Tuesday, 18 February 2014 – Because of the late sunrise, the morning VHF Net starts at 9:00 a.m. in Tenacatita. It covers the general area including Barre de Navidad.  As new arrivals, we introduced ourselves along with four or five other boats also new.  Yesterday we passed several sailboats heading north, it is quite a difference sailing in these waters, mostly we never see another boat but not in this area. 

After breakfast we prepared the dingy for a trip into the Mangroves. At the head of the bay, a small creek enters the sea and at high tide, you can navigate the entrance and motor about two miles up the creek through the Mangroves. In some places the creek was quite wide and in others very narrow. We spent about two hours exploring the creek and poking about in the Mangroves. We saw many different birds and even a Pink Flamingo.  It was a fun trip although we did learn a lot about how well our inflatable dingy handles in tight places, which is not very well. It tends to swing wide when steering, so in windy narrow spots you must concentrate on the direction you are going and be prepared for the next turn otherwise you finish up in the Mangroves being poked into by tree branches.

During the afternoon, several new sailboats arrived and at least four of them, two with young children, anchored close by.  A large luxury yacht had also arrived sometime while we were in the Mangroves. In the evening, we fitted our wind-scoop over the front hatch. This worked quite nicely and provided more air flow through the boat.

This anchorage is home to many sail boats that usually arrive in early December and often stay for three or more months.  Supplies are obtained by taking the boat across the bay to Manzanilla early in the morning before the surf and waves get too great for a dingy beach landing. Once the morning shopping is complete, you head back to the anchorage in the late morning.  Like Chamela, there is no internet service here so while I write the blog each day; it must wait until we get internet access for an upload.  However, we do have cell service and therefore have been able to talk to family and friends from the anchorage.