Trying passage

Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

For some inexplicable reason, even though we were not feeling particularly rested, and I could still feel some effects of the cold I had contracted, we decided that it was an ideal time to tackle the passage across the Sea of Cortez to Mazatlan.

We left Puerto Los Cabos around 11:30 AM on Wednesday, motoring out through the breakwaters and into very light winds coming from the SE.  We attempted to sail for a couple of hours but eventually resorted to using the engine in hopes that the winds would pick up later.  Sure enough, they did!

We sailed with a double-reefed mainsail and various pieces of the Genoa rolled out, for 37 straight hours, on a single port tack (north wind coming out of the Sea of Cortez).  We started out for about 10 hours close hauled, then were on a beam reach and/or broad reach for the rest of the 2 nights and 1 day.  The seas were quite rough for the first night and Susanne was quite indisposed - even I was sick once - the first time ever since we have been sailing this boat.  For some reason sleep seemed to be really hard to come by and we were totally exhausted by the time we sighted Mazatlan on Friday morning.  Fortunately for us, the winds that had been blowing steadily between 13 and 18 knots for close to 2 days, suddenly died completely, and we had to motor for the last few hours into Estero del Sabalo and into a slip at the Marina Mazatlan, where we basically slept for the next 18 hours.

The weather on the passage was mostly overcast, although still quite warm and absolutely no threat of rain.  Today, in the harbour here, the sun shone for about half the day, but it remains mostly overcast and a bit gloomy looking.  Walking back and forth along the marina walkway, our opportunities for exploration seem quite limited - the marina seems to be in the middle of nowhere.  Maybe when we are a little better rested, we will venture further afield.  For now, it is just nice to sit back and relax for a while.

{GMST}23|16.25|N|106|27.2833|W|Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico|Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico{GEND}