Chacala to La Cruz

Chacala to La Cruz

Solastra anchored in La Cruz

We left Chacala around 8 a.m. Friday the 15th. (Oops another Friday departure day). But this particular Friday happened to be one of the best sails of the Season and actually, the best sail EVER, on Solastra! 

Anyway, as we left, Peter on Jugete was close by and Indigo Star (a gorgeous Tayana 48’), a boat we first saw and met the owners, Doug and Mary, in Mazatlan, left not long after we did. So eventually we were all pretty much in each others sights sailing along enjoying a super day of sailing. No motor, full sails…zipping right along. At one point as we rounded Punta de Mita in Banderas Bay, we were going 8.0 knots! The wind speed was in the high 20’s with gusts to 30 knots and coming from the NNW. We were on a broad reach. Perfect! The swells were 4-6’ but 16 seconds apart. It was a great sail and my captain was particularly happy. Firstly, to be sailing without the motor and secondly, that there were no issues!  Peter was pleased as could be! This was his first sail in his boat outside of the Sea of Cortez. He said it was ‘magical’ and the best sailing day he had ever had…ever! Indigo Star was in touch periodically and they were enjoying the sail just as much as we were.  All of us caught fish along the sail as well. 

La Cruz anchorage

We arrived in the La Cruz anchorage around 4:45 p.m. anchored and stayed put for the rest of the night.  We were lulled to sleep by the sound of whales singing and a slight swell.

Sunset at the anchorage

Sunday the 18th was the Farmer’s Market at the La Cruz Marina! It’s always such a busy and colorful display of homemade goods and fresh food. There are lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. Different vendors cooking all kinds of exotic foods. Fresh baked items alway look tempting. There are clothes, jewlery, pieces of artwork also for sale. There are a couple different bands playing music at either end of the Malecon. It’s nice to walk through the Market but the downside are all the people that attend. It's a good idea to get there 20 minutes before the Market officially opens.

When asked to take this photo, the man said that it would cost me 5 pesos. lol

We bumped into our friends Karla and Al on S/V Woody and we ended up going into Bucerias later in the day for an early dinner at Yo Yo Mo’s for pizza with them.

Al apparently doesn't like his picture taken

Monday, Jack and Brenda called and said that they were coming into the Marina to look at a Catalina Morgan they were interested in. So after they looked at the boat they wanted to go to Sayulita for the day. We couldn’t say no!

 After a lengthy bumpy ride we arrived at Sayulita and walked swiftly to a restaurant that Brenda and Jack had eaten before, Don Pedro’s…on the beach. We had a great lunch looking out at the beach and observing all of the activity going on.  People sitting under colorful umbrellas, people surfing, kids playing right at the shoreline swimming and building sand castles. The weather was perfect and the surf looked like a surfers paradise.

After lunch and a walk through town checking out shops, we made our way back to the Bus Depot and Rick and I grabbed a bus back to La Cruz and Jack and Brenda, got one back to Puerto Vallarta to their hotel at the Westin.

' NoTrespassing' sign needed!

Streets of Sayulita

Skipping to Wednesday, we came into the Marina with Solastra and docked her. We were getting tired of the rollie seas at night on anchor and not being able to sleep.  And we needed water and Harley could use a few more walks that she gets when we are at anchor. And…also not to mention being able to take a shower using someone else’s water.  Shortly after we arrived inside the marina, we cleaned the boat inside and out thoroughly! Solastra hadn’t had a good scrubbing since Mazatlan.  Harley also got in to see a groomer who sadly butchered her and she looks similar to a hairless dog except for her face which looks similar to a Lion's face.

Harley before the hack job

Harley after...

Solastra tucked in at the marina

That evening we took the bus into PV to meet Jack and Brenda for dinner at Barcelona Tapas around 5:30p.m.. Unfortunately it rained that night so seating was limited and we could not be seated until 8:30. But the upside is that Brenda worked her magic, blinked her big blue eyes and got us a table anyway! We were told that if we could eat within two hours we could have a table. No problem! The food was to die for and the views were still pretty incredible despite the rain.

Barcelona Tapas with Jack and Brenda

Thursday we did some provisioning in PV and later that night met Karla and Al here at Peska’s for dinner. Peska’s is one of the restaurants at the marina that looks out over the marina. 

Friday we invited Jack and Brenda out for a sail. They took a taxi over to our marina around 10:30 and we left shortly after. It turned out to be one of the greatest sails we have had inside Banderas Bay.  The wind and weather was exceptional and we were able to sail the entire day, full sails, some times getting up to 7.5 knots which is a lot for us! We were out all day and got in just after sunset. Despite it being dark by the time we got in, Rick did an incredible job getting us into the slip! 

Brenda at the helm...one of her favorite spots

A rare moment of PDA

The most incredible thing about the day was seeing lots of whales!! And one whale sighting in particular stands out the most. And that was when two large humpback whales were headed towards our boat and came right up to it, for air…mouths opened and then rounded down underneath the boat. They were so close we could have touched them (slight exageration). As we saw these gentle giants, Brenda and I were sitting at the bow wishing we had our camera’s! Brenda ran back to the cockpit to get hers but the whales were gone by the time she got back and I discovered my iPhone was in my pocket the entire time and I could have taken a picture! Aargh!! 

Beautiful ending to a beautiful day!

We ended our day having a nice, relaxing and delicious dinner at an Italian Restaurant…the other restaurant at the marina.  After dinner, we somberly said goodbye to our friends. They walked us to our dock gate and continued on to catch a taxi just outside the marina gate. 

Saturday, we took it easy and went for a swim at the beach in the afternoon, had dinner on the boat.  It was nice to not have really anything planned. Just a play it by ear kind of day.

Sunday was another trip to the Sunday Market at the marina where we got a few more fresh fruits and vegetables and a couple steaks of fresh tuna.  After the Market, we went for another swim at the beach, this time taking Harley. I had to put a little sunscreen on her since she’s still a little pink after her latest hair cut. Anyway, she had a ball! She ran straight from the edge of the beach directly into the water.  She paddled around constantly treading water while Rick and I were also swimming….treading water. Her hind leg seems to be doing so much better. The swimming has helped I’m sure.

Colorful fish at the Market

Tomorrow we are leaving the marina and going back into the anchorage in preparation of our departure bright and early Tuesday morning.  We will go straight to Chamela which is 96 nm away. Not sure how long we will be there…probably a night or two then we will slowly make our way down to Barra de Navidad making a few stops along the way. From there, possibly just a stop or two then we will turn around and head north.  We are hoping to get a visit from Rick’s daughter while we are in Barra. 

Next blog post will probably be from Barra. Thank you for following along!!