I hope I haven't made any enemies in my lax promises in writing, I have an excuse.
I smashed the computer in a mishap while sailing to one of the islands near La
Paz. I bought a new lap top today and I am back on line. Jutta put together a wonderful web page about our adventures. Unfortunately we are having a bear of a time trying to update it on the Internet from Mexico. Today is the 29 of Dec. and we will try to upgrade our web page this afternoon at the web cafe. We are having a bear of a time with the Mexican phone system. I will try to bring all of you up to date so far in the travels of "Pipe Dream."
Jutta Fernald, my new found friend and companion, Walt and Dee Turner, our crew
and new friends from Oregon, and I left sunny San Diego on October 31, 2000. The
Baha HaHa rally/race started just outside of San Diego Bay. There were 112 boats
at the starting line, it was quite a sight and one I will remember all my life. We sailed three days to Turtle Bay, our first port of call. In olden days, when sailors anchored at ports of call , they were full of pubs and prostitutes waiting on the docks. Ours were full of white sandy beaches and sea gulls. What is wrong with this picture???????
In Turtle Bay we began two days of parties. The first at the Vera Cruz bar and restaurant and the second day at the beach with 400 to 500 of my closest new found friends from the rally. As you can guess, the third day we patched our wounds, splinted our broken bones, and sailed on. After a sail of 28 hours we reached Bahia Santa Maria. Again, only sandy white beaches. We dropped our hook and settled down for some much needed sleep.
On the next day we had to go to one of those damn beach parties again. You know how I hate those things!!!! There was a band brought in from La Paz. Tents set up on the beach for a bar and a combination fish and lobster dinner served for $10.00 a plate. We danced into the wee hours and then tried to find our boat in a bay with 112 boats swinging on an anchor. They all look alike in the dark. The best thing about the party was, Jutta's and my picture was taken during the party and our photo appeared in the December issue of "Latitude 38." You know, it really is true what they say, "I really do get better looking every day." For you landlubbers, "Latitude 38" is a sailing rag that comes out monthly and is the sailor's bible on the West coast. I am sure, this picture is just the beginning of a long career of nude or scantily clothed photos of me in women's magazines. It isn't easy being me. The next morning we plugged the holes in the boat, sewed the splits in the
sails, brought on more kegs of rum, and guess what? We sailed on.After a sail of about 30 hours we reached Cabo San Lucas, our final destination. As you can probably figure out, there were two days of parties and the third day was the awards presentation. There were fifteen boats in our division, I am proud to report that "Pipe Dream" took third place in our division, "The Enchilada Division." Latitude 38 gave awards to first and second place in all divisions. All others got third place. Our division won the distinction of being the worst division about turning in our time for each leg. I missed one complete leg. Two out of three legs is not bad, most of you know how I like paper work. We bid farewell to Dee and Walt, they had to return to wurk,whurk,wrurk, no, work or something like that. Jutta and I will look it up in the dictionary "manana." We will miss Dee and Walt, they are very good sailors and also new friends. After spending an additional few days in Cabo, we decided to move on.
For those of you with inquisitive minds, it took about 10 days to reach Cabo
from San Diego, including stops. We traveled from 3 to 50 miles off shore. Half
of the trip the winds were light and we had to use the motor at times. The other half, the seas were heavy following seas, with winds from 20 to 25 knots. Between Walt and I, we caught three Tuna and one Dorado. I caught the Dorado and one Tuna and they were huge. Walt caught two Tuna that looked like bait fish. I can say this, since Walt is not here to defend his side of the story. You know I have an honest face!!!
Our next stop was a day sail to Bahia Los Frailes to get some sleep and get out of the wind and waves. The next morning we sailed to Bahia De Los Muertos and again rested over night. The third day, in overcast skies and a slight downpour, we left Bahia De Los Muertos and sailed on to La Paz, our cruising destination after Cabo. The day cleared and we arrived in La Paz in the afternoon. We found a slip at one of the marinas and set our feet on dry land and made some much needed repairs to our boat. We are now anchored in La Paz bay and enjoying the city and all the delicious taco stands. One thing I have found that is so true. Someone told me the definition of cruising is, repairing your boat in exotic ports. I'm afraid its true.
My kids, Jody and Ryan, will join me for Christmas in La Paz. For the month of
December Jutta and I will explore the islands around La Paz.
This is a continuation of the newsletter. I thought I sent it last week but my computer skills are so sharp I guess I hooked up the computer at the web cafe and didn't send anything. I couldn't understand why all my good friends were so busy at Christmas not to return a message or say something. I guess I didn't shake the computer hard enough for the message to come out. I will try it again.
Jody and Ryan, my kids, are here in La Paz. Ryan loves the taco stands and Jody just wants top get some sun. I asked why they are so white and they told me they had to wourk, no, wook, no whurk, work or something like that. I am for sure going to look that up manana. I think it is a silly concept, but what do I know. Tomorrow Jutta and I put Ryan and Jody on the plane for the USA and we will pick up our good friends Bob and Tish Saemisch on Monday. They are flying in to crew for us. We will sail 320 miles across the gulf to reach the mainland of Mexico, at Puerta Valllarta. From there we continue our treck south down the coast of Mexico.
I wish all of you who receive this newsletter, if it goes this time, could experience happiness like I have found in cruising. May God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You probably guess it, it didn't go again. I will send it tomorrow. I have found help at a web cafe.
It is Jan 8 th and we are in Puerta Vallarta, we got a real ass whipp'in
crossing fromCabo to PV. Mother Nature tried to teach us a lesson. I'll send this on the 9th.
Adios
Ferdy and Jutta
ps. If this takes a long time to reach you have a happy Easter.
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