Sailed to the Romantic Zone in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from La Cruz - 2014

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

Cap-i-tan Debbie at the helm.

We had a nice sail across Banderas Bay to the pier in the “Romantic Zone” 

“The Romantic Zone retains all of the charm and tradition of the original fishing village and is a great place to take photographs. This part of Puerto Vallarta has a laid-back atmosphere and casual pace that will make you feel like you have stepped back into a much simpler time. Donkeys clattering down the cobblestone streets offer once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, and old-Mexico style homes with red tile roofs and bougainvillea spilling from the balconies provide the perfect backdrop for vacation pictures.”

The systems worked good on our 1978 Islander Freeport and we were reminded of some of the reasons we love this boat. The boat sailed so sea kindly as it seems to do in all conditions. Our re-work of the furler line worked out nice as the 130 genoa went in and out nicely. We have one more issue or two to work on. We also tried the new technique (we learned from our friends John and Kelly on s/v EmeraldLady) of back-winding the genoa when tacking then pulling it around once the boat was coming around – before we did this when just in the first phase of being in irons which made the clew whip wildly around, sometime hitting our windows and/or dodger.  It was also nice to see that the genoa cleared the paddle board and kayak in their racks – something we hoped would work out when we got the racks!!  Our topping lift seems to be right. Also our reefing system could use some improvement if possible. The reefing works but makes more work raising and lowering the sai

The ocean-side of Paradise Village Resort (where we spent our Summer of 2013)

We came across our friends on s/v Sojourn - Bruce and Bridgett!!

Cap-i-tan Me

We were towing the Achilles 10.2 dinghy and it was more or less a test. We did find that it slowed us down. Our “drogue”, if you will J. We were wanting a way to just sail the bay that is simple, we are at anchor for the winter so there is really no place to leave the dinghy. OK, we could drop the dinghy anchor and sail away however when the wind picks up and the white caps roll through it may not be there when we get back! So no, it means too much to us to lose it by leaving it behind. So we thought just towing it while sailing Banderas Bay would be a good option. Not so, we think, because of all the drag it creates. It has a blow up floor not a hard bottom. Could be a rowing dinghy or hard bottom dinghy would not create so much drag but we do not know or really care as ours is not that. How much we were slowed is a guess. Could be a knot more or less? It just seems the drag is not good for the dinghy or our sailing fun. We did do a motor to Punta De Mita in Banderas Bay with the dinghy on the davits. All went very well so I am thinking our next sail (a week or so) will be with the dinghy up on the davits with the motor on the dinghy. We will see how this works. We think in the bay it should be fine. It would eliminate some work and after all we are retired! (Punta De Mita is in Banderas Bay – at the North end😁

Looking up the mast to our wind directional, our "friends" the birdies!!

Enjoying the free "ride"!

A cruise ship "in port". This is also where Marina Nuevo Vallarta Marina is, the "down town marina".

The genoa really does clear the paddleboard!

The "house" looks good while underway (with the t.v. put away behind the settee cushions)!!

On a starboard tack heading downtown.

Getting closer...

We sailed to the pier and looked around and then did a tack and sailed back. The sail was about 11 nm to the “Romantic Zone” and then back so a total of about 20 nm. We left at about 10:00 am and had to do some tacking for an hour or so as the wind was coming from, where else, the “Romantic Zone”! After a few tacks and an hour or so we got on one nice tack on a close-haul and sailed all the way there which took a few more hours. It was quite a nice, easy sail over. The day started at about 77 deg and ended about 80 deg and the winds were about 12 knots.

There is a real nice boardwalk along the “Romantic Zone” with a bridge over a river. There are lots of clubs and shops that make this a lively place at night…lots of lights and fun.