Speakeasy, Over The Horizon

The Voyages of Mark & Deanna Roozendaal

24 November 2016 | 26 41.15'S:153 7.72'E, Mooloolaba, Australia
13 November 2016 | 25 54.12'S:153 01.72'E, Tin Can Bay, Australia
12 November 2016 | 25 31.69'S:152 57.91'E, Fraser Island, Australia
31 October 2016 | 24 45.38'S:152 23.72'E, Bundaberg, Australia
30 October 2016 | 23 52'S:153 55'E, On Passage - Noumea, New Caledonia to Bundaberg, Australia
29 October 2016 | 23 28'S:156 47'E, On Passage - Noumea, New Caledonia to Bundaberg, Australia
28 October 2016 | 22 57'S:159 54'E, On Passage - Noumea, New Caledonia to Bundaberg, Australia
27 October 2016 | 22 40'S:163 13'E, On Passage - Noumea to Australia
26 October 2016 | 22 22'S:166 10'E, On Passage - Noumea to Australia
18 October 2016 | 22 16.60'S:166 26.40'E, Noumea, New Caledonia
17 October 2016 | 21 37'S:168 13'E, between Vanuatu and New Caledonia
14 October 2016 | 19 31.57'S:169 26.66'E, Port Resolution, Tanna I, Vanuatu
14 October 2016 | 19 31.57'S:169 26.66'E, Port Resolution, Tanna I, Vanuatu
14 October 2016 | 19 31.90'S:169 26.98'E, Mt. Yasur, Tanna I, Vanuatu
12 October 2016 | 19 31.58'S:169 29.65'E, Port Resolution, Vanuatu
09 October 2016 | 20 14.36'S:169 46.63'E, Aneityum, Vanuatu
03 October 2016 | 20 14.36'S:169 46.63'E, Aneityum, Vanuatu
02 October 2016 | 19 39'S:172 03'E, On Passage from Fiji to Vanuatu
01 October 2016 | 18 43'S:174 16'E, On Passage from Fiji to Vanuatu
27 September 2016 | 17 40.88'S:177 23.16'E, Vuda Marina, Fiji

And So Ends Our Last Year In Tenacatita

21 February 2016 | Bahia Tenacatita, Mexico
Mark
After several months of great fun and friendship, it is time to raise the anchor from the floor of Tenacatita Bay for the last time and head North to LaCruz, in Banderas Bay. More than in any other anchorage that we have ever visited, Tenacatita and its floating residents who return each year, have helped make this a home. As Robert and Virginia, the unofficial Mayor and Mayoress of Tenacatita, would say, Tenacatita is an intentional community with much in common to "The Farm", a commune that they called home in their younger days.

Dee and I are not known for staying in one place very long. I, especially, get impatient quickly and have very itchy feet, always wanting to be on the move. But, this near idyllic anchorage with its sandy beach, rocks for snorkelling, mangrove swamp to explore, and easy provisioning in the small town of La Manzanilla just a few miles away has held our interest far longer than we expected.

Then, the longer that we stayed, the more we got to the others that have been held in this bay's tentacles for many years longer than us. While we really only have made Tenacatita our home base for two years, coming and going, the majority of the regulars have been coming here for ten or more years. Some outsiders may say that they have little imagination and have given up the essence of cruising - exploring. But, once you scratch under the skin you find that this family of cruisers has travelled extensively, some even completing circumnavigations. They have chosen to return to Tenacatita.

Exactly what it is that draws one here is hard to pin down, and probably different for everybody. Some days I think that Tenacatita is no better than a floating trailer park, full of residents with nowhere better to go. Other days I realize that negative feelings like that are more based on my momentary state of mind.

What I do know is that, besides the incredible nature beauty that attracts one here, Robert and Virginia have a lot to do with what gives Tenacatita it soul. They use the experience that they gained from their commune past to bring all the diverse personalities, income ranges, and lifestyles together. Small things like the daily swim to the beach at 1:30pm, for those interested, or the 2pm Bocce game on the beach followed by beer at the palapa on the beach are the excuse for casual socializing that starts building the invisible web of this place. The Friday night dinghy raft-up & pot luck caps the week nicely and the "question of the week" for each dinghy to answer, if they wish, further deepens the knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of the very different people that call Tenacatita their seasonal home.

This will be our last year here since we are crossing the Pacific next month. It means saying what could be a final good-bye to many friends, some of which we will certainly not meet again. Saying good-bye is never fun, but it is a part of cruising that cruisers understand all to well. It is sad, but it is also the promise that new friendships are on the way. It is as much a part of cruising as navigating over the horizon.

For others, the entire cycle of what is Tenacatita will repeat again next year, and for years after that. Even though we will be gone, it is comforting to know that Tenacatita will be here. Future mayors will come and go, just like they did before Robert and Virginia arrived fourteen years ago. But, as time changes people and things, I like to believe that the intentional community of Tenacatita will live on for future cruisers to discover and embrace, as we have.
Comments
Vessel Name: Speakeasy
Vessel Make/Model: 2007 Manta IV 42' Catamaran
Hailing Port: Victoria, BC, Canada
Crew: Mark & Deanna Roozendaal
About:
In 2005 we were lucky enough to be able to take a one year sabbatical where we sailed from Victoria BC to Mexico and Hawaii in our Catalina 42. We had a fantastic time! As soon as we returned home, we started dreaming about our next trip. [...]
Social:
Speakeasy's Photos - (Main)
3 Photos
Created 1 March 2016
For our newest pictures, please look on the right hand side of our page under FAVOURITES and click on "2015+ Photo Gallery". This will take you to Flickr where we now store all of our photos.
No Photos
Created 19 April 2015
Yelapa is a small village on the South shore of Banderas Bay, near Puerto Vallarta. Unless you own a hummer, is only accessible by boat which gives it a nice laid back vibe
10 Photos
Created 20 March 2015
Our furthest South point this year.
13 Photos
Created 20 March 2015
Manzanillo is a huge commercial port between Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo. Not that much tourism here which makes it a very authentic Mexican city
5 Photos
Created 20 March 2015
Pictures from Tenacatita and a few other anchorages in the area.
17 Photos
Created 20 March 2015
A few pictures from our Christmas visit to Barra & Melaque
11 Photos
Created 19 January 2015
A quick visit to the small fishing village of Chamela
5 Photos
Created 28 December 2014
Isla Isabella is an island about 20 miles offshore Mexico, between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. it is a nesting ground for a number of sea birds and has been the subject of several documentaries. The birds and lizards on the island have no fear of humans.
26 Photos
Created 16 December 2014
13 Photos
Created 16 December 2014
9 Photos
Created 16 December 2014
From Bahia Santa Maria to Cabo San Lucas
15 Photos
Created 14 November 2014
Sailing from Turtle Bay to Bahia Santa Maria, Mexico
12 Photos
Created 14 November 2014
We participated in the rally again this year. Here are a few pics from the pre-start party, the start, and the first leg to Turtle Bay, Mexico. Credit to Dave Tolman for most of the pictures.
25 Photos
Created 12 November 2014
We spend the better part of a week first in Catalina Harbor and then in the opposite side of the isthmus in Two Harbors
7 Photos
Created 17 October 2014
Our time in the big city
4 Photos
Created 17 October 2014
A few pics from our brief stop in this richie rich tourist town
4 Photos
Created 17 October 2014
Morro Bay, California
15 Photos
Created 2 October 2014
11 Photos
Created 25 September 2014
Big waves at Morro Bay from a low pressure system that rolled through North of us
10 Photos
Created 25 September 2014
7 Photos
Created 25 September 2014
Our side trip to the Delta and Sacramento from the San Francisco Bay
27 Photos
Created 9 September 2014
20 Photos
Created 21 August 2014
27 Photos
Created 21 July 2014
Prior to our departure, we hauled out at Canoe Cove, BC, Canada.
13 Photos
Created 26 June 2014
"Speakeasy" is a 2007 Manta 42 MKIV Catamaran. We purchased her in 2013 from the original owners. Manta's come fairly well equipped from the factory for offshore cruising. We will be adding the rest of the necessary equipment.
23 Photos
Created 10 February 2013
1 Photo | 2 Sub-Albums
Created 15 May 2011
1 Photo | 15 Sub-Albums
Created 1 December 2006
1 Photo | 9 Sub-Albums
Created 1 December 2006
1 Photo | 2 Sub-Albums
Created 1 December 2006
25 Photos
Created 1 December 2006
1 Photo | 5 Sub-Albums
Created 1 December 2006

Speakeasy - Manta 42 Catamaran

Who: Mark & Deanna Roozendaal
Port: Victoria, BC, Canada

Where are Mark & Deanna?