23 October 2018 | Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
20 October 2018 | Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
26 January 2018 | Puerto Madero, Chiapas
21 January 2018 | Acapulco, Mexico
14 January 2018 | Huatulco to Puerto Angel
03 January 2018 | Chiapas, Mexico
21 December 2017 | Antigua, Guatemala
20 December 2017 | Antigua, Guatemala
19 December 2017 | Antigua, Guatemala
18 December 2017 | Antigua, Guatemala
16 December 2017 | Talisman Frontera, Chiapas, Mexico
15 December 2017 | Talisman Frontera, Mexico
13 December 2017 | Puerto Madera, Chiapas, Mexico
03 December 2017 | Puerto Madero, Mexico
02 December 2017 | Marina Chiapas, Mexico
27 November 2017 | Chiapas, Mexico
11 January 2017 | Barra de Navidad to Bahia Santiago
30 December 2016 | Barra de Navidad
30 December 2016 | Barra de Navidad
30 December 2016 | Barra de Navidad
Topolobampo revisited
23 April 2013 | Topolobampo
After three days and nights at sea we were glad to arrive at the channel into Topolobampo. The channel here is buoyed and well lit although considerably off its charted position. Topo is a port with substantial ships entering and leaving including the ferry from La Paz so there is no problem with depth. However it is vital not to turn too early and ensure that you are well into the channel and do not cut across. The breakers on either side signify sand shoals stretching several miles off shore and act as a good incentive to take special care. Once inside the bay there are many unmarked shoals so exploring is not recommended however there is safe passage up to the town where there is an excellent marina. Two years ago we left Fantasia here while we caught the Chepe train through the Copper Canyon. This time we tucked in just behind the long sand spit that forms the harbour entrance and anchored at 25 34.54 N 109 09.67 W in 4 metres of water.
After catching up with the Commodore Yachting office e-mails we enjoyed well deserved sundowners on deck whilst watching evening flights of birds going home to bed. After a season in the tropical surroundings of Bandaras Bay we had forgotten about the stark beauty of the Sea of Cortez. The mountains surrounding the bay were stunning and as the evening progressed took on a thousand different colours as the sun set over the sand dunes. It was a treat to go to bed and sleep without having to wake up after 3 or 4 hours to go on watch.
The following day we took advantage of our Banda Ancha signal and had a hard morning in the office before setting off in the dinghy to go ashore. We decided to land on the hook and walk around the edge. We marvelled at the beauty of the shoreline and sculptured dunes within but more than anything, I was struck by how this beach resembled one in Norfolk, a long sandy spit called Scolt Head Island. In fact we could have been almost anywhere on the North Norfolk coast between Blakeney and Brancaster on a hot summers day! The bird life was plentiful, varied and not at all timid, posing happily for our shots. No need for bird hides here! Again, as we have found so many times in Mexico words cannot describe the beauty of this wonderful place, accessible only to fishermen and the (very) occasional yacht.