but the reviews on this anchorage all seemed to focus on one word, “THIEVES” so, we decided to bypass the island and go straight to Matachén.

The rest of the trip south was pretty quiet, we watched the sun set (the moon was already up, so we did not get a moonrise this time). We watched the moon set the next morning about 12:30 or so. We watched the birds circle the boat, and we watch the waves that had been pretty big with white caps flatten out to almost nothing. We saw a large pod of dolphin, probably a hundred or more, some came to swim with us for about a minute, then they all disappeared. We saw some whales (Orca’s) one stuck it’s tail out of the water about three hundred yards to the east of us and slapped the water, and then repeated this action about a half dozen times. Enough that I was able to get Renee’ to come back on deck and see it while she was making dinner.

Finally, we arrived at Matachén as the sun was just starting to come up. This is a very shallow bay, and from several miles out the water was only about 60 feet deep. When we were still probably 2 or 3 miles out, we were down to about 30 feet. Eventually we saw the other boats that are here, and looked for a place somewhere near but not too near them and found a spot in about 20 feet of water and put our anchor down. We put the screens down and noting the time (7 am), turned everything off, set the anchor alarm and went to bed. The end to a very long day, distance traveled about 140 miles. Other boats seen, none closer than 3 miles.

 

We slept in some (as in till about 8 am, got up listened to the net, washed the boat and went through the process of taking shore power off and Renee’ went up tot the office to check us out. Where she found out that the port was closed. (Too windy) So, we lazed around for a bit, and at about 2 pm, the time we had said we were going to leave, Doug McCloy from S/V  Rhiannon V came by to help us untie. We started talking and one thing led to another, he needed a piece of water hose, which he planned to get from one of the other boaters, but they were not in. We had the hose and he came aboard we talked for a bit more as I got the hose, then we had a beer, and we talked some more. Eventually he stayed for dinner and he brought a few more beers all in all I think we talked for about 5 or 6 hours. It was good to have someone over to socialize.

 

We got up about 7:30, listened to the net and tried to figure out where to get a National Park Pass, as one of our planned anchorages is at an island that is part of the park system. So far we have not figured out where to get it.

We have been checking the weather and tides, also we have been communicating with the Naccaratos’ about when we can meet as we head south and they come north. At this point it looks like we will get together in a place called Matachén. This is about 140 – 150 miles south of here. We plan to leave Thursday (tomorrow) and sail south to Isla Maria Isabela then over to Matachén Saturday. We expect to see them for a couple of days, then they will head north to Mazatlan and we will head south to Puerto Vallarta.

 

We slept in a bit, getting up about 7:30 or so, had breakfast and did some odds and ends around the boat. We had talked to Ava on S/V Babeeze about bottom cleaning, and we were able to get our bottom cleaned and zincs checked and replaced as necessary. I went to the office and downloaded a new version of ACDSEE for the Mac. Then in the afternoon, after lunch we walked to Walmart and did some shopping, then back to the boat to put it all away. Dinner this evening was BBQ’d salmon. VERY good!

 

My comments about the ski trip:

This was a great trip! This was the first time for Evelyn and Jacob to ski, Jacob only did it one day (not feeling well for the second one), Evelyn actually got as far as getting onto a lift and going down a green run. It was good to see Nate as well. No broken bones, no bruises even. A safe great time skiing with family. This is snow done right, you get up in the morning and drive to it with clear dry roads, ski, have a snow day where it actually snows a bit, then the roads are clear and dry for the drive home at the end of your time in the snow. No shovel, no chains required (had to have them in the car, but not on the tires). Just fun!

Renee’s comments.

The only hitch in this vacation was getting a Covid test with negative results prior to leaving Mazatlan (within 72 hours).  We had a Wednesday flight so we took the test on Monday (clinic closed on Sunday).  We got the results within 48 hrs thankfully.  The flight to Dallas was on a small plane with four flight crew and seven passengers.  Dallas airport was almost empty.  We arrived in Sacramento at 10:20 or so and Kyle picked us up.  We went to Mom Scheuerlein’s the next day to deal with the iPad issue.  The issue has something to do with the Apple ID and Apple’s broken recovery system.  2/05, Friday, we left for the snow.  We took the small Mazda and picked up Nate at the Reno airport.  Kyle and family drove the van.  Nate bought us all a delicious BBQ dinner that night (take out from the Fox and the Hound).  Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were spent exploring the resort, playing in the snow (sledding, building a snowman, and snowball fights).  On Monday, I, Reneé, enjoyed making valentines to mail and Valentine cookies with the grands.  Tuesday and Wednesday were ski days.  Heavenly is a huge mountain with lodges and runs in Nevada and California.  Coordinating meeting places, equipment, shuttles was a bit of a challenge but overall a good time was had by all.  Even Jacob, who came down with a cold and only skied one day enjoyed the movie day he got to have when he stayed at the room with mom.  Laura probably missed out most of all.  Evelyn loved skiing.  She didn’t fall the first day and fell getting on or off the lift the second.  Kyle is a great teacher! He skied down the bunny slopes with her facing backwards with her going forwards.  Nate injured his foot on the first run but recovered quickly.  Grandpa never fell…probably because he was so cautious.  I, Reneé, fell three times, each time I was stopped or stopping so no big deal.  The conditions were wonderful…temps in the 40’s, snow a little icy, but overall very nice.

On Thursday, it snowed.  The grands enjoyed going outside to experience this.  We played cards only twice and had two movie nights (watching the same movie, half at a time…Swiss Family Robinson).  Friday, 2/12, we headed down the mountain slowly.  It was a fabulous trip!  Saturday we headed back over to Tracy.  Neil continued to work on Mom’s iPad issue.  Dave and Robyn came over and we visited with them outside in lawn chairs.  It was nice to see them.