We had two lovely days at sea with winds the first day of 8 knots. As Larry made breakfast and I stood watch, I was thrilled to be going the same speed as the wind. I chalked it up to Larry’s fine sail trim. He, however, reminded me that the motor was running. Ah shucks, so we had not converted Sun Baby to a race boat strictly by will, skill or the new screecher sail.
The first day we went from Punta de Mita in Banderas Bay to Punta Ipala. The headland we round coming out of Banderas Bay is Cabo Corrientes. Like most headlands, it can be very windy and rough. The good news for me and the bad news for Larry was that there was to be little wind on the day we decided to go. Made for slower sailing but calmer seas for me.
This is the beginning of Costalegre, a stretch of Pacific Mexico where we can day hop south. Iplala was a pretty little anchorage with restaurants on shore, fish pens and panga moorings taking the most protected areas of the bay. We were over on the more exposed side of the bay but fortunately, the swell was very small. A total of five boats anchored there by nightfall and all but one left before sunrise to make their next destination. Three of us came down the 50 mile stretch here to Bahia Chamela. We got here first, of course. Cats are FAST!
The trip was great. Even less wind than the day before so we motored most of the way and put the sails up for what thrust we could get. Many a turtle sighting (turtle dodging really), dolphins coming up to our bows and yes, more whale watching. I made the comment that perhaps the whales did not come this far south. No sooner was that out of my mouth when a mama and baby humpback whale begin to kill fish. Mom was breaching and baby was slapping his/her tail on the water. Then, the baby breached. Then mom slapped the water with her fin. Spectacular to witness.
Here in the anchorage we are surrounded by a long white beach to the east and a rocky headland to the west. There are tons of fish in the water. This morning we had a two big collisions with our hulls. We knew from experience that it is the bigger fish going after the little fish that use our boat/platform for protection. We saw a school of young yellow fin tuna swimming around the boat. Just beautiful fish. Blue on top, yellow tails and yellow fins, about 25 inches long, maybe 15 pounds on them.
This afternoon Larry spotted these tiny fish that were white and purple. It was difficult to determine if they were in the water or on the water.
On our dingy exploration this morning we were cruising close to the beach. Huge schools of little fish were swimming, some forming bait balls, and the pelicans and boobies were diving in around us. Rocky normally would bark at this but there were such numbers that he just watched in amazement.
Tomorrow we try to anchor between two islands here in the bay and get some kayaking or snorkeling in, then off to an anchorage called Paraiso (Paradise) before we go to Bahia Tenacatita.
We think we will try to make it all the way to Zihuatanejo if the weather and our spirits are willing. Friends have told us that it was their favorite place on Pacific Mexico. The longest stretch between anchorages would be about 70 miles.
Current temp is 81 F. Blue skies. about 5 knots of wind from the north west. Nights are cool.
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