We had hoped when we finally tucked in behind Cabo Sant Elena (Costa Rica) the seas would die down in the lee of this cape ... Not so.
The past several days have delivered winds averaging in the high 20s (alternately ducking into the teens and gusting into the mid 30s) with square short-set waves sending spray everywhere. The hatches are dribbling, we have been living on our ear – life has been tedious. Showering: non-existent. Cooking: difficult. Using the bathroom: heinous. Sleep: trying.
For some strange (?) reason – despite boisterous wind from an excellent angle – we have continued motor-sailing: BANGING into the seas at full throttle ... and the slamming has been intense. Sadly we zipped past Nicaragua (as well as Guatemala and El Salvador) missing their colorful cultures and primeval landscapes ... As if to punish us for the slight, Nicaragua sent us her worst Papagallo winds, and we huddled beneath the dodger or slept below decks, during the worst of these blasts.
Making landfall in Bahia Culebra, Costa Rica - past Islas Murcielagos and the reef jutting out east to west – the winds continued ‘til the last possible moment; and then finally there was calm ... ahhhhhh .... We motored to Marina Papagayo at the northwestern corner of the bay, where we’ll remain “quarantined” (at the pool / bar / gym / resort / game room ) until we get approval from customs & immigration ... then we’re released to explore the 13 anchorages here in Bahia Culebra before heading south to rendezvous with additional crew Dec 12 at Jaco.
We have well survived the Bahia Tehuantepec: a 900-mile voyage ... but are ready for some well-deserved R&R (Rum and ??? ) Enjoying the celebration of a successful passage, to a new port-of-call :-) Over & out xoxo
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