September 25, 2021
Greetings from Mexico!
Yep, we made it to Mexico!! We docked at Long Beach for a month, made a few repairs from our crossing from Hawaii, and gave Toni some time to head north to finish up some business. During this time Greg had to go anchor out for 9 days because the Marina only allows transients 15 days a month. While he was at anchor, early one morning he called in the Coast Guard to report a sinking boat! He was the first one to call it in, allowing the Coast Guard to get water pumping out before the boat sank. Also when at anchor his old boat Cocokai, the one he circumnavigated the world on, pulled up and dropped anchor behind him. While we were dock we visited with friends and enjoyed some time hanging out at a few local restaurants with bars. Watched a little football and chatted with some regulars at the Crab Pot. Then yesterday we set sail for Mexico!! Light winds are first. Set up the Spinnaker for a while. Bit later no wind and we took down the shoot. Then shortly after wind started blowing from the south!! Beating to Mexico, unexpected when we started. But smoke from fires up in Northern California had started drifted down the coast, practically to San Diego. All kinds of weird weather near the coast. We headed out a bit to try and avoid rain, but ended up not quite making it. Didn't rain too much. San Diego had a hail storm and we had some lightening and thunder pass behind us! And during all of this we were heading practically straight into the wind. Heeled quite a bit, water across the deck, not fun... Didn't we just have this out it Hawaii?? LOL. Thankfully only lasted a few hours. Next thing, wind just died. Started motoring. Crossed the border at 23:15. First time for me sailing the west coast of Mexico and Greg's bazillionith time. Fishing boats all lined up right on the border, worked our way between them. They weren't too courteous, but we made it through. Skirted outside the Coronado Islands. Then onto Ensenada with a beautiful sunrise welcoming us to Mexico.