Thanks for joining us!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain
After water maker delays in La Paz, then engine overheating approaching Cabo San Lucas, we ended up meeting more mechanics, visiting more marinas and facing more delays than we thought.
By Tuesday afternoon, we thought we had the engine overheating solved (faulty lines in the circulation system from the engine through the hot water heater, causing the coolant to run out of the engine heat exchanger every 30 minutes – took awhile to figure that one out). So we departed Cabo for Hawaii. And turned back after 5 nautical miles. The engine was overheating again. We discovered that the raw water pump belt kept slipping off the pump. We babied Air Ops back into port by midnight, just making it to the berth at Marina Cabo San Lucas before the belt cracked in 3 places and popped off again. After the engine cooled Garry and I took off the 2 outer belts and replaced the raw water one. After finding the last new spare in town, we were ready to depart for Hawaii again.
However, Rob let me know this am that he and Phia had decided they should head home. So Rob and I spent another 3.5 hours running (literally – Rob) back and forth amongst Marina, Port Capitan and Mexican immigration offices to get Rob and Phia off of our crew list and Zarpa, and with New Mexican immigration cards so they could leave. They won’t be continuing with us but I hope they learned lots in their time with us.
So now, the 3 of us are off to Hawaii!
Moon rising over the Sea of Cortez. On our way to Hawaii.
Had some delays in Mexico – water maker critical repairs, holiday on Monday, 6 hours and 5 government offices to check out of the country on Tuesday. Planking to head out tomorrow.
Our first night on Air Ops was amazing. Quiet. Stars. Almost full moon. Fish jumping as we motored back to the yacht after dinner. Had an amazing series of chats.
This is what preparing for an extensive offshore trip looks like. #drybagsforthewin
Vesper Cortex AIS installed – check. Works with cell phones and iPads. Linked to VHF. Antennae installed. Working on connection to Raymarine E80 chart plotter (need a new cable for that).
Iridium Go satellite phone installed – check. Working well and sending location signals through Predict Wind.
Inventory of safety gear, kitchen gear, bedding, books, etc. – check. Photos set up in shared directory for crew members to see.
Now, if only the generator would run more than 17 minutes….
Thanks, Garry, for all of the work.
I want to thank Garry for his sacrifices in making this educational video. There aren’t many who would willingly dive off the dingy with a pouch containing his cell phone, passport, credit cards, cash, and driver’s license, just for instructional purposes. So when he contacted me last night (he still had his iPad and Apple Watch), I arranged for a diver through the marina, to show how to retrieve them. And get a video. Thanks, Garry, for helping us teach how important it is to have your valuables in a waterproof, floating, dry bag whenever entering or leaving the boat (trust me — I may have done this a few times myself…..)
Guess what my brother got me the day before he left for the boat! Is he worried that the systems he is about to install may not work properly? Nope. I get to teach him, and the rest of the crew, the old, tried and true, method of sail navigation.
