Now I seek my own volunteer crew or even better... my permanent sailing companion

As I write this recap, I'm still in Playa Del Carmen another couple nights. This was the second winter in a row of seeking volunteer crew positions and while quite different experiences neither ended up being the kind of thing a sane person would volunteer for. Certainly I've gained new insights and perspectives on spending an extended amount of time living on a sailboat of a size I'd likely end up getting to live aboard for my near future. One thing that keeps me interested despite the negative aspects is what I hear time and again from various other people cruising and living aboard.... "Don't base what you decide on being volunteer crew, it's a whole other world and far better experience when you're on your own boat". No doubt. Anyway I chose the captain seeking crew to help sail from the Florida Keys to Rio Dulce Guatemala. At the time I had emailed interest but passed on another boat heading from North Carolina to Puerto Rica. That was a ...

After a week at the marina we left Friday. We fueled up then anchored out at Isla Mujeres. We set out at 6 am and ended up motoring the whole way with hardly any wind. It would be cool to stay here a few days. We are only staying the night. The reef is so close you could snorkel to it from the boat. It's clear to me that I'll want dinghy davits on my boat. Our dinghy is up on the bow tied in securely and no simple task to use. A sailboat we met at Marina Paraiso has been here a couple days and is staying yet another...doing it right...not rushing through. I don't mind that we are rushing to Rio Dulce as we sat in Florida 5 weeks and then it took another 3 to get to Mexico from the forbidden island. It sounds like it's less than 30 NM to reach Puerto Adventuras Marina where we will be tomorrow. Hopefully we will stay 2 nights as then it's a 50+ mile stretch to reach the next place to anchor. Another reason I hope for 2 nights is I'm hoping to meet a F...

It's been a week we've been here at Marina Paraiso on Isla Mujeres. Tomorrow we leave the marina after one more breakfast, shower and some Internet. We will go fuel up then anchor in the bay here. Saturday we set out quite early to our next planned stop at Puerto Morelos. We will only be anchored there and get another early start to reach Marina Puerto Adventuras. I believe we will only stay there one night but today captain mentioned possibly 2 nights. There was talk of checking-out of the country there and going nonstop through the rest of Mexico. That would make the next stop San Pedro in Belize? Anyway that would mean a change from 4 day sails anchoring to rest each night to reach Belize to going non stop. As I write this I'm not sure what he decided or even if he has decided. Time will tell.

After borrowing the marina manager's golf cart yesterday to go to the grocery store I saw the downtown tourist area. I decided to walk there this morning for breakfast and check it out. It's been just a routine at the marina. One street.. Hildago was closed to vehicles and filled with sidewalk cafés and a scattering of gift ships and guided adventure centers. Many restaurants were lunch and dinner only but a fair amount were open for breakfast. There were plenty of tourists already about so it makes sense. The place I chose was not as god as the restaurant at the marina but did cost more pesos. Same fresh squeezed orange juice as I've found to be the norm here. Anyway I took,a few photos and here they are... I finally took a peak at the outside of the Island.

This is a story about a sailboat that was in Marathon when we were there waiting for a weather window. I was told by captain that 2 of the 3 guys on a boat docked just across from us were from the sailboat Pumpkin Pie. He reminded me of how he and various other dudes hanging out at Marathon waiting thought it crazy this boat had actually left to sail direct to Isla Mujeres during the arrival of a cold front.. The captain said they got de-masted in heavy seas and had to cut it loose as the boom was banging against the hull and they worried it might punch a hole. Apparently the fore stay gave way and it fell back then the port shroud and it was in the water on the starboard side held to the boat by back stay and starboard shroud. Anyway yesterday I talked to the owner and got more details. He blamed it on the failure of a steal pin that was involved with attaching the fore stay to the bow.. Call it lack of inspection or maintenance. He did mention the seas being up to 6' but...

It's become a routine to get up, do some wifi, have breakfast, sit on boat, do pool during hottest time of day, take shower, have dinner, do wifi, read on boat and sleep. I guess we plan to leave the Marina Thursday and go fuel up then anchor for an early start Friday. We have a series of 25 to 35 mile day sails with mostly anchoring but likely one more marina stop before reaching Belize. That should take 5 or was it 6 days? About 3 more days here though. Belize is only about 2/3rd's of the distance as the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Anyway a guesstimate of reaching Rio Dulce, Guatemala is March 5th. I'll likely hang out another week or two checking out the 5 or 6 marinas there and getting a feel for it. Then fly home in the second half of March sometime. Here's a few photos... On the way to downtown Isla Mujeres. On the right is a Mexican Naval Base. To our starboard is a really nice Endeavor 40. Our neighbors invited me to have a look inside. It's so m...

The very day we arrived other cruiser's told us of a fundraising event at the very marina we had chosen. It was for a children with special needs school called the Little Yellow School. It seemed to have a good turn out. Music, food and a silent auction.