We left Puerto Escondido at 7:00 am with a nice breeze heading in our direction. We hoisted the sails turned off the engine and sailed pass a string of fishing pangas. Everyone waved as we quietly sailed by. This is a one-day passage (60 miles) so we should get there by dark. During the passage hundreds of Loggerhead turtles were spotted. We sailed and motored throughout the day. We arrived at the outside of Marina Chahue in Hautulco Mexico at 6:00 pm just as the sunset. This made for an exciting harbor entrance as the light was fading. We quickly found an open slip to moor Four Points and we're happy to make another landfall. I noticed a transmission fluid leak in the rear seal (which I replaced two years ago). I then inspected the transmission fluid in the V-Drive hydraulic transmission and realized I had an oil cooler leak into the transmission (salt-water in the transmission fluid). I quickly flushed the transmission with multiply applications of new fluid & WD-40. I have since ordered & re-installed the new part (oil cooler). Everything seems to be working at this point, but later in the week we will motor out and anchor offshore and I will clean the bottom to get ready to cross the Gulf of Tehuantepec. This is where the big sailing starts. The Gulf of Tehuantepec is famous for huge gales that blow through a point in Central America where the no mountains. This venturi effect on the winds crossing the next 400 miles makes it critical to watch for a "weather window". So we are waiting in Marina Chahue to get everything ready for a three-day passage where we are calculating a good weather window (5-day), hopefully next week.
Nancy & I are having a great time. We are learning something new everyday. Hautulco is a fun place with many good restaurants, swimming, and diving. We will keep you posted as we get ready to leave.