Prior weather forecasts:
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| Checking Predictions: Strong Gusts and Uncomfortable Seas in the weeks prior |
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| Checking predictions in the weeks prior: waiting for friendly Wind Direction, decrease in Wind Strength and smaller Waves |
Tuesday December 21, 2021
Cabo San Lucas
In the 10 days or so Bluewater and Crew have been anchored in Cabo (with no marina space available), Lawrence has been zeroing in on a departure date and studying the weather predictions. Crossing the Sea of Cortez is a HUGE undertaking, not to be taken lightly. Lawrence/Gloria have also been gaining insight from other sailors/fisherman/locals getting the skinny on typical weather patterns/forecasts/advice/etc. They have been waiting for the North winds to calm.
Lawrence has been corresponding directly with the Marina Mazatlán harbormaster who has given him specific arrival instructions including GPS coordinates and confirmation that there is space available for Bluewater.
I've got to drain out some water today, rinse all the gear, repair the paddleboard that developed a tear, shave, do some provisioning, lash up the dinghy and we'll be ready to depart very early tomorrow. It looks like the wind and hopefully the waves will begin to diminish tomorrow morning/afternoon across the Sea. Hopefully we'll hit it right with the timing and get to Mazatlan during daylight.
We provisioned lightly and I spent 2 hours cleaning the bottom. Fun job in clear water. Tons of fish 🐠. I don’t think our anchor moved 5 feet in all the time even though there were substantial winds around 0200-0500 every night blowing offshore. Every boat swung 180° every night and returned in the morning.
We provisioned lightly and I spent 2 hours cleaning the bottom. Fun job in clear water. Tons of fish 🐠. I don’t think our anchor moved 5 feet in all the time even though there were substantial winds around 0200-0500 every night blowing offshore. Every boat swung 180° every night and returned in the morning.
Wednesday December 22, 2021
Cabo San Lucas - Departure Day
After patiently waiting for a desired weather window, Bluewater departed the Baja peninsula enroute for mainland México.
Leg 17
Departure Time: 10:00am local time Wednesday December 22, 2021
Departure from: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, México
2 souls aboard
Lawrence Kerver
Gloria Vilchez
Destination: Marina Mazatlán, México (www.marina-mazatlan.com) Mazatlán
Distance to Destination: 187nm to Marina
Estimated Duration: Approx 36-40 hours
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| Leg 17: Cabo San Lucas to Mazatlán, mainland México |
22Dec 10:00am local time:
1000 departure. Full fuel tanks, 70 gallons H2O, lots of sleep, boat lines out. Tuna out of the freezer. Couldn’t get any more gorgeous. Crystal clear water
Adios Cabo! It’s been real and it’s been fun. Looking forward to a safe crossing and Christmas in Mazatlan. 🎄
We have about 7 kts of wind on the beam going 6kts SOG.
Attempting to hit the strongest winds from the N on an ebb to slack tide to avoid steep waves and uncomfortable conditions.
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| Departing Cabo San Lucas, heading east; Cape in view off Bluewater's port side |
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| Adios Cabo! View looking back |
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| Gloria on the aft bench with Cabo's arch in the distance |
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| Lawrence got new fishing tackle in Cabo! |
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| 22Dec 12:31pm Local time, Speed 6.0 kts |
22Dec 2:07pm local time:
It is getting quite real now. Winds on the nose, herds of sheep out as far as we can see. Furled up the jib and put in the 3rd reef in the main. We may heave-to for awhile here before heading out into that stuff.😳
Aye aye aye!!!! Stay safe!!
22Dec 5:34pm local time:
Holy Toledo!
You're gonna sleep thru Christmas but I can't wait till you get to rest!
Dear God!!!!!
Hola. At 1530 I just made the decision to depart the coast and blast off for Mazatlan. We're in some pretty ugly sea state. I'm pinching up into the short period. choppy waves running port engine. 3rd reef and tiny jib for balance. Pretty uncomfortable for sure.
Be Safe!!!!
Not sure I'll communicate with everyone until you're in a better state.
Be freakin' well.
I'm still jealous.
Hope all goes splendidly.
Sun is setting.
22Dec 5:44pm local time:
Bluewater is performing very well. We've gotten slapped by a few odd direction waves and had a couple over the cabin. Gloria is a rockstar for putting up with this. I've seen gusts over 24.5. PredictWind was very wrong. It is supposed to lighten up here within a few hours. I'll check in later. Peace
✌️
Holy criminy!
Yes Gloria is a keeper!
Thanks for the updates.
Here's to lightening winds/seas!!!
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| Gloria in Rock & Roll seas! |
Subsequently (after safe arrival in Mazatlan) Lawrence said "We bashed into that for about 12 hours. I couldn't take pics or videos when it was serious because I was steering and praying and it was dark and very loud. But you get the picture."🙏
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| 22Dec 6:30pm Local Time, 6.0 kts Bluewater departing the coast and aiming for Mazatlan |
22Dec 9:14pm local time:
Hola. The wind calmed and the seas began coming at a better angle. Turned off the motor at 1820 and we've had 3 hours of rowdy sailing 6-7 knots. We made some good time. Jib is full and the moon just rose - gorgeous!
Holy Toledo!
We feel much better hearing from you!
Enjoy the passage and added speed means more shopping when you arrive.
You're killing it!
Thursday December 23, 2021
...Sailed through the night and still sailing...
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| 23Dec 8:30am Local Time, 6.9 kts |
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| Mazatlan is the destination! |
23Dec 9:16am local time:
Buenos dias.
Good morning!
You're freakin killin it!
I can finally see Mazatlan on your tracker - you're aiming right for it!
23Dec 9:19am local time:
We had a pretty fast night sailing and then motorsailing after midnight. The wind and seas continued to drop so we went through the night with full jib, 3rd reef and jacklines. I slept 15 minutes at a time checking radar and AIS time.
You're gonna sleep thru Christmas but I can't wait till you get to rest!
23Dec 9:22am local time:
We should have WiFi and cell service in the marina. I put the full main up at 0600 and watched dolphins and birds join us for the sunrise. So many stars and bioluminescence last night but the nearly full moon came up so yellow. It was incredible. We were happy not to have flipped over.
Dear God!!!!!
Yes I'm also happy you didn't flip over!!!!
Do you think you'll arrive b4 dark?
23Dec 9:26am local time:
Hoping for arrival just before dark. They said we can call the security on VHF and they will help us get into the right slip. I'll talk to them when we're close. Maybe 1800-1900 arrival
🤞
Thanks!!!
Stay upright!
23Dec 9:28am local time:
It was pretty hairy there for about 5 hours. Not been in conditions like that before so now my confidence is improved. Clearly Gloria praying constantly did help us.🙏 Gorgeous mellow conditions now. We'll check in later
✌️
Oh man, you're difficult to track! B safe
23Dec 9:30am local time:
Will do. On a positive note, the fiddles do in fact keep pots and kettles from flying off the stovetop. Don't think we ever needed them before. Peace out
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| 23Dec around Noon Local Time, speed 6.7 kts |
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| 23Dec 3:09pm Local Time, Speed 7.2 kts |
23Dec 3:19pm local time:
We're making a late lunch trying to eat up all the food we have. Finally within sight of land but still a few hours out. Full throttle both engines to arrive before dark. Adding fuel to the tanks. Gorgeous mountain range ashore but hazy conditions. We've been reading all about Mazatlan history and can't wait to explore. Hope all is well with the fam
Hey hey hey!!!
I've been tracking you with ADD stalker like attention.
You're SOOO CLOSE.
Super to hear from you. Kath/Steve arrived last night.
Can't wait to see photos of your arrival and exploration.
Have fun. Still jealous.
23Dec 3:25pm local time:
Right on. Hi to them and hope everyone has a fun Christmas. I'll let you know when we get settled in at Marina Mazatlan
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| 23Dec 5:10pm Local Time, Speed 7.2 kts |
Earlier today I (Liz) sent our family another email update with Bluewater's progress toward Mazatlan. I summarized all Lawrence's crazy texts (wild seas and pitching conditions) by saying "They have had an exciting journey thus far and they are actively engaged in their endeavor."
To mask the fact that I didn't relay ALL the info, I added a lot of drivel about how I had to summarize Lawrence's texts because we are on several text strings and occasional phone calls and I only talk to him at his choosing when he turns on his Iridium Go. I said that he texts me and I text back and we converse. But if I initiate texting out of the blue he doesn't respond. And I mentioned that his texts (when he sends over satellite connection) are broken up into smaller chunks. Therefore, I have received over 35 texts from him - in chopped up sentences - even though he only sent a fraction of 35 texts.
Lawrence must have read my email because he replied by text:
23Dec 4:59pm local time:
The reason is that I needed to be connected to our Vesper 8000 AIS system with my phone at night and as much as possible. If I log out of the Vesper WIFI to connect to the Iridium Satellite phone then I can't receive potential collision warnings from approaching ships. I login to the Iridium as much as I can safely to get and respond to your messages✌️
Yikes!
I KNOW you're busy. I just write drivel.
Happy docking
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| 23Dec approx 6pm Local Time: Destination in sight! Mazatlan ahead! |
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| Lawrence and the setting sun |
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| Gloria and the setting sun |
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| Gloria |
23Dec 6:34pm local time:
We made it!
Woohooo!!!
Marvelous! LOVE THE SUNSET.
Happy you made it. Merry Christmas Eve tomorrow.
Get sleep! Congrats wild man. Hi to rockstar Gloria
Arrived in Mazatlan !
Greeted by one of the most incredible sunsets I’ve ever seen and fellow cruisers on the dock that ran out in their PJs to help us dock (in the pitch dark) and loaned us their gate key and invited us to a Christmas Eve party tomorrow on the next dock. Fascinating life here. Also one of the narrowest and steepest entrances to a marina area I’ve seen. So fortunate we made it with enough light to see other vessels entering. And very fortunate to live through that crossing- wont try that again!
So happy to have made it. Merry Christmas 🎄
lo & Gt
Bluewater checked in safe & sound @ Marina Mazatlán!
Arrival: 6:34pm local (Mountain) time Thursday 23Dec 2021
Duration of Leg 17: Somewhere around 31-1/2 hours
Friday December 24, 2021
Mazatlán
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| Companions - and birthday gifts from Andrew |
Saturday December 25, 2021
Christmas in Mazatlán!
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| Gloria and Bluewater in Marina Mazatlán |
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| Bluewater - destination made |
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| Gloria in Mazatlán - Merry Christmas! |
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| Gloria and friends Roxy & Carl, Seawind 1160 owners/sailors on the next dock |
Looks like a perfect way to spend Christmas in Mazatlán!
Sunday December 26, 2021
Mazatlán
Lawrence LOVES Mazatlán and exuded enthusiasm for their experiences. "It's one of the most fun places I've ever been." I looked up some information to get a feel for the town. Credit to Meagan Drillinger for her 12/11/2019 Travel post here: One of Mexico's Best Beach Destinations...
Mazatlan...is one of the rare spots in the country that offers both historic colonial city and thriving beach capital. It’s like if San Miguel de Allende and Puerto Vallarta had a baby. Picture cobblestone streets flanked with vibrantly painted colonial houses. Leafy plazas in a crown of cafes and restaurants, whose tables spill out into the street. There are beautiful churches, a historic theater, street vendors, and murals. And just a few blocks away, picture a sprawling malecon (boardwalk), the longest in Mexico, that hugs the Pacific shoreline, lined with beach resorts and palapa’d beach bars slinging ceviche and frosty Pacifico beers. It’s all right here in one, neat little Mexican microcosmic package.
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| Beautiful morning view of boats in Marina Mazatlán |
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| Brand new Seawind 1160, Sky Pond |
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| Sinaloa is a State in México |
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| Mazatlán is in Sinaloa |
As an aside, it turns out sailing to Mazatlán is challenging in more ways than one. Lawrence/Gloria learned that in the days just prior to their arrival, sailing through the narrow channel would have been prevented by a 6ft bar.
This from mex.connect.com: When it comes to cruising climates, there are really two different areas of Mexico. One is the Sea of Cortez, where the air and water are not tropical in the winter. The other area is – depending on your standard of warmth – from Mazatlan or Puerto Vallarta south, where it’s always tropically warm.
Air temperatures in the Sea of Cortez can be cool from as early as mid-November until March or April. And it can get downright cold when a Norther roars down from the States. However, since the Sea of Cortez pretty much runs north-south for about 550 miles, there is great variation in the effect of Northers and the air temperature. When a Norther is blowing 40 knots and it’s very chilly in Conception Bay, for instance, it might only be blowing 15 and be just a little cool in La Paz.
The exceptions to Sea of Cortez weather are Cabo and Mazatlan, both of which stay warm all year round. Mazatlan is affected by only the strongest Northers, while Cabo is immune because of tall mountains.
And
This from sailmagazine.com: As well as being the biggest port on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Mazatlan has also been developed for mass tourism. Several marinas are located in the Zona Dorada (as the tourist belt is known), but during moderate to large swell conditions, breaking waves form across the entrance to the lagoon and the narrow channel may be closed.
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| Gloria on Bluewater rocking a new dress |
Monday December 27, 2021
Mazatlán
And another pause in the action...
