Travels with Tapatai

27 March 2016 | Amsterdam - Centrum
23 March 2016 | Amsterdam, Amstel River
16 February 2016 | Durango, MX
14 February 2016 | San Miguel
14 February 2016 | Angela Peralta theatre, San Miguel de Allende
12 February 2016 | San Miguel de Allende
10 February 2016 | San Miguel
09 February 2016 | Weber Tennis Camp and RV Park
09 February 2016 | Patzcuaro, Michoacan
07 February 2016 | Villa Patzquaro RV park
03 February 2016
03 February 2016 | Roca Azul RV Park
29 January 2016 | Sayulita Trailer Park
28 January 2016 | Mazatlan
24 January 2016 | Mar Rosa RV Park, Mazatlan
20 January 2016 | El Fuerte
19 January 2016 | El Fuerte
18 January 2016 | San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico
18 May 2015

A Good Thumping

27 February 2011 | Tenacatita to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle 120 miles
Penny with Fred's comment
PENNY’S TWO CENTS: Hello Friends! Just a bit of news from your traveling buddies.
I’ll start by saying that when we bought our first Airstream my hope was to have long, smooth circular trips thereby never having to go through the painful experience of learning to back up the trailer.
With that said, I harbored similar thoughts of being onboard a sailboat, always traveling in the same direction as the wind, that generally being South.
Yesterday, Feb. 21 we started out on our return trip. . North. The iron clad rule among cruisers is one thing and one thing only – ONLY go when the weather is good! Fred pulled reports from everywhere and all reports were that it was good to go – small weather window closing at the end of the week. So we pulled anchor at 1600, headed out of Tenacatita and immediately hit windy turbulent conditions which proceeded to worsen as the night went on. Waves were hitting us from every direction – some were sliced evenly in half by Tapatai’s bow which resulted in an even distribution of water inside both the left and right sides of the cockpit of the boat. Others were direct hits on the bow with buckets of sea water coursing over the bow and over the dodger into the cockpit. We have a slight leak in our large hatch cover which is directly in the center of the boat. This normally causes slight inconveniences when in San Diego, but had huge consequences in the open ocean. Tapatai is a big, sturdy, heavy boat but many of the waves were direct hits that brought the front of the boat up and then 35,000 pounds straight down on the water.
The sky was dark with no moon rising until almost 10pm so you couldn’t tell what was coming at you. Then when the moon did come up it was terrifying to watch huge waves coming straight at you! Tapatai would buck up in front while rolling side to side at the same time like a gyroscope. We normally don’t have to button up too much but I can tell you that everything in every cupboard and locker was screaming.
We finally entered Banderas Bay, rounding Cabo Corrientes at about 10am. Fred now sleeping – we shared watches but when my nerves were shot he came to my rescue and he spent most of the night sitting in the companionway. Just finished mopping up with the last of the dry towels and put on my wet long sleeved shirt. Wow, what a scary night!
Further Notes Later in the Day: We're in La Cruz de la Huanacaxtle - and in a marina - yippee! There's a "NET" every morning on the VHF radio and everyone shares info. One guy said that "only real cruisers" anchor out - implying that those in the marina were such creepy wimps. I don't care! The boat is all squared away with no damage to anything - Tapatai is a champ! Fred is sleeping - again - he is a champ too! This is such a great little town, terrific restaurants and for some reason musician's love to come here so there is live music every night. Just 3 miles south is another little town called Bucerias, equally as "cute", and then just a bit north is Sayulita, further north is Punta Mita, and just 16 miles south is Puerto Vallarta. Hey, something for everyone!
PS: Just so I don’t sound like a wimp about the trip North, the following email came from my friend Ross just after we arrived here in La Cruz:
”Buenos Noches Compadres..

Thanks for the La Cruz update. We probably won't leave here for another 2-3 weeks. The big 90 ft. sailboat called Locura which is here on A dock left yesterday even after I talked to the owner about some shitty weather and made it as far as Chamela and turned around. They got their ass handed to them. 35 kts. on the nose with 8 ft. seas and about a seven second interval. Their forward hatch hadn't been dogged properly and blew open and flooded the whole forward area. They almost lost their dinghy and lost their refrigeration compressor. It was a major domino effect. This was a 90 FT. SAILBOAT! Lesson learned: Do not screw with Mother Nature...

Cheers, Ross”

Fred's Comment: The picture was just before the s--t hit the fan!
Comments
Vessel Name: Tapatai
Vessel Make/Model: Jeanneau International 50
Hailing Port: San Diego, CA
Crew: Fred & Penny Delaney
About: Fred is retired from the commercial real estate business and Penny is retired from the airline industry. Long standing members of San Diego Yacht Club where Fred was Commodore in 1992. Captain Fred holds 100 Ton Coast Guard license and a HAM license.
Extra: Tapatai (tahitian for fearless of wind and sea) is a Jeanneau International 50 designed by Bruce Farr and Associates and built by Jeanneau in France for The Moorings in 1995. She was a charter boat for 6 years with a full time Captain and crew until purchased and shipped to San Diego.
Tapatai's Photos - Main
We left San Diego on January 16, heading South al gusto - with a sketchy plan written in sand at low tide (that is a quote from my buddy Ellen Gallant!) Mexico lends itself to beautiful photos which we will try to honor.
3 Photos
Created 14 February 2016
14 Photos
Created 22 January 2016
12 Photos
Created 7 May 2015
6 Photos
Created 4 May 2015
Pics along the way to San Jose del Cabo from the border
16 Photos
Created 24 April 2015
Aboard Scout
18 Photos
Created 1 November 2014
12 Photos
Created 25 April 2014
11 Photos
Created 25 April 2014
6 Photos
Created 24 April 2014
10 Photos
Created 28 October 2013
5 Photos
Created 11 March 2013
9 Photos
Created 29 December 2012
16 Photos
Created 29 December 2012
37 Photos
Created 17 December 2012
6 Photos
Created 9 December 2012
10 Photos
Created 1 December 2012
14 Photos
Created 1 December 2012
21 Photos
Created 20 August 2012
8 Photos
Created 20 August 2012
5 Photos
Created 3 August 2012
12 Photos
Created 3 August 2012
10 Photos
Created 3 August 2012
3 Photos
Created 27 July 2012
16 Photos
Created 6 May 2011
21 Photos
Created 6 February 2011
12 Photos
Created 5 February 2011
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Created 5 February 2011
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Created 24 January 2011
13 Photos
Created 18 January 2011
15 Photos
Created 14 January 2011
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Created 14 January 2011
12 Photos
Created 7 January 2011
25 Photos
Created 3 January 2011
3 Photos
Created 24 December 2010
11 Photos
Created 24 December 2010
9 Photos
Created 24 December 2010
12 Photos
Created 19 December 2010
7 Photos | 1 Sub-Album
Created 18 December 2010
Race from Los Islotes to the Muni pier in La Paz
21 Photos
Created 13 December 2010
7 Photos
Created 10 December 2010
8 Photos
Created 10 December 2010
17 Photos | 1 Sub-Album
Created 10 December 2010
Annual Subasta benefitting the children
9 Photos
Created 7 December 2010
Pictures of the Fiesta after the 1000
19 Photos
Created 29 November 2010
These pictures courtesy of Club Cruceros.
4 Photos
Created 28 November 2010
17 Photos
Created 16 November 2010
12 Photos
Created 16 November 2010
9 Photos
Created 14 November 2010
The trip from Ensenada to Turtle Bay, about 48 hours.
12 Photos
Created 14 November 2010
Doing the paperwork necessary
9 Photos
Created 14 November 2010