Author: sailawaysarantium

Slow sail all day today, except for no wind mid day! I jumped into the water (before I knew boat was surrounded by hunting sharks) and did laps around the boat while it floated with the current! Such amazing day!

…. With minor problems! Running lights will need tweaking as stern light was flickering and running bow light did not turn on! But I carry portable back up! Getting closer to Baja, commercial fishing vessels began to appear! None of them showed up on my AIS (automatic identification system) so I had to read their light sequence to figure out their direction and to be sure they were not trawling or towing. I slept a bit, but sleeping is for daytime! I set the alarm every 23 min to stand up look around, check the radar and the chart!

Coordination at 07.11: N 26*34.2 W111*4.4 and heading is 144T. Clear skies, boat speed 4.4knots, slight chop on water and forecast looks stellar!

Activity today: Coffee, yoga, garbage collection*, ukelele, fix running lights and prepping a lentil coconut dish!

I untied the dock lines at 07.00 and backed out of my slip and motored out, while waving goodbye to new friends from the Marina Fonotur! We motored for about 2 hours until light wind filled the sails! There is not much wind forecasted in the Sea of Cortez for the next couple of days, so I expect to bob around a lot as I won’t turn on my engine this early in the game!

Coordinates: 27* 18.99N/111*12..41W

COG: 194*

Speed: 5 knots

Sailing direction is not optimal, however Sarantium is moving south and have wind in her sail!

A lovely day!

I was so close to pulling anchor today as forecast showed perfect winds… but as I reflected back to similar thought process and recognizing the past wind patterns, direction and strength here in the sea of Cortez, I decided to wait until morning! I have set my alarm for 04.00, and now laying in bed wide awake and excited (and listening to the howling gusts) to make the next leg in my journey! Tomorrow will be the tail end of the El Nortes. With some luck, I’ll be in the middle of the Sea of Cortez within a few hours, and slowly steering Sarantium south!! Goodnight!

Of course I chose to do this DIY!!!I’ve drilled 40 pilot holes and 40 “real” 1/4 inch holes, tapped 40 holes, dipped 40 machine screws in Lanacote (anti-corrosive lube) before inserting them into the 40 holes. I also ran a bead of Sikaflex adhesive goop along the track to avoid salt getting inbetween the mast and track. And all this was from hanging in the halyard in sun and wind! As well, cheak blocks, flair leads, cam cleats were installed and a sheet runs through it! While testing the whiskerpole, I realized that lubricant was needed for pole to telescope out! It worked! This is what sailors do while waiting to start their passages to foreign lands! Now, it’s time to buy some fresh bananas and pull anchor!!!

Finally, parts for the whisker pole arrived!

After I get all these holes drilled and tapped, I will remove the screws, remove the track and I will add some sikaflex between the mast and track. Then attach the track again with screws dipped in anti-corrosive material. AND REPEAT for the second track! But that is tomorrow! Goodnight!

So, the package is still in transit which means waiting once again. Sarantium is now in Fonotur Marina for a few more days. Here, I have met many waiting for parts and getting their boats ready. You’d be surprised to know that there are 6 people (three boats) from Nanaimo, here. Penny and Franz (previous owners of “Penny’s Palapa”) are here getting their boat “winterized” for the summer. As well, friends of friends, on S/V Feel Free invited us for coffee yesterday. They have spent 30+ years circumnavigating and living in various places around the globe and are now getting ready to head home to Nanaimo. Small world!

That time has come!

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Wrapping fruit and veggies in newspapers……

….topping up cans and lashing it to the boat…

Last packages should arrive tomorrow!!! If not, Sarantium waits in the bay for one more week!!!