spent a week skiing in Colorado with Cass/Pam, Debbie/Chris, Mahira and Erin (and hearing an awful lot about the angst we caused with our inexperienced senile sailing). Great skiing, but awfully cold. Back to Cancun and Isla Mujeres where we fixed what needed fixing, got our satellite phone working and are now ready to head the rest of the way to Guatemala.

very protracted 5 step process to get checked into Mexico, but we are famous - in the newspaper. lots of stuff to fix and clean, but at least we are here. Pina coladas in town with red snapper caught 1 hour earlier and a great salad. Isn't life great!!!

kids came through - Mahira, Alizah, Becky, Debbie - Mahira got the Coast Guard gave them coordinates. They got the Mexican Navy and in a couple of hours we were under tow. They didn't speak any english and we didn't speak any spanish - hand gestures only go so far. 6 hour tow to an anchorage, boarded by the Navy and their doctor - they were lovely and no charge at all - can you believe it? was sure it would be over $1000. no fuel, fuel dock closed, just stuck where we are and a frenchman starts yelling for us to move out of his space. John, from a mega yacht came to help and asked the right question - why doesn't your engine work? we have no fuel! wait here he says and comes back with 6 gallons of diesel - what a lifesaver. Will fill up in AM and get to the El Milagro Marina Alizah found for us.