svbeachhouse

Category: Positions

  • Position Reoprt – Cay Caulker with a SEA STORY!….

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/03/06 19:43
    LATITUDE: 17-44.79N
    LONGITUDE: 088-01.80W
    COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Cay Caulker – Belize

    We read in a cruising guide of ours…\”Avoid the Pinot Grigiot\”. That means, watch the color of the water to see the real shallow spots. The problem is, all of the Bahamas and Belize (so far) are Pinot Grigiot!…

    It was time to leave the bumpy anchorage at San Pedro and head to our first destination inside the reef at Cay Caulker. \”Windward\”, a Norseman 447 \”monomaran\” was a bit concerned due to a shallow spot along the way. However, Dennis was confident that their 6\’4\” draft would clear the 7 foot spot as the tide would be above it\’s datum plane and rising.

    Well…such things do not always work out according to plan. We led the way. Due to the nature of we \”rectangular boats\”,(as our friends Dave and Kathie would say),
    we would call out the depths. Dave and Kathie have the same boat as Windward (btw!). The water was only 4 1/2 foot deep where the 7 foot spot was supposed to be.
    In fact, it was that shallow for a long way – no worries for \”Beach House\”. We can get by with about 4 feet and still not quite have the rudders touch.

    We showed that they should have made it okay, but Dennis found the shallowest spot on the bank. \”Windward\” was hard aground on the sand. We put a line on their bow and tried to pull them forward. No luck. Then Dennis dove the boat and found that only the front of the keel was stuck. So, we pulled from the back. A small panga went by and his wake rocked \”Windward\” around which allowed both of our boats to move him backward – all three engines (his one and our two) – full thrust!

    Alas, \”Windward\” got stuck again. We tied off to the bow a second time and were able to spin him around and get him off the sand. We then picked our way \”through the weeds\” till we got to deep water. There was one more close call, but that was averted. We saw 3.0 feet for a second and aimed \”Windward\” away from the spot.

    Both boats now all tied up and safe at Cay Caulker….yet another….\”Sea Story\”…:-) We\’ll be heading ashore for a glass of wine shortly…:-)

    I\’ll post the last Cuba blog as soon as I get some internet.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT – San Pedro, Ambergris Cay – Belize

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/03/04 20:56
    LATITUDE: 17-54.85N
    LONGITUDE: 087-57.76W
    COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – San Pedro – Ambergris Cay, Belize

    We learned a new trick about how to get out of shallow anchorages in the dark…hint!
    Search Light!!! I\’ll write it up in the blog!

    Great sail here today, lots of protection from the open sea by the north/south length of the reef on Chinchoro Bank.
    Wish we\’d had time to explore. But Belize is one giant reef and we\’ll have plenty of opportunity.

    Anchored next to s/v \”Windward\” who gave great advice on entering this potentially tough reef passage. Bouncy, not too deep and waves
    breaking on either side. Reminded me of Tahiti or some of the Tuamotus in the Pacific.

    Stand by..We\’ll be here for a week or two, then to see Carmina in the Rio Dulce of Guatemala…. Blog\’s a commin\’.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT – Chinchoro Bank, Mexico

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/03/03 23:03
    LATITUDE: 18-45.19N
    LONGITUDE: 087-18.24W
    COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Cayo Norte – Chinchoro Bank, Mexico – Belize tomorrow – we hope!

    We\’ll we got out a bit later than I wanted. We had a lovely sail here and the seas calmed in the afternoon.
    Problem is, we spoke with two boats that had just left here telling us how easy the entry and anchorage was….NOT!

    We got into very shallow water (2.4 feet under the hulls!). It\’s sand for the most part, we\’re now anchored with 4.3 feet under the hulls which is fine.
    However, getting an early start may be very problematic as we can\’t see the bottom until it\’s light. It\’s a 200 yd issue, but…it IS an issue.

    We\’re not in the best anchoring spot, but it\’s safe.
    This is one of only 4 true atolls in this Caribbean, the others are in Belize; our next stop.

    This will make a blog entry!
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT – Cayo Blanco, Bahia De La Ascensionl – Mexico

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/03/02 20:19
    LATITUDE: 19-42.35N
    LONGITUDE: 087-30.15W
    COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Cayo Cuelbra – Bahia De La Ascension, Mexico

    We had a dinner and supermarket shop in Cozumel. The anchorage was okay, but we could see how it would be quite the roll under
    certain circumstances. We left at 7a.m. just as the first of 6 cruise ships was arriving. Apparently, except for Sunday, the cruise ships
    now dominate the island.

    We motored while hugging the shore to the south west end of the island, then motor sailed or sailed the rest of the way here. Overall, a lovely day!

    \”Windward\” is anchored next to us as they left Puerto Morelos last night at 6 pm! Another Catalina 42, just up from Belize is here as well. This spot
    is about as remote a place as I\’ve ever been in Mexico!

    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT – San Miguel, Cozumel – Mexico

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/03/01 20:24
    LATITUDE: 20-29.44N
    LONGITUDE: 086-58.17W
    COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – San Miguel, Cozumel – Mexico

    We actually checked out of Mexico in Puerto Moralos, but they give you 48 hours to depart. As such, we decided to take 20 miles off tomorrow\’s
    journey and come to the famous diving island of Cozumel. It\’s very built up since I was here with Cindy in 1996.

    We luckily met sister ship Switch 51 #12 (the boat after Beach House) in Puerto Morelos. Peter and Mary aboard \”Neko\”. It was pretty cool to see yet another boat that looks pretty much – just like us!

    Despite the only 20 mile journey, it took 4 1/2 hours to get here due to the very strong 2.5-3 knot current against us. Friends Dennis and Lisette on \”Windward\” will try and hug the coast to avoid this current as they head toward Bahia de la Ascension where we hope to meet up tomorrow late afternoon.

    We\’ll take a look around shore if we can find a place for the dinghy and depart here early tomorrow for Bahia de la Ascension en route toward
    Belize. We may stop at the Chinchoro Bank just before Belizian waters which is one of only a very few of the true atolls in the Western Hemisphere.
    From there, we\’ll check in at Ambergris Cay – San Pedro, Belize….At least that\’s the plan!…:-)
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • POSITION REPORT – Puerto Morelos, Mexico

    YOTREPS: YES
    TIME: 2015/02/24 21:21
    LATITUDE: 20-49.80N
    LONGITUDE: 086-53.38W
    COMMENT: Beach House – DOCKED – Puerto Morelos, Mexico

    We did a day trip by car to Chichin Izta (Mayan ruins) and a bit of exploring around Cancun
    and Isla Mujeres. We\’ve now moved 35 miles south to Puerto Morelos and will do a day trip to the Mayan ruins
    at Tulum (costal) and Coba (inland) tomorrow.

    I\’ll try to get the first \”TITSNBN\” (Cuba) blog out today or tomorrow.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki – in now HOT, HOT, HOT Mexico

  • Milestones….Circumnavigation by Longitude

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/02/17 12:08
    LATITUDE: 22-25.01N
    LONGITUDE: 084-41.59W
    COURSE: 240T
    SPEED: 9.0
    COMMENT: Beach House Milestones…..EnRoute-Isla Mujeres, Mexico

    One of the more well founded metrics for a circumnavigation is crossing the longitude of which you began while
    remaining mostly in the tropics. As of about 20 minutes ago at 084 degrees 40.7 minutes West, we were 795 miles due north
    of Bahia Herradura on the WEST COAST of Central America. That is where Cindy and I left Central America on the 21 of April, 2009.

    It\’s taken awhile and we\’ll have at least two more \”country to country\” circmnavigation milestones. First will be tomorrow when we arrive in
    Mexico and next will be at the Rio Dulce in Guatemala. At that point, we\’ll only be 150 miles from where we were on the West Coast of Guatemala.

    The crossing so far is flat seas and currently (pardon the pun) we\’re getting a 2.8 knot PUSH across the Yucatan Channel which we are just entering.
    It won\’t last! ETA around midnight.
    We\’ll keep you posted!
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • Postion Report – Marina Hemingway, Havana

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/02/12 23:22
    LATITUDE: 23-05.35N
    LONGITUDE: 082-29.83W
    COMMENT: Beach House -DOCKED- Havana – Marina Hemingway

    It was a VERY long 13 hour day to move the 88 miles from Cayo Blanco to Marina Hemingway here – 10 miles SW of Havana.
    We have a nice slip and again…lots to tell, especially about our check in process here…
    The Harbor Master speaks excellent English and will try to get us our needed expertise as soon as possible.

    Knowing \”how it goes\” in the land of Manana…we expect to be here at least a few days before heading west.
    All is well, crew safe, tired and sound.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • Position Report – Cayo Blanco

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/02/11 21:55
    LATITUDE: 23-12.07N
    LONGITUDE: 081-02.14W
    COMMENT: Beach House -ANCHORED- Cayo Blanco – Havana tomorrow.

    We\’ll update everyone soon in a couple of blogs. So far, we were told we could get some assistance
    in Marina Varadaro, but we are definitely in the land of \”Manana\”. As such, we\’ll move on to Marina
    Hemingway just west of Havana to see if the big city can assist us with our needs. Again, no worries.
    Just want to take care of everything before moving west to Mexico if possible.

    Lots to tell…..:-)
    Remember, we have NO internet but we can be reached on email directly.
    We get the FB notices of post, but can\’t view them till internet happens.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki

  • Position Report – Marina Gaviota, Varadero

    AIRMAIL YOTREPS
    IDENT: N6ABC
    TIME: 2015/02/06 00:30
    LATITUDE: 23-11.47N
    LONGITUDE: 081-07.62W
    COMMENT: Beach House -DOCKED – Marina Gaviota – Varadero, Cuba

    The weather ruled out the Cay Sal Bank completely and then…..A funny thing happened on the way to Mexico…

    Well, with the Fuel line leak getting worse, the engine kill solenoid on the port engine malfunctioning, the oil temperature sender on the same engine malfunctioning.
    AND, a HUGE cold front coming down out of the Midwest. Discretion being the better part of valor, we\’ve declared a \”pan pan\” situation. That is the maritime term for, \”we\’ve got some problems, but we\’re not screaming for assistance\” (That would be a Mayday – \”help me\” in French). Safety of the crew and vessel come first.

    We needed to get out of the 30 knot gusts and rain squalls that were just starting when we tied up at the dock. We need to have a stable platform to work on some of the issues. The fuel leak is the most important. After a good rocking around last night while sailing, we noticed a big increase in the leak. It\’s a potential fire hazard and the fumes do not make the crew function at their best…:-)
    It needs to be dealt with which I will do here. We expect to be here in Varadero for a few days waiting out the weather. We may need to get the repairs done at Marina Hemingway in Havana..
    90 miles to our west.

    LOTS to tell in the next blog.
    KIT,
    Scott and Nikki