Monday 13th ..... Maybe I should not have left??
I went to leave today - and ran straight into (forecast) strong winds and seas. I expected to cope with the conditions but made a right mess of reefing down, with one batten getting caught in a lazyjack and, after sorting that out, the second reef line getting caught around the end of a batten near the first reef point - more time spent, heeled well over in the big seas and then hove-to, sorting that problem out. Realised, too late, that I'd left a seacock open that should have been closed ... etc., ...etc... So finally turned around to sail back and am now safely at anchor off Cabo San Lucas, sorting things out and tidying up down below! Will wait to see what tomorrow brings....
It's been a good reminder of ocean sailing and the need to be totally prepared!! It's been nearly three years since I did some 'proper' ocean sailing - easy to forget how carefully things must be tackled in strong conditions...
All fine now, except I just noticed a pin seems to want to come out of the wind steering mechanism - will have to find a way to try to keep it in place somehow... maybe wire it in some way... I'll be needing my wind-steering on the way north, mostly close-hauled - especially now that I've no wind instrument functioning.
...........
It's lovely to be gently bobbing about at anchor, especially after the banging and crashing around earlier! It's busy here in the daytime with lots of holidaymakers rushing around madly on personal watercraft and lots of local boats taking people out for fishing or 'around-the-bay' trips or paragliding. Of course, lot of sailboats and 'party' catamarans with loud music suddenly appeared near sunset.
This evening, I'm still busy, trying to sort through a variety of things and organise them. At least the boat is better-prepared now.
The wind is clearly blowing still, off to the west beyond the distinctive rocky, scenic Cabo outcrops - every now and then, a gust comes through.