Anchored in La Cruz -Capt. Ron Browns Islander Freeport 36' s\v Hazel Rose got hit in La Cruz anchorage - 2014

End of January 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (by Puerto Vallarta)

Capt. Ron Browns Islander Freeport 36' s\v Hazel Rose got hit while at anchor in La Cruz. It was damaged at the bow.

Anchored in La Cruz anchorage - The other day we did errands Zaragoza’s, Mega, Global Gas etc. - 2014

End of January 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)

We first of course dinghy-ed in. On the way we stopped at Capt Ron Browns Islander Freeport 36’ and took a couple pictures. He was rowing in in his dinghy so we stopped and talked. Ron said he is getting insurance money for the damage and would be getting all new gear. Then we ran by the other Freeport, a Islander Freeport 41’ motor sailor in the anchorage. Took a couple pictures and then ran over to Pam and Eric on S\V Pied-a-Mer III  and picked up Pam as Eric was ashore already.

Sailed to Punta De Mita Anchorage from La Cruz,, Banderas Bay, good pics - 2014

End of January 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in Punta De Mita anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico

Debbie taking us to Punta De Mita.

Varnishing companionway - first coats ove filled holes - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
Such a large amount of are so we used the iron sander on a lot of it. We are at anchor through all of this.

Anchored in La Cruz anchorage - New Islander Freeport 36 in town s\v F\Our Choice\s - 2014

End of January 2014 - Anchored in La Cruz Anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico
 We spotted yet another Islander Freeport 36' in the La Cruz  anchorage while dingy-ing in today "F\Our Choice\s".

Anchoring with the Garmin GMR 18 HD Radar - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
  We started using the Garmin GMR 18 HD Radar to anchor. Once we drop anchor Debbie stets a waypoint on the Garmin chart plotter.

Sailed back in to La Cruz anchorage from Punta De Mita - 2014

End of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in Puerto Vallarta Mexico


I think this is a West Sail 42', notice the dingy pulled up under the other dingy on the stern.
 We left Punta De Mita in Banderas Bay after being there four days and three nights. It was "surfs up dude!" as the swells were just a rolling in. Not great for an anchorage though😩

Anchored in Punta De Mita in Banderas Bay - Retired (jubilado , nice morning sunrise - 2014

End of January 2014 - Anchored in Punta De Mita in Banderas Bay Mexico
 Got up a little early the other day in Punta De Mita  in Banderas Bay cooking some water for my coffee.

Varnishing companion way - prep - teak paste - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)

The first order of business was to fill the many holes left by the previous owner(PO). There were holes for some swivels like one for a loran and then some others as well. We decide not to use plugs as the holes were fairly small and we would need to drill them out bigger to put in plugs.
Five plugs in one small circle was a bit much. 

Morning nets VHF and Omigo SSB - 2014

January 2014 - Anchored in the LaCruz Anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico
Morning nets:
The VHF morning net here in Banderas Bay (channel 22A) now has 80 + boats checking in. That means there are many more also that are just lurkers and the bay is busy 😀
 We or I have been the net controller for the SSB Omigo net.on Fridays The Amigo Net meets daily at 14:00 Zulu and operates on 6.227 and alternate frequency is 6.212. The Amigo Net is a single side band net. The net manager on the Amigo Net is Jake on board the sailboat JAKE
 Jake has another cruiser doing my Fridays for the last two of this month of January.
 So the Banderas Bay area is busy with cruisers as it is after all the high season.

IMSS – On it goes - hip problems - 2014

Middle of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico

IMSS – on it goes:

1/20/2014 we went and saw the nutritionist at the IMSS clinic in Aramara by Puerto Vallarta. He can speak some English and Debbie some Spanish and me, well very little still. We did get good news. Even though the month since we saw him had all the holidays with the pot-lucks and all I still lost 4.5 kilos! That is 9 pounds. So I started at 216 lbs and now am at 200 lbs and need to keep losing. He gave us a new menu and I will want to step up the paddle boarding 😄I do not want to depend on exercise to lose weight as any injury could mean a weight gain. I will control it with my food intake. However now I want to lose faster to relievee the pressure on my hip, back and knees etc

Hookah hose and regulator tested in real world - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
 We tested out the Hookah hose and regulator. We connected the hose to the dive tank we put up on deck. I then was in the water and put the hose through my weight belt. 

Anchored in La Cruz - Getting Kayak racks made, s\v Pied-a-Mer IIl, m/v Context etc. - 2014

Middle of January 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)

 Wednesday we had another full day. We started out dingying over to s\v Pied-a-Mer IIl and picking up Pam and Eric and then after going to the dinghy dock we piled into the Ka for a drive up to Pieter’s electronics place “Marine Vallarta in La Cruz so Eric could have a chat with him. Then off to Starbucks in Paradise Village Marina to meet with Sebastian to have a set of Kayak racks made for s\v Pied-a-Mer IIl.  Sebastian made a set for us and we like them. So we waited for Sebastian to show up but after Debbie got a text message that he could not make it until 1:30 PM instead of 11:30 AM. It is the Mexican way.
We were also all having lunch with Hugh and Barb on m\v Aussie Made at the Vallarta Yacht Club at 11:30 so Pam and I left for the Vallarta Yacht Club(VYC) to meet them.

Anchored in La Cruz - Posting at Javecinos WiFi, Ka gettin some work done - 2014

Beginning of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico
While we are waiting for Moses, the mecanico in La Cruz to replace a rocker arm gasket, replace the spare tire and fix a head light on our car the Ford Ka, we are posting at the coffee shop across the street. I am sorry to say this place is closing for lack of foot traffic. It is really a nice coffee shop with good WiFi 😋 This coffee shop is up on the HWY.

Paddle boarding better as time goes by - 2014

January 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
 OK getting better! My goal was to paddle to the break water fairly nearby.  

From m\v Aussie Made, Hookah dive hose and scuba regulator - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
Hugh and Barb on m\v Aussie Made gave us a Hookah hose and regulator. It was kinda a trade because I gave them a bunch of new fishing gear that I decided was better to give away than use.

Advanced Elements Summer Shower

Beginning of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in Puerto Vallarta Mexico

 When Debbie went back to the US last time we upgraded our sun shower to a 5 gallon "Advanced Elements Summer Shower" that we purchased from "Amazon". The other sun shower we had or still have is 2.5 gal and just not enough for two or a nice long shower. Long being subjective :)


 We hang this from our head hatch and it works great. We will post a pic of that for Islander Freeport 36' owners\fans when we take the next sun shower, no nudes will be shown :)

Varnishing trim pieces around the salon, etc - 2014

Beginning of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in Puerto Vallarta Mexico
 As we sit at anchor we are trying to varnish up the teak trim pieces around the salon, galley and nav station.

Swimming with the ........ bottom cleaning - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)
Cleaning the anchor chain off the Starboard paddle board.

We winterized out Mermaid 5200 BTU AC unit - 2014

We started by putting the water in a bucket and then the hose from the T into the bucket but it did not work. 

Ford Ka now legal in our name 2014

Beginning of January 2014 - La Cruz Anchorage in, Banderas Bay Mexico

We are legal, car wise. It took two days, a total of about seven hours to get our Ford Ka car paid up with registration fees and taxes etc. This cost about 5,600 pesos which is about $428.00 USD. 

Honda EU 2000i got fired up

Beginning of January- La Cruz Anchorage in Puerto Vallarta Mexico 2014
First time we ran this in the in the at least three years since we owned it.

Ford Ka - not starting - 2014

 Yes, it's a beautiful day!!
We were going to go to Mega (grocery store) today so tried to start the car - it wouldn't. 
All the rain we had was the problem as it rained, it rained for the last week or so and it did run before the rain, at least kid of and we drove it! So, we blew off Mega and went to the La Cruz "mecanico" instead - Moses.