July 12-14, 2013   Manzanillo to Banderas Bay


We had intended to only stop in Manzanillo long enough to get gas, but of course we stayed longer.  There was still a lot of storm out there and since we did not get in until dawn, we needed to sleep most of the day.  We did not try to go ashore since there is a $20/day fee to tie up the dingy, just hung out on the boat and stored up our energy for what will hopefully be the last push.  The bay is full of enormous cargo ships waiting for their turn to go into the harbor to unload.  At one point Alan counted 10 of them.

Next morning the weather was looking better so we weighed anchor and headed for the gas dock.  As we got there and tried to tie up we realized that there were large swells coming around the corner of the breakwater.  Poor Rhapsody was banging against the dock and being pulled back and forth wildly.  Just then the attendant can running down and through sign language, got us to understand that we should tie the bow to a buoy in the middle of the channel and back in and tie the stern to the dock.  This looks impossible but there did not seem to be any other way and we need fuel. 

We managed to grab the buoy line but it is really short.  We tie a dock line onto it but it still is not long enough.  Another dock line is added to the first and we start to back up to the dock.  Still not long enough.  Another line is added.  And then a sport fishing boat moves into the dock to take on fuel.  Through all this, we are crosswise in the middle of a narrow channel.  It is 9:30 in the morning and other boats are coming in and out, including the tour boats.  The swells are tossing us around.  Rhapsody does not back straight, even in calm water.  Eventually, the other boat leaves and we manage to back close enough for the dock attendant to grab a stern line and tie us on.  I am completely stressed out.  Just as we start fueling up, the harbor master shows up and wants to know what the heck is going on.  Apparently the other boats have complained that we are blocking the channel and they are having trouble getting past us.  Eventually we have our fuel.  Now we need to pay.  Luckily we have enough cash.  Otherwise Alan was going to have to leap a 3 foot gap and walk over to the office to pay by credit card.  The money is wrapped around a fork, secured with a rubber band, put into a bucket and swung ashore.  The fork and change are returned and we are finally done.  Stern lines cast off.  Bow lines pulled in and untied and we are off to Banderas Bay.

After what we have been through, this last sail was fairly uneventful.  We had the usual light winds, large puffy clouds over land, lightning at night but nothing too dramatic.  With a combination of sails and engine we made fairly good time and rounded Cabo Corrientes about 3:00 the next afternoon.  We are officially in Banderas Bay!  Of course it is still 20 miles across the bay to La Cruz where we plan to anchor for the night.  but it stays light until 9pm so we should be fine.

I throw the fishing line out and actually catch a fish, a mackerel and not too big.  Sometime during our trip south, I had forgotten to pull the line in overnight.  It had gotten wrapped around the prop during one of the storms.  The hook came off and the middle of the line melted into a blob of nylon. however, both ends were OK, so I added some more line in the middle and attached a new cedar plug and hook.  This is the first time I have used it.  This hook is smaller so the fish was smaller,  a much better size for the two of us.  That other hook was catching fish that were much too big. 

The anchorage at La Cruz is almost empty.  There are only 5 other boats anchored out and 3 of them look like they are here indefinitely.  You would think there would be plenty of room to anchor, but somehow Alan still puts us right between 2 other boats.  Oh well.  It is lovely and cool.  We cook the fish and then sit on deck and watch the clouds roll and the lightning dance on the other side of the bay.  Tomorrow or the next day we will move into the marina for the rest of the year.