Viva Mexico

Nov. 3, 2006 Turtle Bay, Baja Calif.
We are here! We had a great sail coming down - I think we won our
division - as far as I can see, we were the first in the division to
finish. In fact, there were only about 35 out of 160 boats anchored in
Turtle Bay when we arrived. So we had a good run. We used our
spinnaker a lot and the weather charts suggested that there would be
more wind further out from shore, so we stayed well out. Winds were
from 13 to 20 knots. In the end of day one, we suffered a serious
spinnaker wrap (around the headstay) that caused us to lose the use of
the jib and spinnaker for a while, but we just set our drifter on the
pole and kept going just fine. The next morning, we got some of the
wrap out and regained the use of our jib. Since the wind was getting
stronger, we changed to our jib and carried that to the finish, getting
in just before sunset on the second day.
There were two pleasant surprises for me on this trip. First, I had no
idea that this boat was so fast! We got here as fast as a Hobie 33 with
a crew of 4. They reported surfing to 17K, but finished close to us. I
don't know how we did so well. Second, I don't know how I did so well
when it came to picking wives. Andrea was awesome and I don't use that
term lightly. She would come off the foredeck after wrestling with a
sail and 5 minutes later would be in the galley making some great food.
She actually likes cruising better now that before she left. Totally
committed! I am a very lucky man.
Steve Peterson, our crew, has been a godsend. We finished without being
exhausted, thanks to him. He is easy to be with in a small space.
So cruising is great. We are well and happy. Turtle Bay is terrific.
There are about 700 permanent residents and most have them have turned
out to provide services to the 700 sailors who have descended on them.
We had lobster yesterday at a palapa on the beach and the 3 of us did
flamenco at one of the restaurants. How could it be better?
Best wished to all,
Richard