13th Dec 2009
We arrived in Bahia de la Navidad too late to enter the lagoon where we
hoped for a still, quiet anchorage – we require a slack high tide so we
wouldn't bottom out. We anchored in the rolly bay for the night. We were
a little concerned as our Cruising Guide says the holding in the lagoon
was mud and mosquitos – I could just picture millions of tiny mosquitos
hanging onto our anchor chain keeping us in position.
Early the following morning we entered the estuary/lagoon. Now that was
fun !!! The depth in the channel got down to 1.8mtrs going in – that is
the depth under the keel. The channel appears ok up to the marina
turnoff then it is questionable!! We continued onto the fuel dock to
find there is no fuel - maybe "manana" – everything here is "tomorrow".
Locals in a panga (small motor boat) explained how to get to the
anchorage - in distance only 1/2 mile from fuel dock but the channel
isn't marked. To cut a long story short we ran aground 3 times - the
first time we took a short cut - big mistake and after gunning in
reverse we managed to get free – the same locals in a panga shook their
heads and motioned us to follow them – I am sure they were thinking
stupid gringos why did they take a shortcut when we pointed out the
green ball !!! All was ok until they left with hand instructions to go
straight head towards the "big boats" - we did that and immediately ran
aground again. Windward Bound yacht guys came over in their dinghy and
offered to guide us in (at this stage we had turned around to go back
out and head off to Acapulco. Soon the tide would be running out and if
we were solidly grounded at that time, would stay fixed for 12 hours
until the tide came in and refloated us – very embarrassing!!!
fun !!! The depth in the channel got down to 1.8mtrs going in – that is
the depth under the keel. The channel appears ok up to the marina
turnoff then it is questionable!! We continued onto the fuel dock to
find there is no fuel - maybe "manana" – everything here is "tomorrow".
Locals in a panga (small motor boat) explained how to get to the
anchorage - in distance only 1/2 mile from fuel dock but the channel
isn't marked. To cut a long story short we ran aground 3 times - the
first time we took a short cut - big mistake and after gunning in
reverse we managed to get free – the same locals in a panga shook their
heads and motioned us to follow them – I am sure they were thinking
stupid gringos why did they take a shortcut when we pointed out the
green ball !!! All was ok until they left with hand instructions to go
straight head towards the "big boats" - we did that and immediately ran
aground again. Windward Bound yacht guys came over in their dinghy and
offered to guide us in (at this stage we had turned around to go back
out and head off to Acapulco. Soon the tide would be running out and if
we were solidly grounded at that time, would stay fixed for 12 hours
until the tide came in and refloated us – very embarrassing!!!
really impressed (that is putting it politely) and getting annoyed with
an unmarked channel. We did make it the next few yards to the anchorage.
Part of the problem is the locals dive for oysters in the deepest part
of the channel – which appears to be only a few feet wide at the widest
point – we were trying to avoid running over divers and hitting pangas –
Windward Bound went up to each panga and asked them to move out of our way which they happily did. Half an hour later the French Baker arrived - yea !!! I bought a choc filled croissant, Danish and baguette. That put a smile back on our faces. The small town is typical Mexican without all the tourist traps - it is simply the most beautiful place - lovely
people. Clean and tidy with lots of very inexpensive eating places.
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