Mazatlan to Puerto Vallarta...
Sorry for the delay in updating the blog… What a trip, exhausting, but well worth the effort. Left Mazatlan around 10 am Sunday and got into PV about 34 or 35 hours later. We went non-stop, travelled through the night and direct as we could. It was somewhat reminiscent to the trip when Bonnie and I overnighted for the first time along the coast of Big Sur, not quite as magical in some respects but unique in others.
Very little moon light, or at least it was late in rising. It was only a ¼ moon that was waning so the light from it was pretty dim anyways. The night started with clear skies and as darkness spread across the sky and the light from the sun on the horizon faded, the Milky Way light up the sky in a glory of stars and constellations. Not to last for the night though and as we sailed south, you could see approaching cloud blotting out the stars somewhat like black ink spreading across the night sky. Later when the moon did rise, it would appear and then disappear behind the black shadows of clouds not unlike the old horror movies. 
Winds were light, as were the seas but we were able to sail or at least motor sail most of the time. This trip we got to fly the gen-naker for a few hours… the most that I have ever used that sail at one time. It is a pretty little kite, white and blue, and stands out for miles I am sure. Pretty much the sail that everyone pictures when they think of sailing…
We passed by Isla Isabella at 4 am in the dark and stayed well away from Tres Maries, an island group with a major penal colony on them. Lots of heavy security and Mexican navel patrols so there was no need for a couple of gringos in a old boat to go and visit.
No dolphins this passage but lots of whales, mostly from a distance, blowing, snorting, breaching, rolling around, and whatever else whales do. They are really pretty cool to watch, even from a distance. During the night, I am sure I heard a couple of snorts close by but could not see anything in the dark.
We did see one sea turtle right up close. He never seemed concerned about us, even when we circled to have a quick look. Bandaras Bay is huge, the second largest in North America, and we were headed to the far end. We got into Nuevo Vallarta late, about 8 pm and it was dark. Circled through Paradise Village Marina and could not see any open slips and no security guards answering the radio. At Nuevo Vallarta marina we found no one around as well but were able to settle into an empty slip with the help of another cruiser who looked like he had been there for quite a while working on his boat. The dock space we moored in was actually someone else’s but they were out on charter and not expected back until the next day. In the morning we checked in with Juan the manager. He was very helpful and considerate but could not find a space for us. The whole marina is being rebuilt very slowly and there just was no space. This marina area is built into an estuary, and being on the edge of the tropics, there were lots of birds and very noisy ones early in the morning. There were also lots of signs warning people not to swim in the marina due to crocodiles. There are 28 different crocs known to inhabit the area.
We called Marina Vallerta and moved into a slip here. It is very much touristy, not unlike Cabo with hotel development and stores all around the marina. Quite a bit noiser too, with charter fishing boats starting early in the morning. Much less in services, no internet, one washroom for the entire marina and no keys to get into it…. Just go find a security officer and he will let you
in…. have only seen one so far, and he was having a beer with a fishing charter across the way from us…. But it is a secure slip and not to badly priced.
The weather is calling for unsettled weather over the next few days and the chatter on the net is not recommending travel so we will not be going to Barra Navidad this trip. I was really looking forward to it but would rather err on the side of caution. We will spend the next few days checking out the sites and opportunities around PV probably some kayaking tomorrow or the next day….
Very little moon light, or at least it was late in rising. It was only a ¼ moon that was waning so the light from it was pretty dim anyways. The night started with clear skies and as darkness spread across the sky and the light from the sun on the horizon faded, the Milky Way light up the sky in a glory of stars and constellations. Not to last for the night though and as we sailed south, you could see approaching cloud blotting out the stars somewhat like black ink spreading across the night sky. Later when the moon did rise, it would appear and then disappear behind the black shadows of clouds not unlike the old horror movies. 
Winds were light, as were the seas but we were able to sail or at least motor sail most of the time. This trip we got to fly the gen-naker for a few hours… the most that I have ever used that sail at one time. It is a pretty little kite, white and blue, and stands out for miles I am sure. Pretty much the sail that everyone pictures when they think of sailing…
We passed by Isla Isabella at 4 am in the dark and stayed well away from Tres Maries, an island group with a major penal colony on them. Lots of heavy security and Mexican navel patrols so there was no need for a couple of gringos in a old boat to go and visit.
No dolphins this passage but lots of whales, mostly from a distance, blowing, snorting, breaching, rolling around, and whatever else whales do. They are really pretty cool to watch, even from a distance. During the night, I am sure I heard a couple of snorts close by but could not see anything in the dark.
We did see one sea turtle right up close. He never seemed concerned about us, even when we circled to have a quick look. Bandaras Bay is huge, the second largest in North America, and we were headed to the far end. We got into Nuevo Vallarta late, about 8 pm and it was dark. Circled through Paradise Village Marina and could not see any open slips and no security guards answering the radio. At Nuevo Vallarta marina we found no one around as well but were able to settle into an empty slip with the help of another cruiser who looked like he had been there for quite a while working on his boat. The dock space we moored in was actually someone else’s but they were out on charter and not expected back until the next day. In the morning we checked in with Juan the manager. He was very helpful and considerate but could not find a space for us. The whole marina is being rebuilt very slowly and there just was no space. This marina area is built into an estuary, and being on the edge of the tropics, there were lots of birds and very noisy ones early in the morning. There were also lots of signs warning people not to swim in the marina due to crocodiles. There are 28 different crocs known to inhabit the area.We called Marina Vallerta and moved into a slip here. It is very much touristy, not unlike Cabo with hotel development and stores all around the marina. Quite a bit noiser too, with charter fishing boats starting early in the morning. Much less in services, no internet, one washroom for the entire marina and no keys to get into it…. Just go find a security officer and he will let you
in…. have only seen one so far, and he was having a beer with a fishing charter across the way from us…. But it is a secure slip and not to badly priced.The weather is calling for unsettled weather over the next few days and the chatter on the net is not recommending travel so we will not be going to Barra Navidad this trip. I was really looking forward to it but would rather err on the side of caution. We will spend the next few days checking out the sites and opportunities around PV probably some kayaking tomorrow or the next day….
posted by Rick @ 2/10/2010 07:37:00 AM
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