Engine Installation, a trip to the boatyard

On Monday, 3/26, Windarra was towed over to the La Cruz Boatyard. There were a few tense moments for us as the wind was picking up and the yard was using a ski boat to tow us as opposed to a dingy tied to the aft quarter. One fellow was driving the ski boat and the other was lying across the back end holding a line attached to Windarra’s bow. Once he dropped the line and we were adrift in the middle of the fairway, but a quick toss and we were under tow again. It was a little hectic maneuvering us passed SV Ponderosa on the fuel dock but soon we were being lifted on the very large travel lift.

The last time the bottom had been cleaned was in Paradise Village as we were preparing to leave on January 5. Things grow fast here in the warmer water. When Windarra came out of the water you could see a lot of growth. It is often referred to as a boat beard. To carry on this analogy, think of ZZTop. The propeller looked like a toilet bowl brush. It looked a lot better after it was pressure washed. Rich and I scraped off barnacles. Rich cleaned the shaft, strut, propeller and shoe as well as replacing the zincs.

In the afternoon the crane, mounted on a truck arrived. Straps were attached to lower the engine, transmission end first. Rich and I had cleared the entry. The salon table was moved, the companionway stairs removed, dodger removed and the boom was swung over to one side. The crane lifted the engine, lowered it through the companionway and then swung into the engine compartment. This took about 3 hours of careful communication and maneuvering between Fernando the mechanic and the crane operators. It was very nicely done.

Now the engine is mounted on blocks in the engine compartment and aligned with the shaft. A new flex coupler is on order. Modifications will need to be made to the brackets for the new motor mounts to maintain the alignment.

We wish to thank Kellie and Terry of SV Noah who were gracious enough to let us spend the night on their boat while Windarra was in the yard overnight.

Tuesday morning Windarra was towed back to our slip. It is great to see an engine in the compartment. We will keep you informed of the progress.

A visit by El Presidente

The marina has been full of activity. The COPA races began March 4, including over 60 J-24s plus windsurfers and kite boarders. These races are Olympic qualifiers and countries competing include Mexico, US, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Germany and France. Friday, the boats racing in the San Diego to Banderas Bay race started to arrive. There are many Transpac 52s as well as one large race boat with an 18 foot keel that must anchor out in the bay since it is too shallow in the marina. Today the week long Banderas bay regatta started.

Along with the race boats, sailors, additional structures for the press, race committee, beer tents, etc comes security. There are all flavors here in attendance from the turistica police, transit police, navy in dress whites, navy in full camouflage gear, flak jackets, helmets, weapons and assault rifles. The Mexican secret service and the bomb squad are also in attendance. I am not sure if I feel safer that they are here or more of a target, but they are all nice and police and low profile, if you can say that with someone under every palm tree holding a gun.

Today Presidente Felipe Calderon arrived to start the regatta. We walked to the Sunday Market as normal but we needed to go through metal detectors similar to the airports on our way back to the boat. We watched the helicopters arrive and the Presidente walk to the yacht waiting to take him out into the bay. Standing on the aft deck of Windarra I was able to get a picture of him as he passed.

Here are a few pictures.

Under a tree with an assault rifle

The Mexican Navy is prepared with automatic weapons

Helicopters arriving

The crowd watching El Presidente walk across

El Presidente arriving on the yacht

El Presidente Felipe Calderon as the yacht motors passed Windarra's stern

In case you can't tell, he is the man in the center wearing a white shirt. It is not every day you get to see a president.

I hope that La Cruz will return to being a sleepy little town soon.



10th year reunion of the 2002 Pacific Puddle Jump Mar 1-3, 2012

With Sarah, Jesse and Rae, we attended the 10^th year reunion of the 2002 Pacific Puddle Jump. There were 25 cruiser attending, representing 13 of the over 38 boats that left Puerto Vallarta in 2002.

Thursday we celebrated with drinks and a pig roast at the Vallarta Yacht Club at Paradise Village. Paradise Village was where most of us were moored and attended the seminars in 2002 to help us prepare for our grand adventure across the South Pacific. They were just beginning to dig the foundation of the yacht club when we left.

Friday we met with the Pacific Puddle Jumpers of 2012 and answered some of their questions and provided some of our ‘sage advice’. They had a lot of the same questions, same anxieties and the same excitement that we did 10 years ago. Jesse and Sarah got up and recounted their experience being alone on Windarra in Niue when the boat slipped the mooring and started to drift away and they were down below doing homework while Rich and I were on shore, checking in. Jesse also suggested that boats with kids get their kids involved in boat handling and sailing. We were proud of their suggestions. That evening we went to Philo’s in La Cruz for dinner and dancing. Sarah laughed at Rich and me shuffling to the music.

Saturday, Rich, Jesse, Rae and I went to Los Arroyos Verdes just outside of Bucerias. It is a sustainable resort, built and operated by Lupe of SV Moon and the Stars. Lupe has been involved in the cruising community at least since we met her 10 years ago. Her resort is a beautiful oasis with a restaurant, a pool, several types of lodging and gardens. We joined the rest of the cruisers for lunch and a tour. Jesse and Rae took dips in the pool while a 3 piece ensemble played classical guitar. It is a special place and if anyone wanted to get away from it all and go to a place to relax and rejuvenate, I would recommend it.

We had a great time at the reunion, catching up and reacquainting. We share a common experience. A few of us are still sailing but almost all of us are still travelling, if not by our own boat but by some other means. It did not take us long to resume our friendships, and it seemed like our adventures together were just a few days ago instead of several years. The cruising community bonds in a different way than most friendships. I wish I had better words to describe it. We are used to spending a few days together and then we would sail away in sometime different directions but when we meet ago, it is just like we saw each other the day before, not skipping a beat. We are glad we had the experience as a family 10 years ago and that we are still able to share it as a family 10 years later.

Visit with Sarah, Jesse and Rae 2/26-3/5

On Sunday, 2/26 we picked up Sarah. She was nice enough to bring down some items we had ordered from the States such as a new pivoting wrench for tightening the tie downs at the mast, Dyneema loops for the lifelines, our repaired night vision monocular and a new GSM wireless router. She also brought down a new pair of waterproof binoculars, a gift from our friend Dan Sego. I think that when he joined us on the Baja Ha-Ha, he got so frustrated with our old pair that he decided we need new ones. We are excited about trying them out. Thank you Dan and Madeline! Sarah also brought us some new dvds and gave us each an iTunes card. Yippee, thank you Sarah!

Tuesday, 2/28, we went to Costco with Adam and Cindi of SV Bravo to pick up a few items. They were doing some provisioning before heading south. They plan to spend this next hurricane season in Ecuador. While the Costco here at Puerto Vallarta is much the same as a typical Costco in the States, you could tell this one was different as it was handing out samples of Corona and Miller Lite beer.

In the afternoon we picked up Jesse and Rae at the airport. They brought us some books to read, yay! plus pictures and videos of the wedding, YAY! That evening we enjoyed a dinner at Eva’s Brick House Restaurant next to the marina. Eva is originally from Peru, so we asked her a few questions about staying there. The barbeque ribs were tasty. Rich and Jesse sampled some tequila from an old barrel, a specialty of the house.

The four of us in front of the anchorage at La Cruz

Dinner at Eva's Brickhouse at La Cruz

Wednesday and Thursday we went to Paradise Village to spend some time on the beach. Jesse and Sarah remember this from when we stayed at the marina here 10 years ago. It was a little different this time as they were also able to order beer and mixed drinks as they sat in beach chairs on the sand looking out at the ocean.

While they were here we also participated in a 10^th year reunion of our Pacific Puddle Jump in 2002, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I will write about that in another blog entry.

Saturday night we had dinner together on the boat. Rich fixed a lamb ragu, a boat favorite.

Sarah, Jesse and Rae

We went to the Sunday market. Sarah and Rae bought a few souvenirs and gifts for friends. Rich and I stopped and sampled some of the local fare and picked up some baked goods. In the afternoon we took Sarah to the airport. After she passed security we waited for Heidi and Joe of SV Huck to arrive from San Francisco and gave them a ride back to Paradise Village.

Monday after a little excitement about our engine mechanic (more later in another blog post), and breakfast we were off to the airport again to drop off Jesse and Rae.

The boat is empty without our kids and we miss them already. We are glad they could take time off from work and join us even if it was only for just a week. Now we are back to projects and preparing to have the new engine installed.