Category Archives: Sailing with kids

Hay hay now, or rather Jejenes

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Jejenes (hay hay nays), also known as no-see-ums, keep most cruisers from staying in San Blas/Matanchén for long periods of time. We stayed in Matanchén for three nights, two full days, before we had had enough Jejenes and Mosquitos. 

We thought we were fully prepared with the no-see-um netting that I made and organic bug spray, store bought and homemade from essential oils. We even broke down and downloaded the “Mosquito App” to try send them away using radio frequency and the real deal DEET bug repellent. Nothing would stops these buggers. 

During the mid day hours, the bugs were more tolerable, but they still found their way into your skin. We made sure to reapply spray frequently and we shut ourselves in the boat well before sunset and stayed in until well after sunsrise. The no-see-um netting kept the mosquitos and the Jejenes out,  but we have a few hatches that only have mosquito netting over them. Well, those Jejenes found their way right through the wholes! Unbelievable! 

We endured the little pests for the two full days in order to experience the many cool things San Blas has to offer. San Blas is almost 500 years old! The history is rich and beautiful, and the town well kept. From Bahia Matanchén, we brought our dinghy to Playa Las Islitas then we walked,hitch-hiked,taxi, and/or bused it to the town of San Blas. We experienced the infamous Pan de Platano (Banana bread), the old fort of La Contaduria and Templo de la Virgen de Rosario on Basilio’s hill, and did the panga tour up Rio Tovara to Camalota Springs. We ended taking the tour from the little establishment just east of the bridge over the Estero de Poso. It was slightly more expensive, ~150 pesos per adult, but well worth it. We spotted a few very large American Crocodiles, boat- billed herons, other marshland birds, iguanas, and turtles. A must do for visitors. 

Excited to leave bug city, we set sail for Mazatlan. On the way, we stopped at Isla Isabella hoping for a good snorkel/free dive experience. Unfortunately a south swell picked up and a NW wind blew through the South Anchorage. The water was a little stirred up the evening  we arrived. The next morning I jumped in for a pleasant dive. I lasted all about 3 minutes before swimming quickly back to the boat. I had been stung by tons of “string of pearl” jellies! That was our deciding factor to set sail for Mazatlán. 

We enjoyed a nice overnight sail with winds 12-17 kts out of the WNW the first day, becalmed from 0100-0700, we bobbed around, then the wind shifted from the WSW. Blowing 10-15 kts WSW, we made a quick remaining 60 miles to Isla Venados, just off of Mazatlán. Just prior to anchoring we spotted our first leaping Manta Rays! We are looking forward to many more up in the Sea Of Cortez over the next few months. 

Makeup time underway:

 






 


Taj turned 3!

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Well, the little bugger turned 3 and is quickly filling his daddy’s shoes. From skateboarding, diving head first into pools and holding his breath for which feels like forever, climbing up to the second row of our rat lines, to a new fascination for matchbox cars. Taj is definitely Christian Lauducci’s son.

We had a great day yesterday celebrating with our cruising friends in La Cruz. Boat school as usual in the morning, which this time included math and reading in the form of making GF Brownies! Yet another boat, Cat2fold dragging down on us, was successful re-anchored with the help of fellow anchorage peeps. Taj, of course, was butt naked on the rat lines, watching the whole process. Another reminder of how good our Mantus anchor is. Apparently the area in which we are anchored in is know for lousy silty holding. We haven’t had any issues the whole three weeks that we’ve been in his spot for our own boat, but this is the second boat that has been rescued from dragging down on us in the last week!

After the excitement of boat dragging shenanigans, and a nice windy and wet dingy ride to shore, it was time to prepare for the party. La Cruz Marina is super family friendly. With a poolside deli and picnic area right in the Marina, it is a perfect kids birthday party location. 10 other kid boats attended and more non-kid boats as well! SV Alert, Cape D, Cielo Grande, Coastal Drifter, Kenta Anae, Nomi, Raireva, Riki Tiki Tavi, Terrapin, Valella Valella. Also present: Sea Fox, Wino Rhino, Landfall.

Four birthdays in the last 8 months and I’ll be the last to have a birthday since leaving on our adventure. All have been amazing thanks to the cruising community. Thanks for all the well wishes. Looking forward to many more sailor/cruising birthday celebrations in the years to come.

Josie
04/12/2016

Bahia Tenacatita memories: Jan – Mar 2016

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Tenacatita is a lovely anchorage situated south of Puerto Vallarta and about 10 miles north of Barra de Navidad, Mexico at WPT 19 17.9’N 104 50.3’W.  This particular spot draws cruisers in for multiple days and for some, becomes an annual home for months during the winter season. 

A few of the long term transient occupants have made Tenacatita into its own unique sailing community. Daily swims to the beach at 1:30, followed by bocci ball on the beach or a stroll  to one end of the beach and back. Afterward a beverage and/or meal at the one and only palapa near the river mouth. Every Friday at 5:30 the “Mayor’s Raft Up”, organized by Robert Gleser aboard SV Harmony, provides the community opportunity to meet each other and learn about one another when otherwise you might not get the chance to. Plus a chance to taste what other cruisers eat. Everyone brings a dish and it gets passed around from dinghy to dinghy!

Provisions are nil at Tenacatita, so one must either land taxi, sail, or take a skiff 2 miles over to La Manzanilla or sail to Barra Navidad. The seclusion is part of what draws cruisers here. It’s worth the extra effort to get supplies.

We hopped in and out of Tenacatita during a two month span. Our first visit was shortly after the New Year and our last was during the second week of March. Our days consisted mostly of a morning 45 ish minute swim for me, a kayak or free dive/spear fishing for Christian, beach going, and mangrove adventures for the kids. We had lots of people to visit including kids boats. At one point we counted 46 boats in the anchorage! 

I put together a little video to show the expierience that we had while we were there. See below.

Here is a list of some of the boats we saw in Tenacatita. If you were there and don’t see your name on the list, or if I misspelled your name, please contact us so we can add you to it!  Also, send me a link for your blog if you’d like me to link you. 

SV Adagio, SV Agamère, SV Banyan (misspelled in the video, sorry!), SV Believe, SV Cake, SV Cadenza, SV Carmanah, SV Chae Mi, SV Cielo Grande, SV Dazzler, SV Finte, SV Flight, SV Fools Gold,  SV, Fukngivr, SV Gitana, SV Gene Butler, SV Gia, SV Harmony, SV Komaru, SV Kiwi III, SV Overheated, SV Magic Lady, SV Mambo, SV Mango Mango, SV Moonshadow, SV Nalu 4, SV Penelope, SV Putachieside, SV Ravens Dance, SV Seychelles, SV Sea Boa, SV Speakeasy, SV St. Leger, SV Tigress, SV Voila,  MV Voyager, SV Wild Rumpus, SV Woody, SV Worth Waiting For