Welcome to the adventures of
Pura Vida,
our Catalina 400 sailboat purchased in 2005 in
San Diego, California. Join us as we sail the Sea
of Cortez, and as we enjoy seeing our daughter and her family living in San Carlos,
Mexico.
After we both retired it was time to get serious about sailing.
We previously had a Santana 20, but then got our Pura Vida and had a great time sailing the
waters of Southern California until we sailed with the Baja Ha Ha group to
Mexican waters in 2007. We will permanently keep the boat in the Sea of
Cortez sailing out of our slip in the San Carlos Marina.
Enjoy our trip south with the Baja Ha Ha,
a 14 year tradition for those wanting to sail to warm waters. To see
the route and learn about this cruise, click on Baja Ha Trip. The first 3 days were a
non-stop sail to Turtle Bay, staying there for 2 days, then another 2 day
sail to Santa Maria Bay for a stop of 2 days, and finally into Cabo San
Lucas for the "we've cheated death again" celebration!
What a blast! We met so many wonderful people and have new cruising friends
in the Sea of Cortez for years to come.
Then take a look at our trip south to Puerto
Vallarta in October 2008. We spent all winter at Paradise Village Marina
sailing Banderas Bay. The weather was perfect (80F daily) with afternoon
winds perfect for being on the water. We visited many villages around the
Bay and took a week-long trip to Guadalajara. The more we see of Mexico, the
more we love the places and the people.
Again, the sailing community is so welcoming and helpful; we made lots of
new friends that we hope to see again.
San Carlos welcomed us back in March
2009. We continue to visit every couple of months and will spend more time
sailing the Sea of Cortez in the winter of 2009-2010. Be sure to visit our
website often to see the latest news..
See the pictures
from Hurricane jimena
Fortunately we were in San Carlos when reports started
to alert cruisers to get to shelter. Hurricane Jimena was the largest
category 5, and first reports said it would go to sea before coming north.
But, predictions cannot be trusted, and we decided to stay to monitor Pura
Vida's safety. The docks were abuzz with people doubling their dock lines
and tying lines over their mainsails. Headsails were stripped and people
began to move their boats from their moorings in the Bahia to docks in
Marina San Carlos. The weather remained very hot, and knowing we could not
keep the air conditioner over the main cabin hatch because it would leak, we
decided to ride the storm out in Marinaterra Hotel. Winds started to build
and the surf became huge, then the rain started to fall, and fall, and pour
down. For 30 hours it rained and the wind gusted to 60 mph. Local mariners
kept everyone informed using the VHF system about the location of the storm,
even though NOAH models were wrong. Jimena passed over San Carlos at
2:00a.m. Sept 3rd and stayed 40 miles offshore for another 20 hours. The
rain broke the previous record by 50% for rainfall in Guaymas and San
Carlos. Homes were washed away, boats went aground or sank, power and water
stopped, and phone service was gone due to poles and towers being blown
down. People checked in on each other and helped when needed. .I can report
that the hotel had more water damage than Pura Vida - only a couple of small
leaks through hatches and no damage to the exterior.
As soon as the storm stopped the Mexican government and local power
company officials were out in force repairing downed lines and fixing water
pipes. No one who was there will ever complain about the swift and efficient
way these people worked to establish power, water, phone service, and start
the clean up. There were truck loads of young men driving around to help
where they were needed. There was absolutely no looting and when someone
tried to sell water along the highway at a high price, local officials
stopped him and aggressively prevented any other profiteering. There remains
so much mud damage, and those in rural areas are still homeless. Local
residents, including daughter Becky, are coordinating food distribution and
raising funds for those most in need. This community came together and will
be stronger due to the crisis they endured.
