Underway from Mazatlan to Isla Isabella
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Fri 26 Feb 2010 11:18
shimmers in a pathway to the horizon, in the distance on the port there is
another boat, one of many we passed tonight. Currently 20 miles (22:07.595N
106:00.830W), from the rockery of Isla Isabella, where we hope to anchor,
and do some diving and exploring, but our hopes are not high as this is not
a big or good anchorage so we need the seas small and hope there are not too
many other boats there. If we cannot anchor we will go on to Chacala (45
miles onwards) a place we have had many recommendations on.
We left Mazatlan at about 5.30 PM after a day relaxing around the pool,
letting the seas die down, after lifting the dock lines we attempted to
reach the fuel dock, but on a full moon tide the current was running 5 knots
into and past the fuel dock, so we were trying to land in a river, this
called for some "seat of the pants" boat handling where we did 180 turn off
the upstream end of the dock and surprisingly we glided onto the dock
looking like we knew what we were doing (or had done it before). After
fueling we headed out, the entrance still had some good waves, but once out
we were able to run down the beach of main Mazatlan, and see the city from
the sea as the lights came up on the port side, and the sun set on the
starboard side over the top of two islands. Off our bow pulling out of the
Old Harbor was a cruise ship heading to Cabo, her lights glowing against the
golden setting sun on horizon. We had a NW swell of 2 to 3 feet, and maybe
10 knots, it was a little sloppy as we prepared dinner and settled in for a
night run of 90 miles. This would get us to the rocky island at just after
dawn where we could access the situation.
Tracy took first shift, from 7 pm to 1am and then I am doing through until
dawn (I like this shift as it gives me time alone, also I look forward to
catching up on my Audio Books) and then I am able to witness that new dawn
and freshness that comes with it in those early hours as the sun peaks over
the water and then the world opens up to the new day. It is a nice time of
day giving me a renewed vigor for the day.
The engine alignment has improved the smoothness of the run, (also a note to
those intending coming down here, you need to clean your prop regularly eg
every 2 weeks it grows fast and then un balance happens).
The boys settled into the routine well and the whole crew were very at ease
at doing this night crossing, this is a big step in a couple of weeks, as
night crossings were to be avoided (which we want to do) but now we know a
combination that works.
During the night the sea has maintained the 2 to 3 feet from the NW which is
diagonally crossing from our stern pushing down the waves, we have only the
main up, as the wind is all over the place and mostly made by us as we run
the engine and make a good 7.2 knots. The auto pilot acted up again once,
the compass just went loopy, and sent the boat in a 360 spin, we reset the
power and then watched and it has run for another 7 hours no issues handling
the following seas well, I am still trying to get to bottom of this one.
We are well stocked, and have the boat is better shape than any time on the
trip so far, after Mazatlan, and will full spares now, we will see how the
battery and charging adjustments and tuning go over the next week, hopefully
we will see a an improvement in this as well as I think we serviced this
area well, (I had over looked this area in the build up to leaving).
We did a lot of discussions with other cruisers and between ourselves on
planning, looking ahead at where and what we want to do now that we are 2
months into the trip. We are still uncertain and want to take each week as
it comes but we are still heading south and aiming for central America by
May, which will keep has at a steady heading. We have joined a cruisers
rally to El Salvador this is the first one, (cruisers rally is a just a semi
organized gathering of boats heading for a common destination), we are the
50 th boat, there was no fee to join and there are opportunities of free
marinas when we arrive, and ability to meet cruisers heading in the same
direction. One of the things we missing so far is the experience of really
"buddy boating" with some like minded people, we have run into friends at
certain locations but have not travelled with them, it would be fun and
reassuring to buddy boat in central America during the summer. We will see
how things go, and how the boys, Tracy and I settle into the cruising life,
while we are relaxing we feel we have not slide into the full cruising mode,
(Scot stated as we left Mazatlan it took him 6 months with the family).
Stay tuned hope to update in a couple of hours !!