Calou's Blog

Cruising with the crew of CALOU on the Baja Ha-ha and Pacific Puddle Jump

Empty nesters!

15 September 2017
Pascale
We're getting used to being empty nesters. Our younger son Antoine started at the California Maritime Academy and loving it! For now, we're enjoying our home in Nevada.

Back in Paradise after a year in La Paz

25 May 2017
Pascale
We left Marina Palmira on May 8th, spent a night at Los Suenos and crossed to Mazatlan. We had wind the all way and a full moon. Made it to Mazatlan in time to meet our friend Jeff Hartjoy from Sailor's Run. We hadn't seen him since he left for his nonstop solo circumnavigation 2 years ago.
We stayed a week at Marina El Cid with our friend Liz from Reno who had never sailed offshore. She was such a joy. We departed on May 17th at 5am and made it before dark at Isla Isabel. Set sail for Matenchen Bay and Chacala.
Finally, with a stop at the Marina in La Cruz, we arrived at our final destination at the Paradise Village Marina where we leave Calou for Hurricane season.

Squally night at Caleta Partida

15 February 2017
Bruce
We departed from Marina Palmira in La Paz on Monday, spent a night on the hook at Bahia Balandra, then sailed yesterday from Balandra to anchor at Caleta Partida, which is a bay between the two islands Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida. This bay is fairly well protected from most wind directions, except for WSW.

We spent the afternoon relaxing on the hook and enjoyed dinner and a movie. This morning we had breakfast in the cockpit and Pascale and Antoine kayaked around the bay and visited friends Lynda and Willy on Reel Joy. We were enjoying a poker game on their boat when we noticed ominous dark clouds and lighting bursts filling the sky to the West. Soon, rain began to fall, so we returned to our boat to hunker down for a stormy night.

Change of plan

12 February 2017 | La Paz
Pascale
We decided to leave Calou in the La Paz area until May. We'll cross over to Mazatlan and then Puerto Vallarta in early May.
Meanwhile, we'll enjoy the Sea of Cortez and Nevada in March and April.

Back in the Sea of Cortez for a little while

01 November 2016
Pascale
We've been back in La Paz since October 15th.
We just went out at Isla Espiritus Santos and Balandra for 3 nights to test all systems. And..., we have salted water coming into the bilge when we run the engine. The water maker is not working. We have to change the membrane. Other than that, everything is good. We spent 1 night at Bahia San Gabriel on Isla Espiritus Santos and 2 nights at Balandra. We kayaked and swam. It was wonderful!
We'll be back around mid-January and planning on crossing over to Mazatlan at that time.

La Paz, Baja Sur

01 June 2016
Pascale
Long overdue!

We made it to the other side!
We left Paradise Village on April 26th stopped over at the Marina El Cid. Enjoyed Mazatlan for a little over a week and crossed over to Los Frailes. Then, we sailed to Los Muertos. Last time we were there was 9 years ago with our two boys. Antoine, who was 9 then, remembered the train museum at the Los Suenos Resort. We went for a swim there.
After staying two nights at Los Muertos, we sailed to the beautiful Playa Bonanza. Then, sailed down to Marina Palmira to reprovision and clean the boat.
After a few days of rest, we went to Bahia Balandra just 12 miles North of La Paz. Gorgeous Bay with white sand and turquoise water. We stayed there for 5 days snorkelling, kayaking, hiking.
We are back at Marina Palmira where we'll keep Calou for the summer months.
We'll fly home end of June and fly down mid-october for a short while.
We'll be spending Christmas and New Year in the USA.

Hanging out in Paradise

06 February 2016
Pascale
We've been in Nuevo Vallarta since January 9th. We spend Christmas and New Year in California.
After having our Turbo rebuild, we went out sailing on Banderas Bay and spend the night at anchor to check all the systems. Everything is ok.
We went out again for a day sail with sailor friends Richelle and Brian from sv Woodwind I and a new friend from Canada Gordon.
We'll fly to our new home in Nevada next week and will be back in Paradise Village early April.

Daysail to Yelapa between Hurricanes and tropical storms

11 June 2015
Pascale
Yesterday, we treated our friend Liz and ourselves to a beautiful daysail to Yelapa. When we got to the little cove a panga came toward us and ask us if we wanted a mooring, of course we said yes as it is very deep to anchor. When we were secured to the mooring the panga driver gave us a ride ashore. After, some quesadilla de camarone, coconut and drinks we went for a walk in the tiny village. This lush part of Banderas Bay is only accessible by horse as they is no road for cars.
Vessel Name: Calou
Vessel Make/Model: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 47
Hailing Port: The Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, CA
Crew: Bruce, Pascale, Antoine
Extra: Sailing on the 20th Annual Baja Ha-ha, departing mid October 2013 from Tiburon, and continuing to cruise Mexico. This will be our 3rd Haha. In 2011 we sailed the Puddle Jump from Mexico to French Polynesia, then up to Hawaii and back to San Francisco.
Calou's Photos - Mazatlan #3, 2008
Photos 1 to 15 of 15 | Calou's Baja Haha (Main)
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