Friday February 10, 2017.

We are restless in the marina so Thursday we got out and spent the day sailing about the bay. We have to get out and in when the tide is high so we check the tide tables and have a window of opportunity from about 9:30am till 11am. img_5156

There isn’t any wind, only fishing boats dot the bay so Vernon got out the fancy lure and we trolled for a while. When the wind came up we wound the line in.

Fish 2: Us 0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wind was light about 8 knots so we set a spinnaker and crossed the bay tweaking it. This sail is big and very manual with setting a pole to hold one clew (lower corner of sail) and using four more lines to fly it.

It is tricky and would be sooooo much easier with 2 more people. Dang, just one more person helping with all stages of this would make it safer and more relaxing. Thank goodness for our steady auto pilot. I tried to get some pictures of it but you never get the beauty of a spinnaker unless you are away from the boat. And there never seems to be that opportunity. I wish a boat would pass and take some and then email them to me. But there isn’t any one around. All the fishing boats have headed back in.

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We also are trying to check the steering gear but even when the wind built to 14 we remained on a downwind course and did not build up helm pressure. So the idea of an expensive boat haul out is put aside for now.

We sail along past the Marietas islands and see a few whales cavorting in the bay.dsc_0112dsc_0127-2

After a very smooth douse of the big blue sail we head over to La Cruz and drop anchor. Backing down, we almost run over an unseen small fishing net, so we reset and sit and enjoy the view. dsc_0130dsc_0139I grill Tuna steaks with mango pineapple salsa and open a bottle of champagne my Pacer staff gave me for my birthday and I brought all the way down here to celebrate the trip!

The moon is up and full and bright on the water… where was he when I needed him a few weeks back?  dsc_0141We sleep to a sweet little roll that always comes with anchoring. Nice day on Banderas Bay. The next morning we enjoy our coffee in the cockpit,

Vernon jumps in and does a quick clean of the bottom and we motor back to the marina making the tide window at 10:45am.