Although the afternoons are scorchio as expected, the morning mists here on the Pacific coast tend to linger on through until lunchtime reducing the visibility considerably. With this in mind, rather than leaving our departure from Mission Bay until Tuesday morning we decided to leave on Monday afternoon, with a night sail preferable to sailing in fog. Our newly repaired windless made light work of raising the anchor and soon after lunch we were sailing southwards towards Mexico. With a fresh breeze behind us and sails up the passage was far more comfortable than our 'Baha Bash' up to California a week before.
Jessica planned to spend the whole trip up on the bow sprit but Skipper Stu thwarted her plans by enlisting the whole crew in a watch system. With one hour on the helm for everyone this was a last ditch attempt to keep Rip van Robert and Terence, half boy half mattress from sleeping through the whole trip. As you can see from the picture it was only a partial success! However soon everyone was rewarded when we found ourselves in the middle of a pod of dolphins who delighted everyone as they swam under our bow. We had been disappointed on our trip up that we had not seen dolphins and that our only sighting had been of a very far off whale although even this had been exciting. I had been reading up about the various species of whales and dolphin hoping to become an expert 'spotter' and noted that you should not approach closer than 100 yards from whales and on no account place your boat between two or more of them. It seems that whales do not read books as suddenly we found ourselves in the middle of a group of whales less than 50 yards from the boat. They were all around us and huge! We checked in the book and are pretty certain that they were Blue Whales. All we could do was to stop the boat and watch them swim past us, it was an amazing moment and brought everyone to the guardrail with their cameras at the ready.
As it got dark we watched the lights along the coast, trying to pick out the towns we had driven through on the bus. Then I looked down into the water and there were lights there too, wonderful phosphorescence, just like fairy lights in our wake and then to cap it all we had more dolphins swimming through the sparkling phosphorescence! It was a wonderful sail and one that none of us will forget.
Fantasia is tucked up safely on her berth again for another few months. We plan to fly out again in October and sail her south, down to Le Paz and on into the Sea of Cortez. Meanwhile it is back to sunny Gosport for us from where Fantasia and all her travels will seem a million miles away yet again.
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Mr Henry Fixit ditches the paddles! Henry operates a ferry service across to the beach where everyone is celebrating Independence Day with the biggest beach BBQs ever.
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After leaving Fantasia safely tucked up on her berth on the Baja in Mexico in January when we had to return to the UK we were keen to get out again to check her over and bring some of our family with us. So it was seven of us that made the long journey via Detroit and San Diego, crossing the border on foot at Tijuana. On arrival in Mexico we waited eagerly at the border for the marina minibus which we had arranged to transport us down to La Marina at Puerto Salina. Ah, this is definitely Mexico, we had almost forgotten - the lines of taxi drivers, the drug stores selling any drug you could imagine (and hopefully not need!) and you've guessed it - no minibus. Fortunately the ABC bus across the road was about to leave and so after waiting for an hour or so we jumped on board and headed off to Puerto Salina and Fantasia. The marina staff were apologetic and treated us (all seven of us) to lunch and so all ended happily. At last we and our crew of Eleanor, Henry, Robert, Jessica and Terence were back on board Fantasia and keen to prepare her for our trip up to California. The first job was to take the bus down to Ensenada to stock up on essential supplies - beer, tequila and limes to keep the scurvy in check and enough food for the next 24 hours as US customs do not permit many fresh foodstuffs to be brought into the country. Terence purchased a sombrero thinking that with his sun tan and Latin good looks would he blend in as a Mexican. Sadly he was the only one with a hat! He was instantly pursued by a jewellery seller keen to cash in on his reckless spending habits.
Back on Fantasia we prepared for sea and set off for San Diego early the next morning. As we had been warned the wind was on the nose the whole way averaging about 20 knots and so we did the Baja Bash under motor. Terence and Robert slept for England while Jessica proved she was an ace helmsman. We all kept a watch out for dolphins which sadly evaded us but we saw a huge whale in the distance and for quite a while watched it spouting water through its blow hole. It was the first proper voyage on a sailing yacht for all of them and crossing the border into the USA was an exciting moment for everyone. Jessica lowered the Mexican courtesy flag and hoisted the Stars and Stripes. Everyone survived the trip reasonably well and even Terence and Robert emerged on deck as we came into San Diego harbour in time to see the skyscrapers coming into view and the seals sleeping on the buoys.
Our first stop was the police dock to clear immigration and customs after which we managed to find a berth at Harbour Island where we had stayed before Christmas. This was an instant hit with our motley crew as there was a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. We had a great few days in San D sightseeing and visiting Sea World and even a bit of shopping , the children finding the designer outlets and we ending up finding all the best bargains in Ross Dress for Less! Meanwhile Henry worked on the outboard engine, determined to get it working which he did - pretty well - although paddles were an essential back up after a few stops mid harbour. Our last day in the city was Independence Day and at Harbour Island we had the perfect viewing spot for the fireworks which were pretty spectacular with 4 simultaneous displays all perfectly coordinated. It was a great end to a relaxing day spent messing about in boats with the canoe and dingy pressed into service ferrying children across to the beach while Stuart fixed the windlass in readiness for our trip to Mission Bay where we planned to anchor in Marina's Cove.
We left Harbour Island on Saturday morning to exchange the city for the beach at Mission Bay where we had spent Christmas. Terence and Robert didn't stir throughout the 3 hour trip while Jess clipped on to the bowsprit became our figure head. With the wind on the nose again and a considerable swell it was quite a rocky ride but Jess was not bothered at all enjoying the biggest waves most of all! Having anchored safely, Henry ferried us all, complete with surf boards across to the beach in the newly motorized dingy and soon the boys were attempting to outshine the locals with their surfing skills. Robert proved to be the star managing to stand up on his board. The next step will be to do it out on the big surfing waves! All of them managed to act the part though posing with their boards on the beach complete with goosebumps - the ocean was freezing!
As I write and as Stuart prepares his culinary masterpiece of jalapeno and beef burgers, we are awaiting the return of our children who were planning a beach morning followed by a return visit to Sea World. This morning, after watching a dramatic rescue in which a dog was rescued from a dingy drifting past us, we took the bikes and cycled up the coast to La Jolla Cove which was beautiful. We found a beach which is home to a colony of 200 seals and watched them standing high up on a breakwater overlooking them sunning themselves below us. We found it hard to drag ourselves away until a big wave broke and completely soaked some people further along. It looked like Seaworld all over again and time to look for lunch which was delicious, shop for more supplies - beer and return to Fantasia for an afternoon siesta.
Tomorrow afternoon we set sail again for Mexico to put Fantasia back to bed for another few months. Next time we hope to escape the British winter and head south to the Sea of Cortez. Margaritas anyone?
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