Isla Mujeres,Mexico to Florida

Not to belabor a point, but this is the 'track' we took from Isla Mujeres to St. Pete Beach, Florida.  We followed a path, I had drawn on paper,based on forecast for the Gulf Stream Loop over the next few days. So, 'attempting' to follow a path within.... and with the best current we could find to take us home.  This was our actual path.
It varies of course for every sailor every day.

Panama to Mexico........"The Weather and Route Plan"

As any sailor would do, I searched for any weather and routing information I could find, prior to attempting to sail non-stop from Panama's eastern shores known as the San Blas Islands, or Kuna Yala, to our home of St. Pete Beach, central on the west coast of Florida.  Overall, that would be about a 1500 mile trip.  A trip that incurred the commonly localized weather of the S.W. Caribbean, then the N.W. Caribbean and then again, the Gulf of Mexico.  Each area can have weather patterns that are not always tied to the patterns nearby.

I downloaded 'grib' files from a site called Sailmail.com ( a fee for service radio communication group)  and studied them for over a month, to get a feel for the changes that occur throughout this large region of sea and land areas.  While prepping the boat in other ways for the passage north, I anxiously awaited an alignment of some kind between these 3 sea areas.   I was hoping to find a Weather Window, that would allow us to traverse in a gentle passage.  Dorothy really gets nervous when the seas build and let's face it, it is damn tiring to move about the boat, or even to have to constantly hold on or brace yourself, to stay put when the seas build!

Luckily, a pattern emerged that offered hope of an easy passage.

Winds would be light at first with possible rain in the SW Caribbean, but that's not bad.

Then after a day, the winds further north In the NW Caribbean,  would subside and turn direction more from the East, to our favor.

Leaving Porvenir, the island of "check out" in the San Blas Island group, we headed 340 degrees NW.  We should be able to hold that heading with only minor adjustments to pass well east of the Columbian Islands of San Andreas and Providencia and then pass centered between the reef atols of Quito Sereno and Serana Bank.

Once past these 2 reef systems, a slight jog left then right would align us between Gordo Bank and Torquoise Bank.  This would keep us in deep water and away I hope from any fishing activity on the banks as well as pirate activity off  Nicaragua.

That worked out well and actually, mid way in the trip, the weather was continuing to chang in favor or our planned route.  After the banks,a course change to 319 degrees, had us on a broad reach with gentle winds slightly behind us on our Starboard (right) side.  From now on it was a sleigh ride towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and the beautiful island and harbor of Isla Mujeres.

Daily downloads of updated grib files told me that the weather in the Gulf of Mexico was not going to be comfy!  Blustery winds often against the current would be producing large square waves and probably in multiple/confused patterns.  That is NOT the kind of passages I look for.....  I do my best to avoid the stress if I have a choice.

Arrival in Isla was early in the morning.  I actually had to keep slowing down, the last 3 days, to make sure I had an early morning entry.  I could have pushed and made it in the night before, but never having been in to this this country at night or this particular entry point at night, I took it easy, to await daylight.

Good thing!  Our auto pilot was giving me loud nasty noises for the last 2 days and I was not about to hand steer early to attempt repairs....if it broke, I'd hand steer the final approach but let the wind vane take me there. (Just to let you know, it turned out to be a simple fix, but I did have to remove the drive unit and take it apart.) Then, late in the evening prior to arriving in Mexican waters, my computers navigation program locked up. I have back up computers loaded with these programs, so out came another computer and we were fine again, but I ended up loosing all my tracking information for this trip and others.  Sigh!

We spent 9 days in Mexico, enjoying Isla Mujeres and traveled inland to the city of Merida and town of Progresso expanding our traveler experiences.  A NEW and decent weather window opened so back in Isla Mujeres, we cleared out, removed dock lines, anchored out for the night, then had an early morning departure for Florida.

I had downloaded files that showed the approximate position of the Gulf Stream in the Gulf of Mexico for the next few days and penciled a route plan on a piece of paper using 3 days of data to guestimate the route I should take.  If I could somewhat follow the latitude, longditude paths slight curves, I could not only get our forward motion caused by the boats sails and engine thru the water, but the "waters" movement being pushed by the current of the Gulf Stream.

  It worked!  Fabulous time of 2 days, 16 hours, from anchor up in Mexico, to anchor down in St. Pete.  We had times of sloppy seas, no worthwhile wind, then squalls, running between thunder storms to avoid them and at times, needing to spill wind from the sails...... but in the end, it was a great trip!

We sailed, motor sailed and did whatever I deemed safe to get us from point A to point B,,,,,,,,,actually A to B to C.  Total sea time from San Blas to St. Pete, was 7 days, 17 hours for about 1500 miles as the crow flies with one stop for weather consideration.  Not bad! ;)

Merida, Mexico: The Many Faces Of...............

CLEARLY..........CORRECT!   If you are a gringo down here, TV sucks!

But the nightlife brings out the much of the "SOUL" of the city.

Even those beyond. ;)  but...............

Much of the life of the City of Merida revolves around the Old part of the city, the Cathedral and the Central Square.

 On the face of the Cathedral, the designs are orrnate, yet quite simple.  Restored, but  shows many signs of age. 

Humor is often seen in their expression of art.  And at every turn, there is beauty in the Old, that has been saved or restored.

Cars, and some vehicles like this Coke Truck are often sized properly for a very Old City. Yet full size buses ply the streets.

Food quality has the full range possibilities and life is Good here.  Shaved pork smelled delicious.

On de udder hand; if U wanna pis-cin-a pool, they will politely guide you with signage.

...............MORE LATER...............SO COME BACK YA'LL,...........HEAR?

Porvenir/San Blas, Panama to Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Decided to sail  non stop from the San Blas Islands of Panama to St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Grib weather files looked ok. Nothing spectacular and nothing miserable. However after a few days out, I saw from the downloads, that the Gulf of Mexico was still effected by fronts and storms in the U.S. and had winds that were not in our favor.  I decided then to stop in Isla Mujeres for a break.  Dorothy had never been there before, so it was decided to stop and have some fun.

Isla Mujeres is Colorful 

Day One, beat into short seas, gentle but later on, building wind.  Main sail and 115% genoa. No mizzen up.  18 hrs. into it though the seas were now 2 meters, wind 20 knots, still close hauled. This was unexpected and did not match Grib weather files.  Easily now doing 7.6 over the ground but we were probably getting a half know current boost.

Day 2: lighter conditions, some motorsailing late day. close hauled to broad reach...quite variable.

Day 3: variable, 6 to 18 knots during the 24 hrs.  Sun INTENSE! Beam to broad reach.


Day 4:Winds Light to high teens, sailing on broad reach. Now beginning to slow the boat down, so I could get an early morning approach to Mexico and not a night time landfall.   Winds were expected to be building, so NOW was the time to reduce speed.

Day 5: Mostly 20-25 knots. Into more of the serious portion of the Gulf Stream/Yucatan channel and seas confused with mostly 2 patterns. Sailed Broad reach to almost downwind/but no pole.....had to play it some times. Twas a great sleigh ride.  Auto Pilot did all the work.  (Raymarine/below deck/Gyro unit)

 Three p.m, engine died due to fuel filter blockage. First Fuel Problem in 24 years!!!!!!! Changed the 2 micron-- Racor 500 filter to a fresh one and off we went again, purring nicely.  

Next Problem: Maxsea Navigational program on computer, said it's dongle expired ??? HUH?? just before sunset closing in on Mexican coastline.   That computer was now worthless to me.   Landfall was expected at sunrise so this was not a fun thing.  Could not fix, so opened up my next computer and booted up the navigational program on it.  Nice to have backups. .

Basically, went back to paper charts and cruising guide for final hours to assure myself of no further problems.

Could have made "Anchor up to Anchor Down/San Blas Panama to Isla Mujeres, Mexico by nightfall of the 4th day, but I chose daylight entry, so we slowed down often in the final 3 days to position ourselves for a 6-8 a.m landfall.  Passed first bouy at 7:30 a.m. so we did good.  We, Dorothy and I, were lovin' the speed of the boat on this broad reach.  We had waves, some current and well set sails working for us.  For the last 2 days, the boat wanted to do 7.8-9.3 knots over the ground. Hated to slow it down, by reducing sail or setting the main Inefficiently, but did,,,,,just to slow down.

Now, been here 2 days in Isla Mujeres but in the morning will be heading off on a bus for Merida and maybe Progresso, over on the Bay of Campeche,  to check out future land options.

By the way.... Isla Mujeres is COOL.  Twas here 3 times in the mid-late 80's and it has not lost it's flavor!  :)

Breakfast was served at a plastic table. Food vendor cooked in a little booth a few feet away, on the corner.

IF it wasn't a street of small shops selling everthing the tourist wants but doesn't need, then it is typical Latin style, quaint and eclectic.

The Marine Environment is much a part of the local architectural features.

A view of the sea is important when living on an island.  Local design is often whimsical and artistically done, but never omitting a good view if it is available.

IF not, even the poorest residence seems to have something special, something artistic, or warm and welcoming.  IF nothing more, a bit of humor or color makes for a good entrance.

Doors, can be shorter than you would expect..........

Or chairs, masterfully carved from tree roots and well, maybe Oversize!

Either way, the look is Great and the locals friendly.  The animals are all a hoot and just seem to be having a great time.

"Star pooch"is actually called "Lucky" by his neighbors, as he gets handouts all day long from passing tourists.  He really did have a lovely personality!