SAILING CAMELOT

After completing the last few formalities we manage to finally untie the lines.

Slowly exiting the La Cruz Marina, Tom and I are still discussing our destination. Yes, it’s that bad… We leave without even knowing for sure where we’re going… There are a few options: we could travel a few hours and anchor just around the corner at Punta Ipala and spend the night, or we could keep going straight to Las Hadas if conditions allow. Ah, well, let’s just go, we’ll figure it out along the way.

We’re both quiet, lost in our own thoughts; I guess we’re both a little sad to be leaving La Cruz, but neither of us wants to talk about it. What is there to say after all… In any case, we’re soon distracted by the radio going off: someone is hailing us! It turns out to be our friends from the sailing vessel Abracadabra, we cross paths while traveling in opposite directions. They recognized us from afar, they said, by the bright orange of our dinghy. And they’re more than a mile away from us! I guess it’s a good thing to be visible at sea, right?

We eventually turn the point, officially exiting Bahia de Banderas, and are now in the open ocean. The next safe spot for anchoring is a few miles to our left, just about a couple of hours away. It’s time to decide: stop for the night or keep going? The sea is calm enough, although there’s no wind. We decide to press on and aim for Las Hadas, Manzanillo. To be honest, I’m not thrilled about traveling overnight after two months safely ensconced in a marina… But hey, you have to get back in the groove somehow! So, on we go.

About an hour after our decision is made the sea turns choppy, the wind blows stronger but from the wrong direction and we also have a strong and disagreeable current slowing us down. Ah, screw it; we’ll just have to deal with it.

It turns out to be quite an uncomfortable night, motoring all the long way to Manzanillo with quartering seas making Camelot bob like a cork in the water. But we eventually get there, and in pretty decent shape after all. There’s something to be said about sleep, even in three hours increments, even while you’re tossed around your bed like a forgotten bag of laundry… 

Houses on the hills, entering Manzanillo Bay

Las Hadas looks as beautiful as ever

Las Hadas is as beautiful as it was when we were here this time last year. The anchorage is quite populated, about 20 boats are scattered in the bay. We find our spot and easily drop the anchor. Good to know I retained my skills: it’s been almost five months since my last anchoring procedure!

It’s now eleven in the morning. We’ve been rolling (literally!) for a little over 25 hours.

We’re both bone-tired, and the best idea that comes to mind is to go lay by the pool and snooze in style.

We better rest well: early tomorrow morning we’ll resume our wandering ways with an even longer trip.

So, all I need right now is a towel and a glass of orange juice. I just know there’s a lounge chair by the pool with my name on it. Life at sea can be this easy. Sometimes, anyway…

World Class place. Did I mention they filmed the movie TEN here?