Sailing the Karina C

Caleta Partida at dawn
01/09
Yesterday we motored out of La Paz in windless conditions all the way up to Caleta Partida. We had a quick lunch and then we waited the obligatory hour and went off to the reef snorkeling. We got around the reef in good time as the water was cool and the shortie wetsuits we had didn't insulate us from the chill. As usual, we saw an excellent display of fish. All of them seemed unconcerned about us as if they knew this was a wildlife sanctuary. Some of the fish were knotted up near the bottom. This was the aquatic version of group sex I guess.
We took the rest of the day easy. We had an excellent supper of beef and broccoli. After supper, we attempted to watch a movie that I had carefully picked out. This, unfortunately, was the first looser in the collection. We fast forwarded through the rest of the movie. Thankfully, it ended quickly and Anita went off to bed leaving me to watch another episode of "Spooks."
This morning we went off to the fish camp and tramped around the flat trails around there. After getting back to the boat, I checked in on Manana Net. Seems like the unfortunately named AGACE agency which has impounded around 338 boats for errors with the Temporary Import Permits (TIP). It turns out that these errors included not displaying your Vessel Identification Number (VIN). Unfortunately, many of these boats were made in the days before VINs were even invented. To add to the confusion, it appears the AGACE people were unable to discern boat makes from electronics. Thus, there are a number of boats made by Garmin (electronics manufacturer) and even Volvo and Yanmar (diesel). To say that the people who were auditing the TIPS were incompetent would be generous. One of the reasons we are out here is the popular rumour that AGACE was supposed to be in La Paz this week. So, as our paperwork is all in order, but we have no VIN, we decided to head out to Caleta Partida and hang for a few days. The guys on the net offered no hope of a quick resolution. The latest news from the Manana Net was that the protocol to impound the boats is quick and easy. Unfortunately there is no regulation to easily unimpound these impounded boats. Almost all were found to be unjustly impounded. Unfortunately, the authority to unimpound the boats rests with an official in Mexico City.
This mess has prompted the cancellation of many regattas and races as the Mexican government struggles to sort this mess out. Boats sailing S to Mexico have virtually stopped in the past month. As AGACE doesn't own boats, they can only check marinas. This has led to an inordinate number of vacancies at the marinas in La Paz. If we were not paid up until February 9th we would be on the hook too.
This afternoon we took it easy. I read and slept through the afternoon. Anita cooked and read. Tomorrow we head back to Marina Palmira and see what is happening. I am strongly suspicious that AGACE has created such a big problem, the audits will stop until the impoundments have cleared. So, I am not too greatly concerned as the last thing the Mexican government wants to do is devastate the economy in towns like La Paz, Mazatlan, San Carlos, and La Cruz where nautical tourism is most of the economy. Some of the larger news gathering organizations have begun to report this situation. This will definitely stir the waters in the Mexican government offices. We have been in email contact with the Canadian Embassy and will likely be hearing from them tomorrow when we get back to wifi range. The whole situation has a knot in our stomach that most holiday folks try to vacation away from.
01/12
Today we went to church and played The Gospel Of Grace on trombone and piano. Anita played wonderfully and the musical offering was well received. Every time I play that plastic trombone I miss my King 2B back home.
This afternoon we saw a forum posting that indicated the AGACE impoundments have been removed in many of the marinas. Apparently, there has been a minor bloodletting with the abrupt departure of the head of the agency last Tuesday. I would say it will be at least April before any of the AGACE folks are allowed out of the office for coffee. By the time these folks are allowed to check marinas, we will be back in Canada. Future impoundments will be dealt with way quicker than the last ones.