2012, Anchored in Matanchen Bay in San Blas, Nayarit Mexico
Here we are in Matanchen Bay near San Blas, Nayarit. We ended up here with three other ha ha boats. The day we arrived we put up the BreezeBuster hatch scoops and screens that are no-see-um screens also. We took a shower together in our head and it was great. Plenty of room and the water felt real good. We slept real good with the two fans we installed in the stateroom on full blast. They got turned down as the night cooled off. The next day was dingy day. We blew up our Achilles LSI-310E dingy. We used the electric pump and set up we made and did this on the fore deck.
We had to take down the BreezeBuster hatch scoops but it was a breeze (get it) because they go up and come down real easy. We closed the hatches, the one over the bed and head one. We launched the dingy using the block and tackle we used on our old Catalina 30 for going up the mast, made it a lot easier. We had also made a bridal for this for our old dingy which we re-purposed for this. It all took a while as it was the first time we have done this on this boat with this dingy so it all had to be adjusted and set up for this purpose. We got the Honda 9.9 hpoutboard on and then had a hard time starting the new motor. We did get into the beach and had to use the ding wheels.
We went up to a restaurant on the beach where some other Baja Ha Ha'ers were which we knew and sat down and all told stories, then came out the dominoes! We played Mexican Dominoes and had lots of fun etc. None of the beach restaurants have lights so they close at dark. We all went to our boats and now I am writing this. We will stay for a few more days then head to Chacala down the coast a measly four hours (22nm). When leaving Mazatlan we lost our autopilot about three miles out. We checked the quadrant using the digital camera holding it into the lazeretts for physical damage but there seemed to be none. It was a long passage seeing as it was one from about 11:am the first day and then all night (that was the hardest part hand steering all night) and till about 2:30 PM the next day. We were tired and worn out! That there'd crew member auto is sure a valuable member. We will try to find out what's wrong on our way to Chacala. Thankfully the sea state was good but the winds were real light.
The water is very warm and there is a slight breeze. The waves are small and rock the boat at anchor (the CQR is holding well) gently to give a slight back message while in bed. Just a nice comfy night under the stars. It is almost still a full moon so the stars are not so easily seen. There is really absolutely no noise. If you listen closely in the cockpit you can hear the gentle waves breaking on the beach. No generators running, no planes or helicopters, barking dogs etc you get the idea or can you even imagine no noise living in a city? in-fact we have only heard about three far away planes since being in Mexico. It is really quiet and dark and lovely.
The only down side so far here in Matanchen Bay is the no-see-ums and mosquitoes. It rules out the use of the cockpit at sun down or for us in the evening so far. We may brave going out after sun down soon for a sit in the cockpit. They (the bugs) are not real bad but one is too many for us. We also could anchor out further to help that. We are about ¾ mile off shore now. San Blas is worse and that is one reason we did not go directly into San Blas.
Some of what has worked well and we especially appreciate: (Pictures of these all on the blog)
Islander Freeport sail boat B plan.
Breeze Busters with no-see-um screens.
Donard Dinghy wheels.
Kohler shower equipment.
Debbie-made window shade screens.
Debbie-made shower curtain.
Bora fans.
Beta engine and Twin Disk TMC 60 gear box.
Galley foot pump.
Mermaid AC.
Ventura 200T by Spectra water maker.
Frigoboat Refer system.
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