8th February, 2026

Exiting the Chaos

Thursday, January 29, 2026

The world is going crazy. The influx of information is too much. So much of it negative. I do see pockets of kindness. Every once in a while, a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Like a shard of light breaking through the clouds on a stormy day. I pray we survive this madness of isolating one from another. We are all living on the same planet, are all in the same boat, so to speak. “A rising tide lifts all ships.” When are we going to accept this simple fact? We must work together in order to survive. All peoples. All nations. All ethnicities. There is no other way.

Rest is necessary. Quiet for reflection. New ideas come when you shut out the noise. I see that so clearly when we leave the dock and go sailing. We disconnect from the phone and the internet. We leave the chatter of the marina. I look out over the water and am drawn to a world I’ve set aside. Nature and the natural order of life.

Out here we are at the mercy of the weather and the seas. (Actually, all life – every day – is at the mercy of the weather and the seas.) We can monitor the elements. We can be aware and therefore cautious. But we cannot change nature. It is what it is, and out here I am reminded of the true nature of my being. Or rather, I am reminded that I have lost touch with the true nature of my being. That is what cruising does for me. It puts things back in their proper prospective.

This is day one of our 2026 cruise. We (Jay, Marshall and I) left Nuevo Nayarit this morning and are anchored in Punta de Mita. For those who may not know this area, we are still in Banderas Bay. The humpback whales migrate here every winter to have their babies. Today there was many sightings of these beautiful creatures, and I feel honored every time I see a whale. Whether it is just a spout rising out of the ocean or we are lucky enough to see one breach. Sometimes they flap their tales, as if to say hello. They always bring a smile to my lips.

Our plan is to stay here until the wee hours of Saturday morning when we will weigh anchor and sail south at first light. Meanwhile, we will rest. Be quiet. Listen. We will rock with the movement of the boat. We will cook and eat, talk and laugh and sleep. We will read books and write in our journals. Day by day, little by little, we will shed the stresses of our lives.

Sailing is our medicine.  It heals. It brings joy. How blessed are we to have this moment in time.

Friday, January 30, 2026

It is sunrise on our first morning at anchor. The sky is filled with strips of orange, blue, and gray clouds as the sun rises from behind the mountains. It is a delightfully cool morning. That is sure to change as we head south.

I slept very little last night. Partly due to the wonder of being exposed to the night sky. We can see so much more of it without the ambient light from the city. We sleep in the cockpit when cruising precisely for that reason. However, not many stars were visible. They were hidden under a blanket of clouds. The moon peeped its head out every once in a while. It was three quarters full with the promise of a full moon on Sunday. The sea was visually flat though that was deceiving. Hidden rollers pitched the boat left and right, up and down. Perhaps that was the reason I woke up at one am. But it was my mind that kept me awake until almost dawn.

The cool air sent shivers up my arms. I snuggled deeper under my sleeping bag. I looked out over the ocean and contemplated the last year. There have been many challenges. Within the quiet, they all rose to the surface. I spent the next four hours wrestling with them.

It is 1600. Jay and Marshall have been working around the boat, doing final preparations for our sail tomorrow. They fixed two invertors. The jack lines are in place. The downhall is rigged. Miscellaneous items are tied down, etc.

We stayed in Punta de Mita an extra day to wait out the weather. Today’s forecast was for 20-25 knot winds around Cabo Corrientes. Tomorrow the wind drops dramatically. We chose to go in lighter winds, so we wait. I’m guessing a lot of other sailors agree with us as there are now ten sailboats anchored here. Plus, Cadenza. And four powerboats. There may be more before the sun goes down. Some may be going north but most travel south this time of year. It’s always nice to have company when cruising. We watch out for one another.

Soon I will prepare dinner. The sun will set, and we will tuck in for the night. I’m excited to continue our journey and pray for a safe passage.