Del Rey Yacht Club Race to Puerto Vallarta

Six of us participated in the race: Scott and myself, Debbie, Bob, Ann and Jim.

Scott - This is a sail boat race. (right) Some people think it's like watching grass grow! With 2.4 knots of wind on the Quest it is a lot like watching grass grow. However, for those die hard racers it's sailing your boat in light air that requires the most skill. Now for cruisers, it's time to turn on the iron genny. (for non sailors that means it's time to turn on the engine - what do you say?)!

Debbie - This is why Debbie's here: She's going to get every little bit of propulsion out of this sail! (left)

Jim - In these light airs it's a perfect time to take a sun sight. (right)

Ann - Believe me, Ann knows where we're going. (left) She says, "Just leave the land on the left!" We are racing to Mexico, Correct?

Bob - "Perfect time for fishing!" says Bob. Those of you who are fishermen know that the "perfect time" is all the time! (right)

Oh Yes! A keeper and a winner!

Jean - Jean's strategy: just stay on the rhumb line! (right)

What's this laundry doing here? (left) I thought this was a sailboat race!

Lobster, brie and dolmas! Are you sure this is a sailboat race?

Quest in Cabo San Lucas! (left)  Nothing could be better!

Here's the crew relaxing after a tough leg to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Sailing on the Quest is never hard to take. But even so, we're indulging ourselves again in Cabo.

OK, here we go. (left) We're starting to move now! We're looking at the home stretch to Puerto Vallarta.

We're now at the finish line in Puerto Vallarta. (right) Couldn't be a more beautiful day to finish a race!

For those of you who want to be pampered, this is a perfect place! (left)

The Cathedral entrance at Puerto Vallarta. (right) (Ann's Photo, modified by Jean)

Walking along the waterfront in P.V. isn't bad either! (left) Lots of eating places and quaint shops with local artisans. Not to mention investment opportunities (just kidding!). For those who have been there you'll be sure to be offered the best time share available!!

Tenacatita, Mexico

Murray and Bob head up the river where some say there may be crocodiles! We're now south of P.V. at Tenacatita. (right) This was a very fun trip up the river where, in fact, I did read later that there could be crocodiles in these waters!!! Boy, am I glad we didn't know that earlier. You can't go too fast if you don't know where you're going. We definitely did NOT know where we were going. Besides navigating the boat away from possible hazards (Read: sharp branches that could put a hole in your rubber ducky), the other challenge was getting the dingy over the small bar of sand and rocks that form at the mouth of every stream or river. Actually it was an adventure, but climbing quickly into the dingy before you're washed back onto the sand bar was a little tricky!

A photo op at Tenacatita. (left) This lake was the top of the little stream (probably where the crocodiles breed!!!).

A perfect place for a cool cervesa. (right) A very short walk from the "crocodile" lake is a group of palapa cantinas on the beach.

And here's the view! (left) What do you say we stay here a few days? Oh, did I tell you that it's advisable to go back down the river before dark. A few hazards await the procrastinator: bugs & mosquitoes and getting lost in the dark. Be sure to check out the timing of low tide as getting back over the sand bar at low tide could take some serious testosterone (but that's what those wheels are for on that dingy, right?).

Barra de Navidad

The captain, relaxing at Barra  de Navidad! (right)

These surroundings are tough to take! (left)

A view of the beautiful docks at Barra de Navidad. (right)

You're welcome to enjoy the facilities if your boat is at the docks. (left)