Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
On The Bar
I don't know who's boat it is, but I do know they are going to be really bummed when they see their boat is up on the sand bar. I saw it right before it went aground. I guess it drifted through a bunch of anchored boats before
it ended up on the bar. Only one cruiser seemed to be concerned about it. He got on the net and said a boat was going to go aground and the person running the net said it was the port Captain's responsibility. Several people commented, but no one offered to try to save it. That was when I went out to look and it was already too late, as it was bumping the bar and the wind was blowing hard. There was nothing I could do in my tiny dink. It was a real bummer!
WHEN FIRST SIGHTED BUMPING SANDBAR
AFTER TIDE CHANGE
Today was what I call a Murphy's Law day. One of those days that, no matter how you approach it, or how careful you are, everything is going to turn to shit! Except breakfast? Nah, that too I guess, in one respect anyway. Tasted mighty fine though.
it ended up on the bar. Only one cruiser seemed to be concerned about it. He got on the net and said a boat was going to go aground and the person running the net said it was the port Captain's responsibility. Several people commented, but no one offered to try to save it. That was when I went out to look and it was already too late, as it was bumping the bar and the wind was blowing hard. There was nothing I could do in my tiny dink. It was a real bummer!
WHEN FIRST SIGHTED BUMPING SANDBAR
AFTER TIDE CHANGE
Today was what I call a Murphy's Law day. One of those days that, no matter how you approach it, or how careful you are, everything is going to turn to shit! Except breakfast? Nah, that too I guess, in one respect anyway. Tasted mighty fine though.
BREAKFAST
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Thieves in La Paz
For the second time in the last six weeks Wind Raven was boarded by thieves. The first time they tried to get in through the companion way boards, but were thwarted by the lock. Yesterday they again failed to get into the cabin, but helped themselves to two 6 1/2 gallon water jugs that sell for around $30 in the states. They are most likely double that down here. Unfortunately, I had just cleaned them up with acetone, which did an excellent job, but also removed "Wind Raven" from them. They are unique, as I installed tire valve stems on top behind the handles in order for them to vent. My remaining two water jugs are once again marked, as if it will deter a thief.
My remaining two water jugs
Well that did it for me. As far as I'm concerned, La Paz sucks, as it has too many thieves. As soon as my FM-2 is in hand, I will leave La Paz and never return unless absolutely necessary. I will try to change my residence to the Loretto area, Where I have never experienced any theft. I just can't afford to purchase replacements for stolen items! In my opinion thieves fall into the same category as hackers and rapists!
On the bright side, I also had some welcome visitors yesterday!
This guy/girl was very close to Wind Raven
My remaining two water jugs
Well that did it for me. As far as I'm concerned, La Paz sucks, as it has too many thieves. As soon as my FM-2 is in hand, I will leave La Paz and never return unless absolutely necessary. I will try to change my residence to the Loretto area, Where I have never experienced any theft. I just can't afford to purchase replacements for stolen items! In my opinion thieves fall into the same category as hackers and rapists!
On the bright side, I also had some welcome visitors yesterday!
So did my neighbor, Lee on Golden heart.
This guy/girl was very close to Wind Raven
Monday, March 5, 2012
ANCHORING UNDER SAIL
I have been wanting to learn how to anchor under sail for some time. I remember watching a boat come into the anchorage at Ensenada Blanca and sailing around and through the middle of several anchored boats in the bay. After this impressive navigation feat and as he cleared our boats the sailor ran from the cockpit to the bow and dropped his anchor under sail. He set up to be running down wind with the main out on the port side. This caused his boat to turn to starboard when it reached the end of the rode and at the same time to set the hook. He then dropped his main. Very slick indeed! We were all impressed with his ability. This sailor has since become a friend and yesterday Basil repeated this feat in twenty plus knot winds, but this time I had my camera ready. I took eleven photos, but will only upload four of these, so you can get the idea. Have a great day!
PS: This approach is opposite from the one in Ensenada Blanca.
SETTING UP DOWNWIND
GETTING READY TO DASH FORWARD TO THE BOW
DROPPING THE HOOK
COMING ABOUT WITH HOOK SET & DROPPING MAIN
PS: This approach is opposite from the one in Ensenada Blanca.
SETTING UP DOWNWIND
GETTING READY TO DASH FORWARD TO THE BOW
DROPPING THE HOOK
COMING ABOUT WITH HOOK SET & DROPPING MAIN
Saturday, March 3, 2012
A WINDY KICK BACK DAY
Since the wind started howling around 4:30 am I decided to make it a day of R&R. After a breakfast of two scrumptious BLTs, I watched a movie, took a solar shower, and then finished a book I was reading. By this time the wind had hit twenty six knots out of the North and of course the tide was contradictory to the wind. This as you know, causes what they call "The La Paz Waltz" with the boats dancing about in all directions. It sometimes makes for a very rolly anchorage, which always ends up causing at least one or two boats to drag anchor. One broke loose first thing this morning during the cruisers net, and of course no one was aboard. It always seems to work that way, doesn't it Steve? Ha! Ha! Gotcha! Knock on Wood, I haven't drug anchor yet. Yes I did. Knock on wood, that is!
WHITECAPS GALORE!
After lunch I decided it was once again time to check my anchor bridle, as sometimes it acts like Houdini and unhooks itself. Well the wind and tide being from opposite directions and obviously of equal pressure caused something I have never seen before. Wind Raven sat idle on the hook with the chain rode hanging straight down and the bridle slack on both sides.
23 to 26 KT WINDS!
Wow, another strange thing just happened. The big Chief in the sky just turned off the fan. I mean right now. The wind went from 26 knots to two knots in about thirty seconds. Summer must be early this year. Maybe it's just an Indian Chief summer? Anyway that wind surfer plunked down in the water and got stranded in the middle of the bay. Lucky for him there was an observing cruiser who went to his rescue and gave him a ride to shore. It would have been a long hard swim dragging that kite behind him.
A BIT CLOSE?
While I was taking photos of the wind surfer, a pelican saw me precariously hanging onto the side of the rolling boat trying to keep my balance and decided to do a fly over to check me out. I guess they get curious also.
MY OFFICIAL OBSERVER.
WHITECAPS GALORE!
After lunch I decided it was once again time to check my anchor bridle, as sometimes it acts like Houdini and unhooks itself. Well the wind and tide being from opposite directions and obviously of equal pressure caused something I have never seen before. Wind Raven sat idle on the hook with the chain rode hanging straight down and the bridle slack on both sides.
23 to 26 KT WINDS!
Wow, another strange thing just happened. The big Chief in the sky just turned off the fan. I mean right now. The wind went from 26 knots to two knots in about thirty seconds. Summer must be early this year. Maybe it's just an Indian Chief summer? Anyway that wind surfer plunked down in the water and got stranded in the middle of the bay. Lucky for him there was an observing cruiser who went to his rescue and gave him a ride to shore. It would have been a long hard swim dragging that kite behind him.
A BIT CLOSE?
While I was taking photos of the wind surfer, a pelican saw me precariously hanging onto the side of the rolling boat trying to keep my balance and decided to do a fly over to check me out. I guess they get curious also.
MY OFFICIAL OBSERVER.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Credit/Debit Card Clones
This video shoudl be watched by all!
It might save you a lot of pain!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLAFhTjsQHw&sns=em
It might save you a lot of pain!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
About Time, Right?
Okay, so I've been getting lazy and not writing any posts for awhile. Anabal a diver who cleans hull bottoms has become a new friend of mine here in La Paz. He brought over a friend of his (Gama) who is also becoming a friend. They are very helpful, especially with my Spanish and local knowledge. Anabal offered to take me to a ranch in the mountains and introduce me to the elderly gentleman who is the owner and the son of Pancho Villa's good friend who hid him out on their ranch in BCS. I really would like to meet him and view his photo of his father with Villa.
My Broken Rudder
Gama introduced his cousin, who is a mechanic and he spent five hours fixing a couple of oil leaks on my engine. Would you believe he only charged me twenty dollars for five hours work. Yeah, I gave him forty and it was still a bargain at that. I asked Gama if he could get me a piece of 1/2" plywood 36" x 12" so I could make a new rudder for the dink. He said he could and asked if he could take the old one with him. I acquiesced. Two days later Gama hitched a ride out to the boat and gave me not one, but two rudders already cut out with routered edges, sanded, and varnished. When I asked how much I owed him, he said twenty dollars.I couldn't even buy the plywood for that much. After I paid him he asked if I could give him a ride back to the dock. I said sure, as I needed to find some epoxy and get a few other things in town. He then offered, no insisted that he drive me. He drove me all over La Paz to find what I needed, asking the clerks and passer-bys where to find the things I needed. It sure is easier with a personal translator along. It is incredible how nice the local Mexicans are. These people in Mexico are the nicest I have ever met anywhere!
Gama's $20 Solution
This morning I sailed the Dink into Marina De La Paz, and I do mean into. Yep I felt like a real pro as I not only made all of the turns leading up to the dinghy dock, but sailed by the water dock between all of the dinghys and even turned between two , released the sail and tied up. Well now, I was pretty proud of myself and impressed several onlookers who complimented me on my skills. I admit that my chest was pumped up a bit. That is until later when I tried to sail back out. What a fiasco that turned out to be. The wind was head on and then it would switch around and hit me broadside, due to the many various sized boats distorting the wind direction. Well I had no choice but to hang my head and shamefully break out the oars. After I got past the super yachts at the end of the marina I took a port tack into the bay and back to hide in Wind Raven.
A Sunset In La Paz With Lee's Golden Heart In Foreground
Damn! Those pelicans are going to give me a heart attack yet. There was an extremely loud crash against the side of the boat a few minutes ago. When I went out to see who/what ran into my boat, there was a pelican in the water shaking his head. They must have really hard heads to hit that hard and not knock themselves out. I have never actually seen them hit, but every time it happens there is a pelican beside the boat shaking his head. Damn, there went another one. The wind is blowing broadside to the boat and when they dive for fish beside the boat, I think they forget to allow for the drift caused by it, and WHAM! They hit the boat.
Repeat Performance
A lady from Canada I spoke with concerning crewing on Wind Raven told me a story about one of her last crewing positions where there was a problem concerning the bilge pump. Well, that got me to thinking about my pumps. I haven't checked them since I arrived in La Paz two months ago. I don't worry too much about them, because I always check them prior to leaving all harbors and anchorages.Well I guess I'm going to have to do a weekly check also, since three of my five bilge pumps came on but didn't pump water. When she told me about her experience, I assured her that I had five bilge pumps, three electric and two manual, which I do. The problem is non of the electric ones pump water now. Damn, I hate it when that happens! My bragging bubble is now busted! Guess I better get down in the bilge and fix em. On second thought, I have two working. They should suffice for tonight, maybe first thing in the morning? I'm not crazy about getting real grubby this late in the day if I don't have to, and I think it will keep till morning.
My Broken Rudder
Gama introduced his cousin, who is a mechanic and he spent five hours fixing a couple of oil leaks on my engine. Would you believe he only charged me twenty dollars for five hours work. Yeah, I gave him forty and it was still a bargain at that. I asked Gama if he could get me a piece of 1/2" plywood 36" x 12" so I could make a new rudder for the dink. He said he could and asked if he could take the old one with him. I acquiesced. Two days later Gama hitched a ride out to the boat and gave me not one, but two rudders already cut out with routered edges, sanded, and varnished. When I asked how much I owed him, he said twenty dollars.I couldn't even buy the plywood for that much. After I paid him he asked if I could give him a ride back to the dock. I said sure, as I needed to find some epoxy and get a few other things in town. He then offered, no insisted that he drive me. He drove me all over La Paz to find what I needed, asking the clerks and passer-bys where to find the things I needed. It sure is easier with a personal translator along. It is incredible how nice the local Mexicans are. These people in Mexico are the nicest I have ever met anywhere!
Gama's $20 Solution
This morning I sailed the Dink into Marina De La Paz, and I do mean into. Yep I felt like a real pro as I not only made all of the turns leading up to the dinghy dock, but sailed by the water dock between all of the dinghys and even turned between two , released the sail and tied up. Well now, I was pretty proud of myself and impressed several onlookers who complimented me on my skills. I admit that my chest was pumped up a bit. That is until later when I tried to sail back out. What a fiasco that turned out to be. The wind was head on and then it would switch around and hit me broadside, due to the many various sized boats distorting the wind direction. Well I had no choice but to hang my head and shamefully break out the oars. After I got past the super yachts at the end of the marina I took a port tack into the bay and back to hide in Wind Raven.
A Sunset In La Paz With Lee's Golden Heart In Foreground
Damn! Those pelicans are going to give me a heart attack yet. There was an extremely loud crash against the side of the boat a few minutes ago. When I went out to see who/what ran into my boat, there was a pelican in the water shaking his head. They must have really hard heads to hit that hard and not knock themselves out. I have never actually seen them hit, but every time it happens there is a pelican beside the boat shaking his head. Damn, there went another one. The wind is blowing broadside to the boat and when they dive for fish beside the boat, I think they forget to allow for the drift caused by it, and WHAM! They hit the boat.
Repeat Performance
A lady from Canada I spoke with concerning crewing on Wind Raven told me a story about one of her last crewing positions where there was a problem concerning the bilge pump. Well, that got me to thinking about my pumps. I haven't checked them since I arrived in La Paz two months ago. I don't worry too much about them, because I always check them prior to leaving all harbors and anchorages.Well I guess I'm going to have to do a weekly check also, since three of my five bilge pumps came on but didn't pump water. When she told me about her experience, I assured her that I had five bilge pumps, three electric and two manual, which I do. The problem is non of the electric ones pump water now. Damn, I hate it when that happens! My bragging bubble is now busted! Guess I better get down in the bilge and fix em. On second thought, I have two working. They should suffice for tonight, maybe first thing in the morning? I'm not crazy about getting real grubby this late in the day if I don't have to, and I think it will keep till morning.
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