4/15/12

San Diego to Ensenada

We woke and ate a giant breakfast of eggs and toast with coffee at 5am.  I ate more than normal thinking that I would need the energy to sail all day.  Took the dogs for a quick walk then set off motoring away from our beloved home, San Diego.  Everything was looking hopeful and I had no idea what was in store for me on this voyage.  Once we got out to sea we found large swells that were very close together.  I started to feel queasy about thirty minutes into the trip and by nine I had expelled all of my giant breakfast into a small white bucket while barely supporting myself on a metal winch.  The next 8 or 9 hours were spent trying to find the best position on the boat in which the world was not spinning.  It was terrible!  After ten hours I was able to drink some water and eat some crackers.   Jason was feeling nauseous the entire time but managed to keep his sickness at bay.  At eleven hours we could see our destination and our spirits started to lift in hopes for land and a calm nights sleep.  As we pulled in to the bay, a giant pod of dolphins played at our bow.  They were jumping out of the water in pairs and swimming back and forth under the boat.  As we slowly motored up to the marina an American man came out to meet us and assisted our docking.   It was late and the office was closed but we got set up with a slip for the night.  I was asleep in my cozy v-birth bed within the hour.  Thank God that part the journey was complete.  Our first leg.

4/16-4/19

Spent the next day checking into the country which was the easiest international check in I have ever experienced.  The port captain from the marina drove us to the office.  Before we left I asked the port captain if I should bring my documentation for the dogs.  He gave me a funny look and said, “Oh no, don’t worry about that”.  Apparently the $360.00 we spent getting the dogs health certificates was totally unnecessary.    The port captain basically did all of our check in for us, excluding handing over our credit card when summoned.   We stood around and chatted with a curious and decorated couple sailing from N. California to La Paz (same route as us).  The man is an Australian sailor with for braded strands of hair from his chin.   He was very talkative and experienced sailor.  He told us that he has an electric motor and no refrigeration on board.  That's all well and good for them.  I had no electricity or running water for 2 years in the Peace Corps and I am ALL about cold drinks.  But hats off to them.  I will be sure to give them gifts of ice cubes and cold cerveza as we meet again along the journey. The woman had beautiful dreadlocks and a was very quiet.  They were both very friendly and we all decided that we would be seeing each other often in this sailing adventure because most people head back up north for the summer due to heat and potential hurricanes.  We plan to find a location that has a good hurricane hold nearby.  After talking with sailors that have lived in the Sea of Cortez for many years and being assured that this is safe, we decided we can deal with a little heat.  After check in we headed to find a good resturaunt for tacos and beer.  The next few days we spent walking around the city and buying last minute provisions.  That couple ended up having some extra chain that just happened to match the size we needed and Jason bought us and extra 65 feet for anchoring.  Also, the Auzzie took us out and taught us both anchoring techniques for stormy weather.  Their  boat's name is "Karma Seas".  They got some good karma coming their way for all the blessings they provided our Lucky Sol on this journey.