At Home in Mazatlan

When we arrived in Mazatlan we soon realized it was not a small town. The septic plant near the harbour reminded us of the warnings about the septic plant near the harbour. So we packed up and headed into town, on the bus. The few things that caught our eye was that the streets with all the buildings had a heritage feel, it was nice. More peaple spoke english, and the had a unique open air taxi that was cute, like the Love Bug, VW, golf cart sort of thing.  After checking out the beautiful heritage chuch, but still completely lost, hired one of these taxis for 1/2 hr, $8 and got a tour of the town. The guy took us up a small mountain, we call them hills in Canada, for a veiw of the town, along the ocean drive, through the markets, it was great. We walked over to an art district and had drinks in an open air cafe, complete with a mime copying people as they walked by, he was very funny, we were all laughing and enjoying Mazatlan. After we walked though a art galary, Kim was in her element, memorizing vase shapes, she would have bought several large items if we were not to travel by air.We were allready bringing pottery home from San Blas.We finished the day with dinner along the ocean, like we don't get enough of it. The resturant "the srimp bucket" is famous , it was the first of its kind to open in 1964. Food was ok, back to the mothership in a golf cart.It was then and there that we desided to move in the morning. As we dingyed back across the harbour, the wind changed direction half way back to Gypsywind. Kiya was plugging here nose. We were glad we did not have to eat on board.
We lifted anchor and headed out in the morning, no smell by the way. It was only a 2 hr motor over to the marina district, we took the route inside the Islands, kim would have preferred to sail on the out side, but I pointed out the ferrys along with sevral other large sail boats were on the inside. The chop was bad 4 ft sea but on our beam, which made us roll badly, thought to put sail out but we didn't have far to go, and besides surely we will get some shelter from the Islands coming up.It did improve as long as the Island lasted then back to rolling.  As we approched the third Island the depth dropped from 33 ft to 16 ft, we slowed down, the depth was now 12 ft, what the crackers, we put Nikita on the bow. as we weaved back and forth looking for deeper water, 9 ft made us slow to a crawl. Then12 ft, then 16 ft we had only 2 miles to go.
   We radio the harbour master at El Cid marina to see if they have a slip for us, A18 is assigned, first dock as you enter, well thats good, hopefully easy to find. As we approched the enterance to the channel we could not believe we would have to enter that, it was so narrow, the 4 ft swell was smashing against the break waters white foam every where. We did the old pass, by Kim gets on the radio for assistance no one answers, as I circle we come closer to the big rock on our starboard, who puts these rocks right at the enterances? I see the swells have a rest every minite or so it's a matter of timing. I say Kim boats bigger then us fit into there, lets go, We throttle up, I think to myself, we have never been so hastey before what if this is it, the storys end? Aw we get into the surf we must turn to aline ourselves to the breakwater, rip-rap both side the next swell starts to turn us, I compensate, we are coming in. As we enter the swells die and things are calmer, normal, exept for the nerves. Kim and I are both wrecks. The kids are joking and laughing, Kim and I quit shaking. The marina comes into view, now all we need to do is find our slip, line up the boat, if there is enough swinging room, and come in without hitting another boat or the dock. We have done this before. All goes well, another soft landing, we tie the lines and look around . the place is beautiful, a smaller marina with lawn around and very tastefull buildings around the perimeter.We' ve arrived.
Gypsywind on the side