Chemela

We are currently in Chemela, having arrived Saturday afternoon. Our rounding of Cabo Corientes was uneventful: winds climbed gradually to 20 kts, but being cautious we reefed the main at 15 kts. Eventually the wind shifted to be entirely aft of us so we dropped the main altogether and with jib alone kept going at 6-7 kts until early morning, when, typically, the wind died, and we resorted to using the motors. The wind did pick up again around 11 a.m. and we were able to sail the rest of the way into Chemela.

The old saying that "you can't go home again" rings true with our return to Mexico. One thing that is very different is the number of new arrivals that are passing through or returning home. So many that we've met are heading down to Panama, Ecuador or across the Pacific before spending a full season here in Mexico. Weather has been colder than before: I remember spending January in Tenacatita, playing dominoes in bathing suits! We're currently 40 miles north of there -- we're using two blankets at night, I'm wearing long sleeves, long pants, the door to the cabin is closed and it's 9:05 in the morning!

Yesterday we had freaky weather: wind and swell from the south. All 8 boats in the anchorage were rocking back and forth all day. We spent the day doing some housekeeping chores and have a few more to do today.

~~~ Marlene and Roy ~~_/) ~~