#50 / 2005 Tour 3: Sea report, Jan. 5

OUR FIRST DAY AT SEA

#50


We weighed anchor in Zihuatanejo to Lazaro Cardenas on Wednesday, January 5. We said our goodbyes by ship radio to Rick´s Bar and headed out 285 degrees. Joe hurled within the first hour.

In port, Rick`s Bar gave us a great sendoff the night before. Steve and Lana joined us to listen to Josie sing. Steve bought all the rounds and we accommodated in suitable sailor´s last-night-in-port style. Captain Rick watched the national football championship with Skipper Pat from the big 42-footer anchored beside us in the bay.

I have put a lot of faith in the fact I am the daughter of Howard Kennedy Adams, Seaman First Class, who went to sea in WWII. Even with a hangover, the tropical heat, and smell of diesel fuel, I didn`t ever get sick and hurl a "techno-colored" yawn as Captain Rick termed it.

The waves I guess were moderate, the sea glistening with diamond sparkles upon the water as we "motor-sailed" along the coastline for quite some time. Then Rick took a tack that led us into the open seas. He showed us how to flick a cloth bucket gingerly into the sea and fill it with water for a sea shower. Do it wrong and the bucket can fill too full and pull you off the ship. 

By afternoon I went forward to crawl into a bunk and snuggled up with a business biography on Martha Stewart. Later I slept like a baby.

After 10 hours of sailing our only companions had been a few sea turtles. But now as we pulled into Lazaro we were escorted by small dolphins, at least half a dozen. The sun set on a purple horizon with an enormous ball of sun the exact color of orange day-glow paint. As if by turning on a switch, thousands of fish began leaping out of the water as a phalanx of gulls and pelicans circled overhead.

Lazaro Cardenas is an industrial port, only suited as a snug harbor in which to sleep. It is pointless to go ashore. So we settled in, had a meal of tortilla soup and salad, a pina colada after dinner drink, and listened to Captain Rick’s tales of the sea.

Ten hours of sailing and our only companions have been a few sea turtles. But now as we pulled into Lazaro we were escorted by small dolphins, at least half a dozen. The sun set on a purple horizon with an enormous ball of sun the exact color of orange day-glow paint. As if by turning on a switch, thousands of fish began leaping out of the water as a phalanx of gulls and pelicans circled overhead.

Lazaro Cardenas is an industrial port, only suited as a snug harbor in which to sleep. It is pointless to go ashore. So we settled in, had a meal of tortilla soup and salad, a pina colada after dinner drink, and listened to Captain Rick’s tales of the sea.