Author: sailawaysarantium

Many have sent me advice and opinions about my battery set up, etc. So I thought I would clarify and summarize what it is that I now have.

I have 3 AGM Victron supercycle 160 A batteries (480 Amps altogether, sorry about the mansplaning). I charge these with 720 Watt solar. I also have a high output alternator, rated at 160 Amps with a ARCO Zues regulator. I am currently waiting for a multi control display. I also now have a Victron inverter/battery charger.

Other than running my fridge for 12 hours per day, Starlink for an hour a day, electronics while underway and a macerater once in a while, don’t have a large load, so I feel I have what I need. And thanks to a few people such as Kevin from “CatHarpin Blue” I’ve learned lots and have (he) fixed and tweaked some poorly installed electronics and battery set ups. I’m forever grateful for the learning that will help in the future and make my boat better!

Time for another coffee and a swim with dolphins and hopefully whale sharks, mantas and maybe even hammerheads…..

Waking up early, sun just rising, seeing another Island Packet 40 sailing, quietly and slowly with minimal wind, off the anchor…

While sailing by, we lift our coffee cups and “goodmorning, where are you from?” Turns out they are from “4 hours notrth of Toronto”… North Bay. ”North Bay, I played soccer there….and lived not too far from there”, small world in the sailing community.

Sarantium got her Christmas sail in today!

The sail ended up being short but beautiful. We motored out of a fairly quiet channel. We saw the odd Panga taking divers and snorklers out to find some whale sharks. It was a bit of a last minute decision but wind was promising and my electronical work is completed…. thanks to Kevin on “Catharine Blue”. I have some minor small adjustments for later to complete. I needed to get out of La Paz, and what better day to go sailing then on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, wind died fairly quickly and I steered Sarantium to the nearest bay, Playa Pichilingue. After dropping anchor, I scraped of the barnacles on the transducer in hope it will read the boat speed tomorrow…

Merry Christmas Everyone!

December 24th❣️

I’ve never been sitting in the tropics on Christmas Eve before but here I am, drinking coffee with candle light and my special ornaments from home, photos of my kids❤️ listening to Christmas jazz music🎶🌴🎼🌴🎵🌴

Another loaf…

This lasted for almost 2 hours… an amazing community event. Thousands of people and families were all out to watch this parade. Families and business had decorated their vehicles, a whooping 280 vehicles, with Christmas lights, dressed up in Christmas themes, playing Christmas music, throwing goodie bags to children, old and young… creates togetherness amongst all people in communities. I have been noticing similar events every weekend throughout my stay here in La Paz. And on some level it’s reminded me of growing up in Sweden but of course different events and themes. One can go out on the streets and be part of something, not waiting at home to be invited to events… or creating events in your home…..togetherness to solidarity to culture! Something I’ve been reflecting on in the past few years, which may have contributed to leaving Nanaimo and search for other communities.

Regardless of themes, this creates community.

Hammerheads has been spotted here in the anchorage…🦈 apparently small ones.

I’ve been running the engine for the alternator to bring new batteries up to 100% and at the same time reading the volts and amps. … a new experience for me. another one😳

But I’m not clear on why the amp reading is not closer to zero yet….

I believe it’s just these new AGM Victron supercycle 160s… I looked up the specs and it seems their numbers for charging and floating are a bit different …they but feel free to give opinions!

I’m getting tired of learning AGAIN!

Time for a walk on the Malacon, to see the Christmas car parade and from one of the amazing icecream parlours!