Sailing on Starshine

Vessel Name: Starshine
Vessel Make/Model: Outbound 44
Hailing Port: San Francisco, CA
Crew: Pat and Melodie Williams
About: We have been "working the plan" since 2004 when Pat began taking sailing lessons. That lead to a few sailing vacations on sailboats. Melodie took some classes too. We purchased our boat in 2011.
27 February 2019 | Alameda California
26 February 2019 | Mazatlan to San Francisco
26 February 2019 | Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico
01 May 2018 | El Cid - Mazatlan
09 April 2018 | Marina Mazatlan
07 March 2018 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
23 January 2018 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
04 December 2017 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
24 October 2017 | Oakland, CA
04 September 2017 | South Lake Tahoe CA
04 September 2017 | Culver OR
04 September 2017 | Culver OR
04 September 2017 | Redmond Oregon
17 July 2017 | Polson Montana
31 May 2017 | Our new Camper in Ira Texas
04 May 2017 | Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit Mexico
04 April 2017 | La Cruz Anchorage
12 March 2017 | Chamela Bay
12 March 2017 | Tenicatita Bay
18 February 2017 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Recent Blog Posts
27 February 2019 | Alameda California

Goodbye Starshine

Melodie and I have accepted an offer on Starshine. We close escrow on March 8, 2019.

26 February 2019 | Mazatlan to San Francisco

The Baja Bash

Preparing for the Baja Bash (the trip north from Mexico to California). They call it “The Bash” because the prevailing winds and waves are from the northwest. So you are basically going uphill (if that makes any sense).

26 February 2019 | Mazatlan Sinaloa Mexico

Summer 2018

As many of you who have followed our blog over the last four years you’ll note that I have not given it any attention since last spring. So let me fill in the blanks.

01 May 2018 | El Cid - Mazatlan

Marina El Cid - Mazatlan

Today is Tuesday May 1, 2018.

09 April 2018 | Marina Mazatlan

Marina Mazatlan

Today is Monday April 9, 2018.

07 March 2018 | La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

Leaving Banderas Bay

Today is Wednesday March 7, 2018.

Marina Mazatlan

09 April 2018 | Marina Mazatlan
Pat and Melodie
Today is Monday April 9, 2018.

We almost left Mazatlan today after being here for 31 days. We got some repairs done, but are still plagued by our fuel issue. We got our cracked port window in the aft head removed and had a new one reinstalled. We hired two different mechanics to help diagnose the fuel issue without success.

We were going to try to cross over to the Baja and spend some time in La Paz. We thought we’d try a different pool of mechanics. We were all set to go when we called to get a reservation at a marina. We’ve stayed at Marina Palmira in the past. I guess we’d forgotten why we have spent so little time in La Paz in the three times we’ve passed through the area. The slip rates are 30% higher there! We changed our plans and decided to work the issue from Mazatlan a bit more. We decided that we would change our slip from Marina Mazatlan to Marina El Cid, still here in Mazatlan. I like El Cid better as it has more amenities, nicer facilities and is attached to a resort type hotel. It’s also closer to transportation and restaurants. The down side is there is more surge there and the boat moves around quite a bit. The movement is hard on the dock lines if you don’t use enough chafe gear. We use old fire hose to protect the dock lines (Thank you Dan and OFD).

We also had to cancel some planned visits from friends. We were hoping to share some good times with them, but we’ve got to get our boat in order first.

The photo was taken in the old town square in central Mazatlan. One evening we got to hear the Army Band playing in the band stand in the background. They were quite good. The square is lined with restaurants and there are many to choose from. Some good and some not so good. We find the good ones by word of mouth. The morning local radio net even has a category called restaurant reviews. (It’s not all Boaters Assistance and Treasures from the Bilge) Mazatlan has many high quality restaurants providing more upscale dining. They are more expensive than other places in Mexico, but by US standards are very inexpensive for such a quality meal. Melodie got to get three pounds of her favorite coffee beans. The beans come from Chiapas Mexico and they roast them here locally at Etnikafe; a coffee shop and art gallery.
Two big events have occurred during our time here. The first was Samana Santa, which is a holiday for Easter. Many Mexicans take vacation during that time and the beaches were packed with people. The other was Mazatlan Bike Week. Thousands of motorcyclists descend on the city. They close off the boulevard called the Malecon along the beach and only allow motorcycles access. The riders take the chance to show off their rides. They also include ATV’s and the quads (dune buggy looking 2-4 seaters made by Polaris). I’m surprised they let them ride on the street. Several had red/blue lights and sirens just like the police in the US. They also like to take their kids along, many carrying infants in their arms as they ride 3-4 at a time down the street. It was a great place to people watch. These words don’t do the insanity justice…Crazy, crazy…it would never be allowed in the US.

The weather is warming up but remains cool by Mexico standards, low 60’s in the am and up to 80 in the afternoon. It’s really quite pleasant. It’s very wet in the morning with frequent morning fog.

We will continue to try to diagnose our fuel issue and take advantage of the swimming pools at El Cid.

That’s all for now.
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