1/15/04 1000 Log = 3587 Departing Puerto Vallarta after being stuck here because of weather. The weather is still unstable, but looks good for increasing clearing. Ken on "Harrier" is leaving today too. He is a single hander heading directly to San Diego. He has done about 10 single handed transpacs and about 8 Mexico trips by himself. If he thinks it’s OK, then so do we. As we leave Bandaras Bay we spot about 10 whales in the Bay. They are breaching, jumping and showing us their tail flukes…pretty amazing. The day brings lots of rain squalls, but their duration is brief. One additional advantage of having radar is you can actually see the rain squalls develop and approach. When they get within ½ mile, it’s time to put on the foulies.

1/16/04 0845 Log = 3695 We’re about 1/3 the way to Cabo under clear skies. We continue to have rain squalls throughout the night along with some lightning. We spotted a couple of sea turtles with the biggest about 2 feet across.

1/17/04 0830 Log = 0830 We’re now on Central time….gaining an hour as we head west. We motor sailed all night again with rain squalls and lightning. However the days are clear and warm. Clearly better weather lies ahead. We’ve been set back slightly because of the wind and waves directly on our nose, but we plan to arrive in Cabo about midnight tonight. More wildlife today. This time we spot a dorado (mahi mahi) jumping 2 feet completely out of the water.

1/18/04 0100 Log = 3915 Arrived Cabo in total darkness. We used GPS and radar to make a nightime approach into the marina at Cabo. We motored all day and all night in very calm seas. Upon arrival, we had an arrival beer and then off to Squid Roe. The place was jumping at 1:30 in the morning. After a quick nights sleep, we sent Denise off to the airport after breakfast. Now we await the arrival of Rob and Ishmal The marina here is very expensive…$86 per night.

1/19/04 Rob and Ishmal (Smiley) are finally here after a communications breakdown at the airport. We do our entry and exit paperwork and provision the boat. After some boat chores, we still have time to go to the beach in the afternoon. We find a 35 foot sailboat washed up on the beach. A week ago, a storm came in and washed 5 boats on the beach. All but this one got off. This one, which didn’t have a name, had a huge section of the hull stove in. It looks likes a total loss to me, but someone says they are waiting for the insurance company. Rob and Ishmal get tattooed on the beach. That night we have farewell drinks at Squid Roe.

1/20/04 1000 Log = 3914 After fueling up, we leave Cabo. We wave goodbye to Brian and Andrea at the harbor entrance. We spotted several whales and porpoises as we leave.

1/21/04 1030 Log = 4047 Motored all night but now under full sail at daybreak. We’re about half way between Cabo and Santa Maria, some 50 nm offshore.

1/22/04 0800 Log = 4162 Motored all day and all night. We only have 5-8 knots of wind and seas are calm. We’re 190 nm from Turtle Bay, 50 nm offshore. We’re down to a half tank of fuel and we figure we will have to stop in Turtle Bay for more. We dumped our extra tanks in and now have ¾ tank. The stop in Turtle Bay will be good for some rest and solid sleep.

1/23/04 1000 Log = 4297 Motored all day and night…no wind. We had to slow down to 3 kts to arrive in Turtle Bay at dawn. The nights are getting cold. The sea temperature is down to 63 degrees. We switched propane tanks over today. The first one lasted over three months of daily use.

1/24/04 0700 Log = 4363 Arrived in Turtle Bay and refueled with Carlos and his 1000 gallon diesel panga. We filled the boat tank and both jerry jugs. It’s a sunny morning after a very wet and rainy night. Rob and Ishmal took their laundry ashore as we ate breakfast at the Hotel Veracruz.

1/25/04 1530 Log = 4363 Departed Turtle Bay. Smiley made a big breakfast and then went ashore to spend the last of our pesos on food. 15 kt winds in the bay.

1/26/04 1000 Log = 4448 Doing the Baja Bash. Motor sailed all night into lumpy seas. Could be worse…..could be raining. Both water tanks are so low they won’t draw. We have enough water with the foot pump to make San Diego, but no more showers.

1/27/04 0900 Log = 4567 189 nm from San Diego. Sailed most of the night under clear skies. Wind was 13-17 kts all night. Life is a little tough at 30 degrees of heel.

1/28/04 0900 Log = 4679 115 nm from San Diego. Motor sailed all day and night in 20+ kt winds gusting to 28. Big lumpy seas hiss by as a sheet of white phosphorescent foam. Dumped the extra diesel fuel jugs into the tank. We’re getting low on fuel now.

1/29/04 0930 Log = 4799 69 nm from San Diego. We’ve been set back by a 1+ knot current near shore. We sailed 120 nm but only made 46 nm to our destination. We’re now 40 miles offshore motoring into 5 kt wind. A couple of Navy jets just buzzed us about 1000 feet off the water….cool.

1/29/04 2045 Log = 4860 We just crossed the US/Mexico boarder. There is a bright flashing light on shore marking the spot.

1/29/04 2245 Log = 4870 Arrived at the Customs dock in San Diego…back in the US of A! Customs and Immigration officers come aboard at midnight and clear us in.

1/30/04 Rob departs and Smiley and I go into town. Ron shows up later that night.

1/31/04 Smiley departs and Ron and I go into town and proceed to get drunk like a couple of sailors. We end up at Dicks Last Resort where we run into a cheerleading competition. Imagine 200 screaming teenage girls doing backflips in the bar.