Many of you may recognize the yacht name “Something Wicked”. It belongs to Puerto Vallarta Yacht club members Kevin and Sandy Reath. You may also know of Mike Danielson, Crew Director, VYC. This is Mike’s story about their recent Victoria to Maui race and how they went from being in solid first place to reach Maui, to being in an emergency situation and arriving in San Francisco.

By Mike Danielson:

So here’s how it went… but first, from the Crew of “Something Wicked” to the Members of VYC and especially to Commodore John Moore…… Thank you for your support in our getting home!

Quick recap… SW was racing the Victoria to Maui race this past month and kicking some %$^!..

Driving her like she was stolen!

Four days out after the start of the Victoria to Maui race we were beginning a transition towards the lower ridge of the Pacific High and found the weak point where we were in about 20-25knots of pressure and everyone else was in 15! The only problem was it was really messy seas… The 4A full-size was up and it was like driving through a Tope field with VW Bugs being thrown at you from the right. Boat speed was always 10-12knots with top surfs to 14. Getting into the dark after 2200 crew change dark was really dark… no Moon, cloudy, no horizon…. And you couldn’t see the VW’s coming. After a few good crashes we shifted to the 4A small with a sock on it and continued…. Actually our VMG was better because we were not fighting with Mother Nature as much…. Never the less we continued to drive SW like she was stolen! (That’s a Nickrism)

The morning of the fifth day I took over the morning drive at 0600. About 0700 everyone was still up and we were finishing breakfast. The conditions were wet drizzle, soft clouds and a noticeable temperature change for the warmer with breeze about 25+ and the seas were noticeably bigger… no more VWbugs but the odd Bus made up for them and kept you thinking. There was a developing rhythm and being that we could see where we were going and the boat felt good we decided that after breakfast we would shift back to the 4A Full-size….. Time to ride!

0720! “Show me on the Doll where the bad man touched you”

We had not changed sails yet … I was sailing a little to the right looking at an oncoming Bus and planning to bank left off it and the following wave like I had been doing for the last hour… when…, as I was building pressure into the turn, I felt a catch… Slip… Catch… then a huge release in the Helm! “Blow the Main!” (Someone is always on the Main) At that point the boat rounded-up and auto-tacked through the wind, Chute and all! “Game Over…Rudder’s gone!” I said as we sat Hove-to with the Kite pasted in the rig and Jybe crash net. “What do you mean it’s gone?” Kevin said and all looked on for a reason why we were soaked and backwards …”The Rudder has left the building and is floating right over there”… Behind us off our Port quarter about 30ft away was our Rudder floating…not part… The whole thing except the rudder post.

From Hero to Zero!

Yup that’s it….. It was getting good and when we looked at where we where it was in solid 1^st place! Our race became a self rescue… Everyone went at it by two’s EM Rudder set-up, check below aft for water and hull damage, Radio com to Coast Guard with Lat/Lon and condition, Overboard gear in check, Rig survey, lines clear and engine on…all with in minutes…This is one of the best teams ever…!

I came back to the cockpit from the rig review and it was the oddest feeling. We were sitting hove to with the boat riding stable in the waves, in balance … surreal… Then I noticed how loud it was in 25+… We had been into reaction mode for 15min. and had not yet reflected… Once the emergency rudder was installed and the engine was in gear to go slow, we went to dealing with the sails… “Eyes open everyone…We don’t know how the boat is going to react.”

Everyone was in position like we were still racing when coming into a mark. Vern and I were on the bow pulling the sock down over our “Rasta Chicken” chute while Nick was directing Gary and Kevin with the rudder control lines Sandy was in the pit running halyards…. Through the maneuver everyone was doing four things with two hands at an Octopus Ballet. Chute socked and out of the rig, we then went to getting down the Main while trying to re-balance a course with the EM rudder and the motor against the unbalanced sea.

Take your Pill!… It’s bitter but it’ll help!….Drink it with Red Bull… We’re not done

Good seasick meds are important…. Now! … As we took a breather the boat was all over the place… Everyone was still in it … attitude was good. We all took some medicine and talked for a moment…. “Awesome everyone…..But we need to suck it up while we’re still pumped …” Next came the Trysail and Storm Jib. We got those up and trimmed in no time and at this point we started steering the boat with the sails and the EM rudder just off center. The boat auto tacked a few times … The rudder was just not big enough.

The Pole

Growing up as a Sea Scout in Newport Beach, I had been one of the luckiest kids. I got exposed to offshore seamanship training very young. One of the little tricks I learned was about loosing rudders … and we actually practiced it. We didn’t just review the instructions. There was no need to drag a sail under the boat to slow any leaking, since we were without any hull damage. What we did do was to rig the spinnaker pole across the transom… making a bridle that used 40+ ft of line attached to a small man overboard drogue.

With adjustment of the bridle side-to-side, we where able to put the EMR center and put the load to one side on the Drogue in order to stabilize our steering against the sail trim…. Once in position we were finally stable and literally trimming the Mainsheet 6 in… sometimes… We were headed for San Francisco doing 6 kn under trysail and storm jib …no motor!

Take a nap…. With your boots on

We got a bit quiet … Adrenaline is some powerful stuff, but the crash is tough. That is now obvious to everyone in reflection mode. After getting the drogue going, Nick took watch and I went to review Navigation and Communications with Vern ….. “Hey Kev”… “I just realized John is in SF,” Kevin looked at me over his cup with a little smirk grin. “What are you up to now?” I knew John Moore was in SF on the Oakland side and he had his yacht Breaking Wind…. I new that if I could contact John he would be the best person to help us arrive into SF and deal with the details…. “The Devil is there and we’re out here.”

Houston we have a problem!

We had all the communication toys and they were now more important than ever. We had communicated with Coast Guard via e-mail and radio, checked in with VM race committee. Now we had John Moore on the scene as well. John quickly got back to us with Sevendsens at the ready for our arrival. He had the issues regarding our temporary immigration of 5 Canadians to SF under control and a good check-in with Coast Guard backing us up. The plan was to meet John off St. Francis YC after entering the gate then have him escort us to the yard. “It’s going to be 4 days to SF. We’ll see you then.” On our roll call at 1300 to VM the confirmation that we were winning came through followed by sentiments of support from all yachts.

PAC Cup……. What if?

Now this is how twisted we are….. “Hey Kevin, what if we can get a new rudder in time for the Pacific cup race to Oahu? …. We’ve got 3 weeks after arrival.” I love this guy…The smirk came out again: “Why not… I’ve spent so much money already and Sandy still hasn’t gotten to Hawaii.” The team rallied: “WE’RE IN!” So off went the note to John to work with the PAC Cup guys to get us a spot. That became something to ponder for the transit over the next few days.

On final approach…. Call the Ball!

John had us well on our way to PAC-Cup and everything was set for our arrival to SF come the morning of day 4. Our Coast Guard contacts had finally got themselves into our contact routine and the total communication was basically no more than a position check and log-in. Coming over the top of Drakes Bay, we started interacting with Traffic SF over the radio to figure out how much ship traffic there would be, and to alert Traffic SF to our dilemma. Once we established the ETA with everyone concerned it was time to see if we could steer the boat in flat water with the EM rudder…. Our issue: the Drogue was going to be less effective to steer the boat in the expected 2.5+knot flood tide….. Oh and I further need to point out that going under the Gate was going to be about 2200….Yup…Dark!

… So we test the rudder…Zip…Boat does an instant 360! “Well, we’re going in on the Drogue!” We began discussing the line up we would have in the dark and where the ”Ball” light range would be as well as the danger points because of current.

Everyone was on deck and in position going under the Gate. Even the Coast Guard decided to show off and do a fly-by with a helo…No idea what that was worth. I was on Communications and Navigation being that I know the bay and that the illegal Canadians, except Nick, didn’t. Nick directed Helm and I called the Ball, which is the guide range for traffic under the Gate. We went under the gate between Mid and South Tower as directed by Traffic SF and as communicated with a big cruise ship coming out. “Cool…We’re in!….YES!”

“Breaking Wind, We’re through… what is your position?”

The South Tower is not your Friend

“OH…AHHH!.”…360! We got picked up in the Eddy current inside the South tower and lost all drag pressure in the steering drogue… we were now headed for the beach at Crissy Field! Nick and Gary got working on the EMR steering … Vern and Kevin got the Anchor up on deck.

“Breaking Wind …Breaking Wind… John… Something Wicked”…”

“Go Mike…,” John. “Where are you?”

“Coming up pier 39 …You?”

“John, we have zero helm… we picked up the eddy current from the South Tower and it’s taking us to the beach!.. Anchor is ready if we don’t get steerage we may need you to side up with us.”

Once again the team pulled it out… Nick and Gary got super focused moving the EMR an inch at a time, Sandy or Kevin adjusted the drogue. Kevin was the coolest … he kept things calm… and in perspective. I was calling Navigation and reading current and once John was on the scene we started communicating about where we were going and what he felt for current.

A River Runs Through It

If you’ve never been to SF, let me tell you that although the bay is huge, it is like being in a river when the tide is moving. We continued down the Pier 39 waterfront negotiating the flood, kinda going sideways half the time. The plan was to continue to the Bay Bridge and cross over on the west side of Treasure Island, under the bridge, then cross channel for the entrance to the Oakland Estuary…. Yup, here we go again… Under the bay bridge current was running 4knots and we were literally going under it sideways. We made it through and into the slack eddy of the Island… Wow was that nuts!

“So John.. What’s what here?” I looked across the channel at all the lights of the old Alameda Air Station and the commercial port container docks. It looked like an industrial amusement park for longshoremen.

Oh and There is Pizza

“Follow me.” John pulled ahead so that we could follow. As we entered the estuary channel it became obvious that Gary is the master of the EMR stuff… Literally Nick would call for a 3degree correction and Gary would have it…….Up the calm channel we went in awe of the huge container ship that reminded us of our entry to the Gate. Coast Guard came on the radio …obvious to us that they were tracking the boat .. At this point all the communications had been simple.

“Welcome to Alameda,” the voice said.

“Thanks!” As the marinas came into view, John came along side…

“You know we’ve got Pizza and Beer!”….. John explained where we were in relationship to the Yard so we decided to stall out and side tie up right then. It must have looked really odd from shore as we are rafted up mid channel at 0120 in the morning, yakking with enthusiasm about the impending dock arrival and the Pizza.

Hooked up, John maneuvered us down a slim channel and into the long dock at Svendsens…. “Magic!” I swear we’re sick in the head… all of us… The first thing everyone on board did, once tied-up, was start cleaning up……….

“Oh …. Guys,” John called. “Pizza, remember?” John Moore is the coolest! He and two friends came out and brought us in… That’s our Commodore! We sat and chatted about the ordeal in an air of disbelief as if to mentally pinch ourselves that we’re really here and all this happened. We began to fall into crash mode after our Pizza and Corona fest…

John took that as a cue. “What time tomorrow Mike?”

William Reed, local Puerto Vallarta author, passed away last night, July 30th, at 8:30 p.m. at the age of 79 after recent poor health. He is survived locally by his loving wife, Sylvia Reed.

Mr. Reed retired to Puerto Vallarta in 1972 and was author of over nine books. His most recent book, Rocks & Shoals, is the first second half of his memoirs, but also an intriguing page-turner revealing a never before made public top secret program that was used during the Cuban missile crisis to track the Russian submarines. William Reed was one of those who briefed President Kennedy on the program and its important implications during those tense days.

Mr. Reeds AMexican Odyssey is the last half of his memoirs, although written before Rocks & Shoals, and has been called a “hip-pocket history” of Puerto Vallarta’s last 30 years. Angelica Huston said of it:

“Bill Reed’s Mexican Odyssey follows the amazing life, near deaths, and many loves of this real-life Superman. In his poignant memoirs, Reed (a retired Naval Intelligence officer, historian, biographer, publisher, art-gallery owner, musician, writer, adventurer) – shares with us his own private Vallarta. From the beautiful jungles and pristine beaches of Mismaloya, Las Animas and Las Caletas, to the piñata parties, mariachis, scuba dives and poker games – and a deep romance between Reed and his wife, Sylvia Rosa Garces Marroqui – this book has something for everyone.”

Mr. William Reed’s other seven books included collaborating in the writing of John Huston’s biography, An Open Book: John Huston and Tarzan: my Father with Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. and W. Craig Reed.

Administrative Note: Website Update

After a late battle with technical problems, our website is in final corrections now and is expected to launch at the end of next week. Look for it here at www.boatmexico.com at which time this blog will move to an associated site address.

SOMETHING WICKED safely arrived June 30th in San Francisco after losing her rudder in the Vic - Maui. She was leading with good margins when Mike Danielson was at the helm and suddenly lost steerage and saw the rudder floating behind the boat!

Mike, tremendously experienced in his own right, still did what people usually do during an emergency: revert to primary training’s lessons. Fortunately for Mike and the rest of the team, Mike’s primary training was under the tutelage of his father, BoatMexico’s maintenance and professional writing expert, Doug Danielson. Doug is a professional delivery captain and surveyor as well.

In an email to his wife soon after things were put in order on the boat, Mike wrote: “Aside from thinking of you and Merik, I thanked God for growing up as a sea scout and all of the training and practice back then. I thought about what Dad would do and we got it done.”

It must have been good stuff. SOMETHING WICKED safely arrived in San Francisco last night, June 30th, only 3 days after she made a sharp left turn out of the race and headed for her emergency destination rather than the finish line in Hawaii. She made great speed under very challenging conditions, a testament to the skills of the crew who were leading the race.

FULL WEBSITE UPDATE (July 1): BoatMexico didn’t get the full site up and online on June 27th as programmers had promised us, but we truly are close. Our site has features and a level of interactivity that you are going to love, but they are requiring extra tweaking time. Keep checking back with us.

BoatMexico received sad news today that Nereida, a Najad 361, sailing around the world was lost on an isolated beach, Playa Michigan between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, June 19th just before light. Her skipper, Jeanne Socrates, was the sole person on board and survived with only minor lumps, cuts, and bruises after Nereida grounded in the surf after her autopilot failed while motoring during a planned nap under favorable. Most of Jeanne’s belongings were either lost or badly damaged. She salvaged a debit card, some U.S. dollars ,and her passport. Her credit card was swept to sea. A nice Acapulco family has been helping Jeanne with lodging and other matters while she has been there.

Pat Henry, another solo circumnavigator and who lives here in Puerto Vallarta, received and email from Jeanne today with the sad news. Pat said that she had been following Jeanne’s progress since Nereida left Zihuatenejo on March 7, 2007. Jeanne was so near her completion that the tragic accident is made all the more disappointing.

Here is part of Jeanne’s story in her words:

“Thank goodness I’d stopped at the Acapulco Y.C over Tuesday night and Wednesday - Senor Marquez, their Harbourmaster, had been very helpful with my stay and Clearance in to Mexico, so I contacted him to see if he could offer any help when other sources dried up. He said to come and stay with his family at their house overnight and in the morning we could try to see if a big fishing boat would be willing and able to go & pull Nereida off - but that didn’t work out either & Without an almost immediate tow off the beach, she was doomed. It’s so very isolated & access is so difficult and there were just no suitable boats near enough to be able to help. So every day since then I’ve had a long (3-4hr) difficult journey to & fro, rescuing what items I could - so much gear, clothing and personal stuff on board, A lot of water got inside the boat very early on so all electronics were quickly useless, the engine stopped working and everything soon became coated in a mess of paper pulp. I only have my passport, some US dollars and one debit card with me - my credit card was washed out of my pocket early on, setting an anchor, in the ‘washing machine conditions ..”

If you know of anything that can help Jeanne during these difficult times, please email us at: admin@boatmexico.com or contact Jeanne by email at: synereida@yahoo.co.uk, or via her website at: http://www.svnereida.com/index.php .

BoatMexico is very near the launch 0f its incredible new website. After disappointing delays with our website construction, we promised you that we would be here early for the 2008 - 2009 Mexico boating season. More recently, we hoped for launch date of mid to late June. Our website developers told me this weekend that we are nearing completion and plan on being on line by the end of this week. UPDATE: 06JULY…We are in final stage, but developers are still tweaking programming. We didn’t get up by the 27th of June like programmers said we would, but we are getting there. Our site requires quite complex programming. It is very user interactive and consequently requires requires much more testing and tweaking than any system out there. We will be available to you very soon.

You are going to love what we have lined up for you. Yes, our site looks super and has been designed to give you just about everything you can dream of for your number one Mexico boating website. See below some of the line up of experts we have waiting to assist you. They are an impressive team, eager to provide you with the information and expertise to make your trip more fun, secure, and the experience-of-a-lifetime you’ve dreamed about.

Nobody offers you what BoatMexico does. (Remember, it’s not Boat Mexico, but BoatMexico.) We will give you the regular information that you’re accustomed to getting, but sooooo much more. We are going to be here for you in so many different ways, for not only your present needs, but also for the future needs of boaters in Mexico

Let us give you an idea:

Upon our opening, our Medical Loft expert, Dr. Luis Suarez who is an internal medicine specialist and certified in Travel Medicine, will help you put your first aid kit together with Mexico in mind.

Attorney-at-law, Laura Joachin, our Legal Loft expert will take you through the ins and outs of dealing with being a crime victim in Mexico, and give you some vital information just in case you’re accused of a crime. We have all heard the horror stories of Mexican jails, and this information is good to have. You probably will never have a problem, but if you do, you’ll be well-served to know how things work.

Here’s an excerpt from an article in Maintenance Loft by our expert, Doug Danielson:

“Working as a marine surveyor and delivery skipper living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I inspect a lot of cruising sailboats and trawlers that have made it this far—usually in the second or third year of cruising life. Some of the vessels are skippered by self-sufficient sailors, who are really well prepared. They’ve been to the Caribbean and back, through the Panama Canal twice, have loved every minute of it, and are veteran cruisers. I enjoy talking to these folks and comparing notes. Others—some coming down in the BAJA-HA-HA—are still unprepared. They have had nothing but terrible experiences so far, haven’t learned a thing, and are ready to pack it in and sell the boat. I enjoy talking to these folks also, because they’ll probably end up hiring me to take their vessel back to the States. Here are my observations on what I think made the difference between the two types of cruisers.”

Doug’s information will help you avoid the pitfalls and start your trip out in a manner that will keep the dream a pleasant one.

Oh boy, are you ever in for a treat with our Food Loft expert! L. Dolores Brittingham has been teaching cooking for 28 years - and specialized in Mexican cuisine. She will separate the facts from the fiction about Mexican cuisine, provide you with delicious recipes, and simplify gourmet cooking. With her shortcuts and experience, Dolores will make gourmet meals possible with the small space and limited supplies available aboard a boat. L. Dolores Brittingham owns Essence in Cuisine in Puerto Vallarta.

Our Writer’s Loft expert will tell you what it takes to start turning your experiences into published articles, even books. He knows how - he’s done it and he’s willing to introduce you to the methods and resources to make your marine writing dream come true.

Our Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Loft expert is the best around. His company’s name is synonymous with diving here , and he’s going to introduce you to the fabulous underwater adventures that lie in your Mexican backyard. He’ll tell you about the cool things you will see and about some you want to avoid.

Fishing experts don’t get any more popular than ours. He knows where the fish are, how to catch them, and he’s is going to share his expertise and enthusiasm with you. Master Baiter’s owner, Stan Gabruk, is our Fishing Loft expert.

Everybody who travels to Mexico has already heard of or will know our well-respected Weather Loft expert. Don, of Summer Passage fame, has promised to share his expertise with our readers. He will write about some of the idiosyncrasies of marine weather in Mexico. Then you can print them out for your weather notebook to be studied prior to visiting these areas and to assist your understanding of the HF broadcasts that you will want to tune in to regularly during your cruise. If you’ve ever tuned up your HF radio to listen to his analyzes, then you know what I’m talking about. Don knows the Mexican marine weather and it’s effect on sea conditions better than anybody.

AMSEA, Alaska Marine Safety & Education Association, is directed by Jerry Dzugan. AMSEA was founded in 1985 and I have know Jerry for more than 15 years. AMSEA is based in one of the harshest marine environments in the world. They take seriously their mission: “To reduce injury and death in the marine and fresh water environment through education and training provided by a network of qualified marine safety instructors” . But don’t think Jerry doesn’t know about marine safety in warmer waters too. He is extensively well-traveled and has taught instructors in many countries. His expertise is very well-respected and we’re very proud to have Jerry as our Marine Safety expert.

We have more experts coming for you in other departments too. We will work along with them to improve your boating experiences while we all work together to preserve our recreational environment. BoatMexico plans to work with its Government and Legislative department to promote these interests. For example, BoatMexico is taking action to encourage Mexican marinas to provide adequate and sanitary bathrooms for visiting yachts. When restrooms are too disgusting to use or access too restricted or non-existent, waste tends to end up in the water. BoatMexico has a plan to encourage voluntary improvements and compliance by marina managements and users. Moorage fees tend to be very high in Mexican marinas compared with those in the U.S. and Canada, but facilities are sometimes dreadfully substandard. We will work with marina managements and governmental bodies to see that adequate resources are allocated to this necessary infrastructure.

We are all looking forward to the long-awaited full website of BoatMexico. We hope that you will take a look at it and decide to join us. Watch for introductory specials to be offered at the time of our launch. They many not last for long though. We know that you are probably busy preparing your boat for your departure to Mexico, but take a short break, check us out, and join. We make great crew. Just one good tip from one of our experts could save you the cost of your membership. It might even save your life!

Watch, too, for our Trip Tracker utility. It’s BoatMexico’s proprietary automated Float Plan. We are serious about giving you more tools to make your trip safer and a cultural exploration.

We hope to welcome you aboard real soon!

What are these?

Maintaining your boat in Mexico’s tropical climate isn’t always what you expect. Jump aboard BoatMexico (you will find us under BoatMexico, not Boat Mexico) when we open our full website this month. We will be here with you on your cruise to Mexico, whether on your sailboat or powerboat, to assist you with your needs, wants, and pleasures.

MAINTENANCE

In our maintenance section, you will learn just what this photo is all about. Believe us, you will want to know just what this is and what to do about it. We can help.

In our Maintenance Loft, you will find valuable information on preparing your boat for Mexico and beyond.

Doug Danielson, our Maintenance Loft Expert,  is a marine surveyor and delivery captain with unparalleled experience in Mexico. He will let you know what’s important and will be available for your questions.

BAJA HA-HA 2008

Need to get ready for the Baja Ha-Ha 2008? We have the features that will make your cruise more fun and safe.

YOUR EXPERTS

Do you have questions about how to prepare your boat not only for Mexico, but for long distance cruising? Our experts in travel medicine, sea safety, maintenance, legal issues including immigration and customs, and other specialties will be available for all to read. Those with premium memberships will be able to access free online support from them as well. Just one answer from one of our experts can save you significant money, time, and trouble.

DIVING & SNORKELING

Do you have stories and photos of good diving in Mexico. Share your adventures with our users. Send your stories or write us for more information at: admin@boatmexico.com.

CULTURE

Want to really get to know the culture or learn Spanish beyond “Hola”? BoatMexico includes the information and services that you need.

HARBORS & ANCHORAGE INFORMATION

Need the latest information about a harbor or anchorage? Don’t rely on outdated references. BoatMexico brings you the absolute latest vital information. Our site is dynamic and doesn’t become obsolete upon publication like most other websites and all paper publications.

WEATHER

We bring you marine weather and forecasts in a convenient, constantly updated and focused format to get the big picture fast. Make your departure plans without wasting time that just keeps running away from you when you need it the most.

LIVE ABOARD AND SAIL THE WORLD

Would you like to find out if NOW is the time to get out of that burdensome mortgage and live aboard a sailboat, maybe even take off around the world? We know someone who did just that during tough financial times like we’re facing these days. She not only found a less expensive way to live, but found a whole new life and learned just what made her tick. Wait until you see what she’s doing now! Checkout her story in our Salts and Sights Loft in the upcoming website for more information. You’re going to love this story!

BOAT BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

Are you a marine related business that wants maximum targeted exposure to your market? Contact email us at admin@boatmexico.com to discover how you can advertise and link your business for our users’ convenient access.

WRITING

If you are a sailor, powerboater, sport fisher, enjoy cooking Mexican food, ecology or marine biology enthusiast, HF marine radio operator, or have another enthusiastic marine related hobby that relates to Mexico and would like to write, we welcome you to explore and submit articles for our new website launching this month . Many boaters are driven to write about their adventures. We have a Writer’s Loft that will connect you with published author’s and with those aspiring to publish.

SPECIAL GRAND OPENING OFFERS

In the meantime, look for our Grand Opening membership specials, you’ll really be glad if you do that!! Tune in frequently to www.BoatMexico.com for the opening announcements coming soon!

You might call it Culture Cruising. We believe that many cruisers can enrich their experience by interacting more intimately with the host culture. That seems obvious, but it is easy to get trapped in the routine of choosing between cockpit drinks or local pub happy hours, or simply seeing the well-beaten path that every tourist strolls.

Getting off those beaten paths and experiencing firsthand how the local people live can be an extremely rewarding way of cruising. Many talk about it, but far fewer actually do it. Come along with BoatMexico (remember you find us as BoatMexico, not Boat Mexico) and let us present you with ideas, options, and even discounts to enhance your enjoyment and memories. You might just end up liking it so much (like what happened to us and countless others) that you won’t want to leave!

You probably won’t want to move into one of these modified cave-houses and live like many of the indigenous Indians, but you can enjoy meeting these beautiful people and appreciate their hardiness, self-sufficiency (What sailor doesn’t admire that?!), and affinity for bright colors.

Mexicans are music. They live and breathe music. Everybody knows how to dance. I’ve marveled with envy while watching every age and degree of physique and figure gyrate to Latin rhythms as naturally as waves form from winds.

You can hear extremely high quality voices sung and tunes played in the streets, on city buses, on the beaches, in the bars, in clubs, or even blaring from neighborhood speakers. Professional musicians who have moved to Mexico or visit here attest to the abundance of incredible talent.

Food is nearly always an ethnic reflection. The ingredients indicate what animals and plants are present in the country and the methods of preparation reflect the history and economics. Imitations of these foods in our own country, even when prepared by those of the ethnic origin never match the flavor and quality of the native cuisine. That’s partly because of not having the fresh ingredients from the country and partly because there is huge pressure to alter the food to popular tastes.

BoatMexico’s Food Loft will show you how to prepare in a variety of ways such things as nopales, a cactus frequently found near anchorages. Recipes of Mexican dishes written by local Mexicans will let you properly provision your vessel and prepare some of Mexico’s delicious and surprisingly healthy victuals. Who would have thought that Mexican meals could be so healthy?!

Some others are simply colorful and tasty.

Mexicans celebrate life and they even celebrate death. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of losing loved ones, Mexicans worship the positive. The Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, is the Mexican equivalent of Memorial Day in the U.S. or Remembrance Day in Canada, but Rememberance Day being more an honor of the war dead and similar to the U.S. Veterans Day.

On the Day of the Dead, the favorite foods and other tokens of the deceased lives are assembled in their tribute. The good times that were shared with their family, friends, and community are discussed.

Old skeletal remains can be found in remote areas, but unlike similar finds in some other countries that consider these sacred, there appears, at least in some areas, to be a more matter-of-fact attitude about them. Yet graveyards are often kept beautiful with flowers, well-kept grounds, and impressive monuments.

At BoatMexico, we bring you more of the nautical necessities that you need online for cruising Mexico safely, and a whole lot more. We are connecting boaters in Mexico (R), not only with one another and your nautical needs, but with Mexico itself. If you want your cruise to be more than just another sail in the sun, join BoatMexico. We will connect you with the intriguing Mexico — its adventures, its people, its music, food, and history. You may even find more of yourself!

You will find us online with our full websight and all of its fabulous features by middle to late June. Keep looking for us or drop us an email (admin@boatmexico.com) and we’ll let you know as soon as we’re online. Watch for special offers with our opening!

Where Are Fuel Prices & Boating Heading?

I remember when we thought we had high fuel prices. It was 1981. I was looking for a boat. Fuel prices had risen during the seventies. I was kicking around docks and listening to boaters tell me how sailboat prices had increased for two reasons, both of them fuel related. First: The demand was higher. Sailboats didn’t burn much fuel. The second reason hurt: sailboats were made of fiberglass and the price of resin was tied to the price of fuel. That meant that I could better afford to boat if I didn’t have to spend money on gas or diesel, but it also meant that I had to spend more for the boat.

That was 27 years ago. Boats cost about $1,000/foot then. I bought a new Cal-25 Mark II for $24,000 at the Atlanta Boat Show, put it on Lake Lanier, and sailed to my hearts content. Well, almost. You never quite get enough once you fall in love with boating.

Take a look at the following graph, provided courtesy of WTRG Economics, and you can see that we are in a similar situation to 1981 with regard to increase in the price of oil, but much worse and trending higher.

We all know that everybody thinks that boaters are wealthy people. Well, some are, but most of us just love being on the water and choose to put our “disposable” income into a boat rather than airline tickets, other vacations, fancier cars or homes. We subsequently have to pay more for our perceived wealth. To conveniently buy our boat accessories in specialty stores, we often pay literally 10 times more than charged in hardware or other stores.

Boaters who are spending millions to buy megayachts probably won’t flinch at the increase in fuel prices. The price of fuel to them is such a small part of their boating expenditure that it doesn’t impact them much. For the rest of us, it is an entirely different story.

What will happen to the price of boats? Boats are usually constructed of fiberglass and that requires resin. Spartech is a major supplier of resins to the marine industry. In November, 2007, this is what they had to say to their wholesale customers:

“Spartech Color & Specialty Compounds

Dear Valued Customer, November 30, 2007

As we move to the end of this year, more back to back price increases continue to be implemented and announced by our resin and raw material suppliers. Higher energy costs, high demand for exports, and higher operating costs are the reasons being sighted for these increases…“

Well, that sounds rather ominous for boat building prices. Their price increase announcements have occurred almost monthly since. Again, I remember the similar ominous conversations that occurred in boat cockpits in 1981.  All of the owners were talking about how glad they were to have already bought their sailboats.

What about the post production cost of transporting that little mini-yacht upon a gas-guzzling wide-load truck to your state? And what about all the fixed costs of the buildings and employees, and the other energy required to run businesses with high energy costs? The picture of the price of new boats looks rather grim. When demand goes down, the price doesn’t necessarily follow. With fewer units being sold, manufacturers still have to pay these expenses, regardless of whether they are selling one boat or a thousand boats. That can convert into higher prices for fewer boats sharing those costs. Undoubtedly, there will be more manufacturers who fail to make ends meet and have to close their doors.

What will the demand shift be between power and sailboats? On May 2, 2008, gas or diesel cost $4.49/gal at the dock in Shilshole Bay Marina, Seattle, Wa. Many power boats will easily burn 1 gal. or more per nautical mile. A typical sailboat that has to power along when it has no wind will still be able to burn only about a gal or less per hour. On our 41 foot sailboat, we will burn about 1 to 1.5 gal/hr and get about 7 or 8 miles, or about 4 to 6 mpg. That’s not really great, but it is 4 to 6 times better than the power yacht, and that is only when we must power. Otherwise, the sailboats are using the wind.

Alternative power can help cut the bill. Consider using wind and solar electric power too. A good set of batteries, a high output alternator, solar power, and a wind generator can cut the time you have to burn that expensive diesel. If you live in a sunny, windy area and plan well, you may be able to restrict your use of the engine to only that needed for infrequent motoring around anchorages and marinas.

New boat prices are already mast high, but there are lots of fine used sailboats on the market. They last a long time and rarely go to the “junk yard”.

It may not be 1981 anymore, but if you already own your sailboat you are probably a happy camper. If not, I would look for only higher prices. Demand will be impaired somewhat by the general hard times that most of us are feeling now, but new fiberglass boats can’t be built for anywhere near the same money with costs skyrocketing. Babyboomers are aging and aging boaters often make the switch to power. I wouldn’t look for such an impetus in these days.

Another fun way to cut costs is to bring your boat to Mexico. Fuel isn’t cheap here, but it’s about 1 to 1.50/gal cheaper than the states. It’s also sunny and with enough wind to sail. See ya soon, I hope.

BOATMEXICO WEBSITE UPDATE

I’m a little shy to say too much or promise too much about when software developers will complete their work. Those of you who have been waiting for us to open our true website understand what I mean. However, we believe that we have a good developer this time. Yesterday, we were told that our design and development is proceeding well and that we are still on target for a mid-Jun website opening. That is the best I can tell you. We will do everything we can to have our fabulous website ready for you to plan you sail into our 2008-2009 season.

The hurricane season is approaching us in Mexico now. Just a reminder to those of you who have your boats here, insurance companies will often not cover your loss if a hurricane strikes and you have not removed all of your sails and canvas. Check with your insurance company and be sure that you are in compliance with their requirements. Our home office is in Puerto Vallarta. If we can assist you in any way, please send an email to admin@boatmexico.com

Mothers are always special. In Mexico, Mother’s are more frequently reminded of their special place in the family. There are wonderful aspects to all cultures and this is one of the very beautiful characteristics of the Mexican culture.

For the formal celebration of Mother’s Day in Mexico, Dia de Madres is always celebrated on May 1oth, not on the second Sunday of May as in the United States. Grown children arrive to their mother’s home the night before and prepare for the holiday.

The celebration is also associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe, who is considered a symbol of motherhood. There is a special mass for Día de Madres, the highlight being the orchestra’s playing of “Las Mañanitas”. This song is also sung and/or played for other special occasions such as birthdays in Mexico as well. Unlike in the U.S., nearly all Mexicans have music in their Latin blood and enviably can carry a tune. Commonly, mom receives a live serenade. (See the lyrics to Las Mañanitas below.)

Mexican mothers commonly work 6 days per week outside of the home and then return home to wash clothes by hand, prepare meals, and care for the many children. Family is central to the culture and like everywhere mothers are what make families what they are.

We want to say to all of you wonderful mothers, wherever you may be this day, that we wish you a Feliz Día de Madres and thank you for all of the love, warmth, and peace that you bring to our lives.

LAS MAÑANITAS

Spanish Version

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

English Version:
This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set

How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn.

WEBSITE UPDATE:

Our website will be online within 60 days. BoatMexico.com will be the premiere website for boating in Mexico, whether you are cruising in a sailboat or powerboat or megayacht. After a substantial delay in our web design and development, we are preparing everything that we promised to have ready and lots more for our 2008 boating season. Look soon for us at www.boatmexico.com.

This blog will move to an associated web address upon our opening and www.boatmexico.com will become the primary address for our members website. BoatMexico is the website owned and operated by PVBoating S de RL, a Mexican corporation that legally founded, registered, and authorized to operate in Mexico. Be sure that the companies that you do business with are legally operated businesses. We are here to responsibly serve your interests. We are “Connecting Boaters in Mexico^®.”

Keywords: BoatMex ^® BoatMx ^® PVBoating ^® Cruising Mexico Boating Guide Puerto Vallarta Boating Yacht Clubs of Mexico Marinas Charter Rental Sailing Excursions Maintenance Medical Legal Immigration Safety Nautical Crew

When I first wrote back to the U.S. about Cinco deMayo in Mexico, I said that this holiday was more popular outside of Mexico than here. Well… that was before I went to rural Mexico for a real Cinco de Mayo. May is here and the boating season nearing its end before the start of hurricane season. This is a great time to explore inland.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862. While the holiday is principally celebrated in Pueblo, Mexico, the U.S. and other areas celebrate the holiday as a tribute to Mexican heritage and pride. In some of Mexico’s larger towns, this holiday is little more than an opportunity for kids to take a couple of vacation days from school and for restaurants to lure customers out for a pretty ordinary night’s dinner.

In Uzeta, Nayarit, Cinco de Mayo is an entirely different and exciting experience. Uzeta is a small pueblo, poor and typical of many rural pueblos. It sits a short distance from the beaten path between Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara on the old highway and easily bypassed, in fact not even noted as the traffic flows a few miles away on the more commonly used toll freeway. It is very near a large lava field that was formed from the 1870 - 1875 eruption of the now inactive volcano Ceboruco.

From May 1 through May 5, Uzeta’s small population (reportedly around 4,000 within 7 km) creates fireworks of a different order.

You will see marriages & baptisms occurring simultaneously in the church.

Just out the door, there are fun rides for the small children, fireworks, dancing to mariachis, and a rodeo with seats so close to the bucking bulls that spectators have to lift their feet to avoid injury.

If you want to sleep through the holidays, don’t come to Uzeta. Fireworks, gunshots (safely fired into the air), and music compete for airwaves throughout the nights.

On the other hand, if you want to see a Cinco de Mayo that gives you a glimpse of how a sleepy pueblo can create a terrific festive atmosphere, by all means come to Uzeta. However, you will have to find a hotel in neighboring Ahuatcatlan or Tepic; or drive 2.5 hours back to your boat in Puerto Vallarta. Uzeta has no overnight lodging.

Keywords: BoatMex ^® BoatMx ^® PVBoating ^® Cruising Mexico Boating Guide Puerto Vallarta Boating Yacht Clubs of Mexico Marinas Charter Rental Sailing Excursions Maintenance Medical Legal Immigration Safety Nautical Crew