Ok, I need a break! A break from my vacation….to another vacation!…Boat is right & tight, provisioned up, fueled, water & fresh laundry. Why the heck am I sitting at the dock? I decide to check out with the port captain, pay my bill at the marina and GO!!! I have about 3 weeks before I need to start putting the boat to bed in preparation for hurricane season and going home for the summer. H & P invite me up for a farewell dinner on the roof garden, of course I accept!.. Oh, man, I get doggie time AND RIB EYE STEAK!!! What a great night we had.

Early the next morning, at first light, I cast the lines and head out….next stop is 100 nm south to Chamela, a place I’ve been before many times. After carefully considering weather predictions, time to destination, current etc…I calculate a morning arrival based on the information at hand. Motoring first thing, I get the water maker going without drama, and head for the cape. Wind predictions show no more than 15-18 knots NW so that’s perfect I think! PERFECT! I start with all sails up and doing a respectful 5.0-5.5 knots SOG (remember?..speed over ground!) Things are supposed to stay just like this all day & night….I’m thinking I’m a pretty smart captain, look at me….making all the right decisions! Then, the wind starts to build.

Before long, I’m reefing the main, reefing the Headsail (making smaller for better control) speeds building in winds to 20+…..22, 25….30? WHAT? Ok, I gotta slow this bus down or I’m gonna get there WAY to early…I have a rule about making landfall in the dark….call me conservative…you won’t hurt me feelings :)

Eventually, I have only a whisper of a storm jib out and I’m flying! 5-6 knots SOG in 36 knots of wind….what a ride! Let’s just say there wasn’t much sleep to be had. Seas were about 6-8’ and breaking. Impressively Wades was just going with it….moving along effortlessly not giving a rat’s ass about the conditions….and the auto pilot ditto…everything was in concert, waiting for the conductors next move.

It’s 0400 hours. Based on my route and lay line…I need to tack, start heading towards shore…I’m 20 nm out to sea….and can’t miss my waypoint at the outer point or I will get up close and personal with some very unforgiving rocks….no bueno!…Making the turn…we now start to roll heavily because the seas are on our beam and not from behind. I play with the sail plan a bit and calm things down as best I know how….and make the point exactly at sunrise…who’s the man?!??….ah, it’s all luck. :)

After rounding the rocky point I can see a ton of masts…like 18 of them! The bay is big and lots of room…I decide to anchor outside the mooring field for privacy and less panga traffic…good move. All I hear is pounding surf on the beach, a few sea birds…and in no short order…my own snoring…a 3 hour power nap was MONEY! I was beat. The rest of the day was getting my little island ship shape, planning a great dinner and opening a bottle of wine after diving into the 78 degree water for a quick swim….ahhhhh…back at anchor, my happy place!