La Paz to Hiva Oa

*La Paz to Frailes* After picking up a crew in La Paz, installing an additional 300 watts of solar, minor repair to the low oil alarm sensor wire, patiently waiting for the much delayed long term visa from the USA French Consulate and a solid day of checking out of Mexico, I made my way […]

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Punta Blanca, San Marcos island

Looking for some place to cruise out of Santa Rosalia? Try out San Marcos Island. Known for it’s dusty gypsum mine on the south end of the island and can be in hospitable at times. Being a vacation/ holiday week we decided to visit the south beach between Punta Blanca and Punta Tijera. This is […]

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Bottom paint in Guaymus

Estrella was in much need of bottom paint as primer was showing through. Eduardo, Fonatur Marina manager, got me out of the water and on the hard within a couple of days from our arrival. Francisco, the yard work manager got his guys scraping the bottom while Estrella was still in the sling! By the […]

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Bahia Catalina on approach to Guaymas

We had a very easy night crossing from Santa Rosalia to the Guaymas area. 8 to 10 knot winds and under 1 foot swell. Dropping anchor in a safe protected and empty bay was the order of the day break. Bahia Catalina was the spot. We anchor in 18 feet of water. The land breeze, […]

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Northing stop in Puerto Escondido

Ten days out of LA Paz, dodging northerlies I spent a week in Puerto Escondido on a mooring bouy in the mooring field. They are proud of their bouys as a ball in Escondido is the same price as a slip in Santa Rosalia or Guaymas! That said, the facilities are very nice and the […]

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New Bottom Paint

date April 15, 2022 After power washing her bottom I found that about 25% of the bottom paint peeled off to existing  barrier coat. This is compared to losing 10% three years ago with the same process. So, I decided to do the big job and strip all bottom paint down to the barrier coat, […]

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Success stories from inexperienced buyers of large boats!

There was an interesting post on the Cruiser Forum asking for any success stories from inexperienced buyers of large boats. I started out writing a along diatribe about my experiences buying Estrella, as, at the time, I considered myself very inexperienced. After writing for a while I realized this long story belonged on my site […]

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Current Weather fax briefing, Central Pacfic

Current Central Pacific fax briefing

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Around The Corner And Back

Just returned from this incredible trip out the Columbia, up the coast of Washington, into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and into the San Juan Islands. After 5 weeks on board and over 800 miles, I’m ready for land lubber time! In short, this trip taught me many things about sailing short handed and […]

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PA and PT

With such a late start from Neah Bay, we arrived late at PA. Everything at the marina was closed so we tied up, waited till morning, then pulled over to the old fuel dock and topped off Estrella’s main tank. She took 34 gallons and at 36 hours since the last fuel up in Astoria, […]

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