Chip & Debbie Willis on s\v Elegant'sea: March 2013

Anchored in Tenacatita, Whales in the anchorage! - 2013

In the middle of March 2013 – Anchored in Tenacatita anchorage

At the Tenacatita anchorage we heard the VHF radio crackle with "whales in the anchorage"! We went up on deck to sit and watch "the show" and sure enough there were two whales swimming through the boats at anchor.

Anchor in Punta De Mita, Debbie raising dinghy with windless drum - 2013

End of March 2013 - Anchor in Punta De Mita in Banderas Bay Mexico

Debbie takes wraps on the windless.

Because we have decided we will put the dinghy on the fore deck for any half day or more passages (at least for now) we wanted an easier way to get the dinghy there on deck and to deploy it afterwards. We were using our 4.1 block and tackle attached to the spinnaker halyard but it was a pain and then all by hand. We also used a bridle to pick it up.

Anchored in Chamela - Getting ready to sail to Punta Mita in Banderas Bay a night passage - 2013

End of March 2013 - Anchored in Chamela (Perula Bay) in Mexico

One of the boats in the anchorage, an Islander 36 with a single hander on it - Graham on s\v Avi.

It’s time to move on. The weather window has been moved up so we are leaving Chamela (Perula Bay) . Tuesday afternoon at 2 PM in order to round Cabo Corrientes (Cape of Currents) at about 2 AM.

Anchored in Chamela (Perula Bay), got DVD movies in town! - 2013

End of March 2013 - Anchored in Chamela (Perula Bay) in Mexico

DVD’s! Yep and we thought we were on the moon! We may still be on the moon as things go but we did find DVD’s. We were talking about swapping DVD’s to another cruiser and how we did not have any because they are al digitized and they said cruisers take movies on USB sticks as well and you can buy them at local stands.

Galley vent and through hull valve for Mermaid 12000 btu HVAC - 2013

March 2013 – Anchored in the Bahia Tenacatita anchorage

The first thing we did was secure the through hull valve on the out through hull.

Anchored in Chamela, daredevil Debbie and her Death-Defying Dinghy Ride - 2013

End of March 2013 – Anchored in Chamela (Perula Bay) by the fishing village of Perula

Arriving in Chamela (Perula Bay) we anchored and then deployed our flopper stopper. (MagmaRock N Roll Stabilizer) The swells were rolling in and pounding on the beach. Each “kaboom” creates spray and makes the sand go flying. Our 36’ sailboat rises up and over the swells as they pass by.

Plastimo Dorads ordered - 2013

March 2013 – Sitting in the Tenacatita anchorage

We are talking with JD at Downwind Marine in San Diego about ordering two of these red “B” dorads from Plastimo Dorads.

If you remember we lost one to bad weather crossing the sea of Cortez from Cobo to Mazatlán Mexico.

Plastimo Dorads
Model B
11.8" High

Anchored at Tenacatita and took the dinghy into the Tenacatita beach, rowing - 2013

Middle of March 2013 – Anchored in Tenacatita, Mexico

Our boat is fourth one from the right.

Debbie and I dinghied into the Tenacatita beach and had really no problems. Debbie rowed in and I took over by the beach because I can power in better.

Debbie moderated the Southbound SSB Net

Middle of March 2013 – Sitting in the Tenacatita anchorage

Debbie moderated the Southbound SSB Net on Monday night. She said there were eight check-ins and one as far south as El Salvador and north up in the sea, Isla Coronado.

Debbie said it was fun!

Looks like Debbie will be the Monday night Southbound SSB Net Moderator for a while.

The net starts on 8.122 for long range traffic and then moves down to 4.054 roughly 15 to 30 minutes after the start of the net at 0055Z. This way both long range and short range cruisers get an opportunity to check in and participate.

Sailrite Zig Zag sewing machine oiled up - 2013

The stern Shade tree was finished off by Debbie. It was about time to oil and grease up the Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 Sewing Machine.

Anchored in Tenacatita Mexico, Shade Tree up for the stern section - 2013

Middle of March 2013 – Anchored in Tenacatita, Mexico

We got our Shade Tree(Shadetree boat awning systems) up for the stern section of the boat here in Tenacatita. We have put some hardware on the zippers so they do not come un-zipped and take the stress off the zippers.

danuu kayak cover for Trekker Inflatable Kayak

Middle of March 2013 – Sitting in the Tenacatita anchorage

We are thinking of purchasing the danuu kayak cover for our The Trekker Inflatable Kayak which measures 144” X 32” or 12’ X 32”.

This way next cruising season we could leave it blown up and on deck for when we want to use it and keep it out of the sun. Then deflate it when we want to store it. Last time we used the dinghy cover but it does not reach the whole length of the kayak,

It would be the:

NEW LENGTH!
BRAT
kayak cover
9’-12’6"
dimensions
12'6" l x 49" w

Anchored in Tenacatita - Barra - Puerto da la Navidad Marina to Tenacatita 2013

Marine in Barra-Bahiade Navidad at the Grand Isla Navidad Resort. Where is our boat s\v Elegant'sea ?

Honda 9.9 hp outboard flush and Dave from s\v Free Spirit - 2013

Middle of March 2013 – Sitting in the Grand Isla Navidad Resort Marina - Bahia de Navidad

While at the Marina Puerto da la Navidad (which is by the lagoon and is part of the (Grand Isla Navidad Resort) we used our Honda 9.9 hp outboard out board motor engine flush adapter.

s\v Free Spirit in Barra de Navidad lagoon, another Islander Freeport 36 - 2013

Middle of March 2013 – In the Marina Puerto da la Navidad Marina - Barra-Bahia de Navidad

s\v Free Spirit - Dave Niauwstad.

We met up with Dave Nieuwstad on s\v Free Spirit, an Islander Freeport 36...the same type of boat s\v Elegant'sea ,our boat. He anchored in the Barra-Bahia de Navidad lagoon the day before we were leaving for the Marina Puerto da laNavidad which is by the lagoon and is part of the Grand Isla Navidad Resort.

First thing we did at the marina was run a bottle of propane over in the dinghy to get filled and then we stopped and visited s\v Pied-a-Mer IIl with Pam and Eric onboard so I could return a book.

Barra-Bahia de Navidad Lagoon to Marina Puerto da la Navidad - 2013

Middle of March 2013 – Barra-Bahia de Navidad lagoon

We left the lagoon with Debbie at the helm. Debbie followed the bread crumbs from our last entry. The lagoon is a bit tricky and very shallow in places, the channel is not marked.
Ok we are back in the Marina Puerto de la Navidad(Barra Marina) again for a couple of days. We are getting ready for our trip back to Puerto Vallarta for the summer.

Video of raising the Achilles LSI-310E dinghy with stern windless - 2013

Early March 2013 – At anchor in the Bahia de Navidad lagoon

Here is our video of raising the Achilles LSI-310E dinghy with the stern windless.

The 12000 btu Mermaid Marine Air HVAC got even more work done to it. We cut the holes for the 6” insulated ducting. We used the template Debbie made and drew them out.

Anchor in the Bahia de Navidad lagoon, Golf any one? - 2013

Early of March 2013 – At anchor in the Barra-Bahia de Navidad lagoon

At the Grand Isla Navidad Resort there are three golf courses. There is the Ocean, Lagoon and the Mountain courses. Each one is nine holes.

We took Richard over to the club house for breakfast one day in appreciation for his kindness to us.

The gulf course dock and beach.

Spectra water maker stariner cleaned - Buy water? - 2013

Early March - Anchored in the Barra de Navidad lagoon

Debbie cleaning the sea strainer.

Because time is ticking away and we want to have our Mermaid Marine Air HVAC working for the summer, we decided to start working on the install of the final HVAC unit.

Chip & Debbie Willis on s\v Elegant'sea