Facing Our Fears

After our last harrowing sail where the winds and sea state were nothing like forecasts predicted, we were in no state of mind to rush back out there. We enjoyed several nights at anchor in Bahia Santa Barbara. The cell signal there was weak and sketchy, but we continued to check it throughout the days and nights for weather information on our apps. We even decided to buy the “professional” version of one of our apps where we could see a graph of the different models for weather forecasts laid on top of each other, (the closer all the models are to each other, the more accurate the prediction may be). We assumed by the fact that we were sharing the bay with a dozen or so anchored fishing boats that it was still pretty rough out there—no problem, we weren’t ready to get back out there just yet anyway. Also, we needed some time to repair our steering systems. So, we continued to enjoy the beauty and protection of this anchorage while monitoring weather conditions on our apps when the signal was strong enough.

Fishing boats at anchor

a little close at low tide perhaps??

Lily alerts us each jelly fish she sees swim by, (is what jelly fish do called swimming? Hmmm…).

Pelicans always amaze me. How can such a large bird be so graceful?

We don’t know what these cute little birds (about the size of seagulls) are, but they made wonderful loon-like noises when their heads weren’t underwater looking around.

Panga fishermen returning from fishing in the bay cleaning their fish on the way back to shore. (Do you think they’ve seen Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds? Do you think they would feel a little creeped out if they had?)

We eventually gathered enough information to plan our next sail to anchor at Bahia Santa Maria just outside of Topolobampo, (that’s topolo with long o’s and bampo like taco…don’t you just love saying that out loud?). We planned to leave on an afternoon with predicted decreasing winds followed by several days of relative calm. Every year we tell ourselves, “We are going to sail more and motor less”. A familiar song of many of our fellow cruisers. We also have been contemplating doing an extended cruise and making an ocean crossing within the next several years before we get too old—whatever that is, to attempt it. But I will have to admit that one of the first things I said upon reaching safety after our last frightening sail was that I didn’t think I could do a crossing; and furthermore, I don’t care if we have to motor to each stop as long as I don’t ever have to go through another experience like that! So, we hoped to have enough wind to sail most of the way to Bahia Santa Maria, but it was not a priority. I will also admit that the night before we planned to sail I told Jim that for the first time I was afraid to get back out there. They say, what doesn’t kill us just makes us stronger, but it can also just make us scared…at least for a whil

But get back out there we did. It took us 17½ hours to cover the 87 miles. We had some decent sailing for the first 6 or so hours until the wind died down forcing us to crank up the engine, (but that was okay). In spite of the seas being pretty sloppy throughout the night, I was able to manage my seasickness enough to take my watches. We were both tired after securing anchor, but feelings of joy and adventure had replaced those of fear and trepidation.