Steve Grover
New member
Going to pick up Gizmo from CYA in Ventura. No sale so far. CYA is letting me out of my contract early. If interested call me at 530 412 1513.
Gizmo- 2006 16' Cruiser
- Thread starter Steve Grover
- Start date
Steve Grover
New member
Hay Jim,
You don't miss a thing
Yes, I am home for the Holidays. We sailed out of San Francisco into high surf warnings and gale force winds Oct. 20th. Very rough for the first three days. Boat sailed great. Got to San Diego and the transmission bit the dust. We were late to depart with the other 155 boats headed to the Cape because of the repair but caught up with them at Santa Maria Bay half way down Baja. We had the most beautiful sailing the last 180 mailes to Cabo San Lucus. Stayed in Cabo and had more repairs completed on several problems and headed off to Puerto Vallarta arriving Wed. the 14th. We birthed the boat at a new harbor being completed at La Cruz which is across the Bahig de Banderas from Puerto Vallarta. I should say the harbor is in the beginning stages. No facilities such as water, electricity or showers. We got a cut rate of $600.00 US a month. Skipper Rick was planning to head back to the US and I was going to stay with the boat but because of the lack of facilities I elected to come home until after the first of the year. Rick will return on Dec. 2nd and plans to move the boat down the (Gold Coast) to Ziwattanejo for Christmas. I hope to maybe meet the boat in "Z" town again in January and skunk hole back up to the Sea of Cortez. We will leave the boat on the hard somewhere around Matatlan in April or May.
I really want to check out the smaller towns and anchorages like Manzanillo. Hang on the hook for several days at a time.
I've learned that I don't want to sail gale force winds and rough following seas, at night and anchor in strange ports at night with out an engine. I've learned that I don't want to be 120 miles of the coast when the wind dies and the engine won't start. No More :x
Look up the Baja Ha Ha on www.latitude38.com. 155 boats and 480 people sailed this event. They were from all over the West Coast and Canada all headed for the cruising adventures. Richard Spindler is an incredible man of the sea who has been the Publisher of the Latitude 38 for years and has over seen this event for more than 14 years.
The youngest sailor was 18 months and the oldest two were 81 years old.
I had the privilege of meeting some amazing people.
Anyway, you asked, thanks
Steve
You don't miss a thing
Yes, I am home for the Holidays. We sailed out of San Francisco into high surf warnings and gale force winds Oct. 20th. Very rough for the first three days. Boat sailed great. Got to San Diego and the transmission bit the dust. We were late to depart with the other 155 boats headed to the Cape because of the repair but caught up with them at Santa Maria Bay half way down Baja. We had the most beautiful sailing the last 180 mailes to Cabo San Lucus. Stayed in Cabo and had more repairs completed on several problems and headed off to Puerto Vallarta arriving Wed. the 14th. We birthed the boat at a new harbor being completed at La Cruz which is across the Bahig de Banderas from Puerto Vallarta. I should say the harbor is in the beginning stages. No facilities such as water, electricity or showers. We got a cut rate of $600.00 US a month. Skipper Rick was planning to head back to the US and I was going to stay with the boat but because of the lack of facilities I elected to come home until after the first of the year. Rick will return on Dec. 2nd and plans to move the boat down the (Gold Coast) to Ziwattanejo for Christmas. I hope to maybe meet the boat in "Z" town again in January and skunk hole back up to the Sea of Cortez. We will leave the boat on the hard somewhere around Matatlan in April or May. I really want to check out the smaller towns and anchorages like Manzanillo. Hang on the hook for several days at a time.
I've learned that I don't want to sail gale force winds and rough following seas, at night and anchor in strange ports at night with out an engine. I've learned that I don't want to be 120 miles of the coast when the wind dies and the engine won't start. No More :x
Look up the Baja Ha Ha on www.latitude38.com. 155 boats and 480 people sailed this event. They were from all over the West Coast and Canada all headed for the cruising adventures. Richard Spindler is an incredible man of the sea who has been the Publisher of the Latitude 38 for years and has over seen this event for more than 14 years.
The youngest sailor was 18 months and the oldest two were 81 years old.
I had the privilege of meeting some amazing people.
Anyway, you asked, thanks
Steve
Sounds very interesting, Steve. I am familiar with the Baja HaHa. I would think traveling with a group that size would present certain "logistical" situations. :wink: Did the organizers coordinate getting tourist cards, entry, etc? Tell us a bit about watch schedules, who did what onboard.
Welcome home. Hope someone is sharp enough to make a move on Gizmo - great little boat!
Best wishes,
Jim
Welcome home. Hope someone is sharp enough to make a move on Gizmo - great little boat!
Best wishes,
Jim
Steve Grover
New member
Jim
We sailed a Lafeat (?) 44 designed by Bob Perry built in 1980. Many of the systems were original. Engine ( 65 horse ), auto pilot, freezer, frig, electrical, the main was new and the head sail was rolling furling. We had several head sails but used the 180 mostly. The main had two reef points.
When we left the SF bay there were four of us. Rick the skipper owner, Dick Carlson 27 years Coast Guard Captain retired, a young 18 year son of the skippers girl friend and myself. It was too rough to uses Mr. auto the first couple of days so we stood 2 hr watches. Lucas didn't because he wasn't experienced at steering. This was 2 hrs on 4 off. We got tired. Lucas was very sick and useless. We didn't use Mr. Auto until the morning of the third day when it calmed down. When we arrived in San Diego and replaced the transmission and some how the power lead to the auto pilot was disconnected which we didn't discover until we were off the coast of Ensenada heading south again. Lucas left us in San Diego. We were unable to correct that problem until we reached Cabo San Lucas so for that leg we also stood 2 on 4 off.
Tired again!
Each morning at 7am there was a fleet roll call. by Richard Spindler and the daily weather forecast. First asked for medical emergencies, next mechanical problems and then general roll call of all boats. There was chatter on sailing conditions at various locations, fish caught, some funny comments.
All documents for the boats and crew were handled by the skipper of each boat. Crew had their own Pass Port and the skipper had copies. Check in at San Diego was handled by the skipper and in Cabo San Lucas there were a bunch of agents who handled tourist cards. We picked up the papers including our tourist visas several hours after the skipper turned them in to the agent. Fishing permits for the boat, each crew and the dink we purchased in San Diego. At La Cruz the skipper took everything to customs at the harbor office there was no problem.
The HAHA is a big event for Baja. Each year the the tourist community looks for the fleet. Docking in Cabo is very expensive. It would have cost us $160.00 a day for a third position raft up. Most people anchor as we did.
Anchoring is tricky because along the shore you can anchor in 20 to 30 ft but if you are farther out by 50 yds it drops of to 100ft. in a flash. 100 boats looking for the sweet spots makes it crowded. We came into Cabo after midnight under sail (no motor, broke) anchored in 20 ft. among those boats. Couldn't see them because their anchor lights were scrambled among the lights of the city until you were right on top of them.
By the way, Richard Spindler sails a 65' cat. Fastest boat in the fleet. He is most always ahead of all the other boats. There were a few multi hulls in the fleet. Jim, you and Joan sailed a multi hull as I remember.
Well, thats the scoop, thanks for asking.
Steve
We sailed a Lafeat (?) 44 designed by Bob Perry built in 1980. Many of the systems were original. Engine ( 65 horse ), auto pilot, freezer, frig, electrical, the main was new and the head sail was rolling furling. We had several head sails but used the 180 mostly. The main had two reef points.
When we left the SF bay there were four of us. Rick the skipper owner, Dick Carlson 27 years Coast Guard Captain retired, a young 18 year son of the skippers girl friend and myself. It was too rough to uses Mr. auto the first couple of days so we stood 2 hr watches. Lucas didn't because he wasn't experienced at steering. This was 2 hrs on 4 off. We got tired. Lucas was very sick and useless. We didn't use Mr. Auto until the morning of the third day when it calmed down. When we arrived in San Diego and replaced the transmission and some how the power lead to the auto pilot was disconnected which we didn't discover until we were off the coast of Ensenada heading south again. Lucas left us in San Diego. We were unable to correct that problem until we reached Cabo San Lucas so for that leg we also stood 2 on 4 off.
Tired again!Each morning at 7am there was a fleet roll call. by Richard Spindler and the daily weather forecast. First asked for medical emergencies, next mechanical problems and then general roll call of all boats. There was chatter on sailing conditions at various locations, fish caught, some funny comments.
All documents for the boats and crew were handled by the skipper of each boat. Crew had their own Pass Port and the skipper had copies. Check in at San Diego was handled by the skipper and in Cabo San Lucas there were a bunch of agents who handled tourist cards. We picked up the papers including our tourist visas several hours after the skipper turned them in to the agent. Fishing permits for the boat, each crew and the dink we purchased in San Diego. At La Cruz the skipper took everything to customs at the harbor office there was no problem.
The HAHA is a big event for Baja. Each year the the tourist community looks for the fleet. Docking in Cabo is very expensive. It would have cost us $160.00 a day for a third position raft up. Most people anchor as we did.
Anchoring is tricky because along the shore you can anchor in 20 to 30 ft but if you are farther out by 50 yds it drops of to 100ft. in a flash. 100 boats looking for the sweet spots makes it crowded. We came into Cabo after midnight under sail (no motor, broke) anchored in 20 ft. among those boats. Couldn't see them because their anchor lights were scrambled among the lights of the city until you were right on top of them.
By the way, Richard Spindler sails a 65' cat. Fastest boat in the fleet. He is most always ahead of all the other boats. There were a few multi hulls in the fleet. Jim, you and Joan sailed a multi hull as I remember.
Well, thats the scoop, thanks for asking.
Steve
Steve Grover
New member
Jim
My experiences with sailing has reinforced my notion that cruising in CD like you and Joan do is the only way to go. Tow the boat to the location you want to explore and away you go. Gizmo is a great little boat and I don't mind one bit keeping her for my needs. I'll just adjust my needs.
Take care and Happy Holidays to you as well.
My experiences with sailing has reinforced my notion that cruising in CD like you and Joan do is the only way to go. Tow the boat to the location you want to explore and away you go. Gizmo is a great little boat and I don't mind one bit keeping her for my needs. I'll just adjust my needs.
Take care and Happy Holidays to you as well.
Well, that is another new development. Better that you make that decision before Giz goes away, rather than after. When I said previously that "Gizmo is gonna make someone a great boat", I was thinking... well, you know what I was thinking. It's a wise man who understands the difference between getting what you want and wanting what you have.
I recently visited with a sailor who hasn't left the dock in quite a while. There was some discussion about what consitutes "cruising". I said, "I don't care what you call it, as long as you're doing what you want."
I hope this new year finds you doing exactly that. I'll look forward to the next time our paths cross.
Best wishes,
Jim
I recently visited with a sailor who hasn't left the dock in quite a while. There was some discussion about what consitutes "cruising". I said, "I don't care what you call it, as long as you're doing what you want."
I hope this new year finds you doing exactly that. I'll look forward to the next time our paths cross.
Best wishes,
Jim
john schuler
New member
Sounds like you have been boating. See you at the boat show
:smiled john :smiled
:smiled john :smiled