Catching Up: Adventures in Banderas Bay Area

12/7/14 - 1/5/15

Due to our dentistry agenda, JUMBLE didn't leave La Cruz until January 5th. We entertained ourselves with boat projects and a few short trips. We made a few friends and acquaintances, enough to get completely smashed on New Year's Eve (a JUMBLE tradition 5 years running).

To keep ourselves busy, we did a few projects, cleaning and re-organization. We picked up an old charge controller and two 50 W panels for $500 Pesos at a swap meet. The seller's claim was 50 W, but based on size I'm guessing they're 40 W, whatever.

To install them, we fabricated some teak clamps (the factory made ones were unavailable, of course), so that the aft panels can be rotated to vertical and out of the way when sailing. So far, it's worked out well and we can run our tiny and well-insulated fridge with no problems and still have enough power for several hours of laptop use. As we've moved south of La Cruz, it's been much sunnier and some days we run things just to bleed off power, which is a problem only if we're running the engine.

Stern Panels

Adjustable Clamps

Cabin Panels, Often Shaded while Sailing :(

Otherwise, cup holders, latches and other miscellany, nothing too exciting.

Jumble took a trip out to Punta Mita and Las Marietas. Marietas were a mostly a disappointment. The visibility was the best we've had diving in Mexico, maybe 30' and the scenery was pretty good with lots of reef fishes along the rocks and some larger fish in 70' over sand and rock. What ruined the trip was the charter boats and day trippers. We arrived as early as possible to beat the rush and anchored outside four mooring cans. We later learned that everyone is entitled to the cans on a first come first serve basis. Anchoring is no longer permitted. Our "Updated 2014!" guide did not reflect this.

Marietas West Approach

The Anchorage

Pangas (open, outboard boats, usually 15' - 25') constantly sped through the anchorage and dive area. They were either rushing to a mooring can to 'reserve' it for one of their large (80'-ish) catamarans, delivering kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, or taking tourists on a speedy tour of the shoreline. The turnover rate was unbelievable. We spent the better half of the day at Marietas West and the big cats averaged about two hours at the anchorage. Just enough time for a few folks to get out and paddle around. A surprising number of tourists just hung out on the boats. I'm not sure what the big attraction was.

First of the Charter Boat Herd

Snorkeling and skin diving was pretty sketchy in these conditions. The panga drivers seemed very accustomed to driving around with people in the water and some of them were careful. However, there was a strong correlation between the age of the operator and the speed of his boat. A few of the panga drivers were high school age and these were the guys to look out for. I'm not sure if it's a macho thing or just the arrogance of youth, but trying to make eye contact with these guys was an exercise in frustration. On the other hand, the older operators would look around, make eye contact and at least give you a thumbs up.

We lucked out with our anchor, it took me forever to locate it (my breath-holds are lousy) at around 50' in a small patch of sand about 40' square. There was solid rock all around. The rocks weren't pinnacle, anchor-snagging things, but still, it might have been a problem. A couple times, on my way to the surface, boats were passing over and I really had to look out. Anna was spotting, but after two sorta close calls (one with a big catamaran), I was over it and we got out of the water.

Sadly, the batteries on our Go-Pro camera were dead. The Marietas were the only photo-worthy dive we've had. We need to engineer a strap and handle to hold the camera in one hand as the head strap is useless for diving: it flies off on your way down and interferes with your mask.

Before departing, we spent three nights in the Marina La Cruz provisioning and taking care of a project that has stressed us since we purchased JUMBLE. Reader's Digest version: JUMBLE has a deck-stepped mainmast supported by spruce beams which are oddly placed. There has been a hairline crack in one beam since purchase and it hasn't gotten bigger, but it's concerning. The bigger issue is that the mast step isn't centered on the beams and a wimpy spruce plate supports the forward portion of the mast and joins it to the front on the cabin. This plate has bowed heavily over the years. This gives the mast excessive pre-bend and that limits our tuning of the lower shrouds to trying to minimize this.

I did a half-assed late-night project in San Diego when we had the masts down, gluing in purple-heart pieces under this plate. They separated due to a poor bond on the way down Baja. We had an adjustable compression post made way back in 2010 when we bought JUMBLE, but I was too chickenshit to put it where it needed to be because of interference with vee-berth access and cabinets. Now that JUMBLE is a real cruising boat, priorities are different than when living aboard and structure won out over comfort. This position is perfect as it's centered under the mast and sits atop a fiberglass floor beam that's blocked down to the ballast cavity. This was a sweet little project, and everything held tight once I re-tuned the rig. One less thing to worry about.

Gluing in second plate. Mostly to level contact surface

Quick and Dirty Paint Job

Final Product

We finally left La Cruz on the 5th with Wes, on the ketch TUMBLEWEED, headed for Yelapa, a village on the south side of Banderas Bay. Yelapa is only 10 miles away, but feels like another time and place. Lots of pictures and more blabbering to come.

Last evening in La Cruz Anchorage

Sunrise