27th January, 2025

Ready, Set, Go!

It is the end of January, and it is time to head south. Jay has been so busy getting the boat ready. It all sounds so grand when we tell people we spend five months in Mexico, sailing. They say, “Ah, you’re living the dream.” It’s not so simple as that. It takes a lot of time and patience to prep the boat. Below is a list of what has been done in the last two months. Sometimes we hire help, but mostly it is Jay who fixes everything.

Replaced the raw water pump.

Tightened the lifelines.

Replaced fender.

Order a new first aid kit.

Switched out and filled propane tanks.

Repaired Dremel tool.

Reattached engine throttle.

Replaced outboard fuel tank and fixed outboard hose.

Caulked seams in teak deck.

Reattached engine throttle.

Replaced outboard fuel tank.

Fixed dodger handle.

Flushed and cleaned bilge.

Fixed wire in tachometer.

Replaced belts on engine.

Fixed leak in head.

Painted life ring.

Replaced shrouds holding up the mast.

Fiber-glassed and repaired spreader.

Checked generator and fire extinguishers.

Replaced two interior lights and clock insert.

Fixed autopilot.

Fixed the engine-driven freezer which entailed resourcing two compressors and many, many hours of labor.

Our latest challenge is the galley faucet that has a leak under the sink, drips constantly, and intermittently plays the theme from Jaws! Jay and Cono attempted to replace the faucet, only the plumbing below the sink is very old and it needs to be replaced. That is a bit more complicated. Jay wisely decided that we would live with the current faucet. If they started cutting and replacing hoses and copper fittings and something went wrong, we would have no water. If that was the case, we wouldn’t be able to leave Monday, the 27^th, as planned. He was able to stop the leaking but not the dripping or the musical groans.

It’s a boat. What can I say?

The last two days, we have provisioned, which means going to Costco and La Comer. We filled the freezer, fridge and pantry. Sunday I will cook chili, marinate chicken and make cookies. We will also do laundry and clean the interior boat. Jay is cleaning the exterior of the boat as I write this.

We went to Zaragoza, the marine store in town and got filters and miscellaneous items Jay thinks we will need.

There are lots of little things to do, like tie up the paddle board and kayaks, charge the “marriage savers,” (headphones used to communicate while docking and anchoring) and put out the jack lines. These are used for us to clip in if the weather and seas get rough, so we won’t fall off. There is so much more, but I think you get the picture.

Monday, the day this is posted, we will leave to go south. First stop Punta de Mita. It is still in Banderas Bay and gives us a chance to make sure all things are working as they should be. If you would like to track us, Jay has set up the below link which will show where we are and the wind patterns.

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SVCadenza/