Day 23 -Back in La Paz

It was a very calm night and morning as predicted. We weighed anchor at 10 AM with the plan to arrive at La Paz at about 3 PM, just before the end of the large ebb tide expected this day. Before we started the engine I checked the engine oil and coolant levels and also the belt tension. Then I asked Brenda to start the engine so that I could have a look at the Racor fuel filter vacuum gauge. The fuel and filter must be very clean because the vacuum gauge needle barely moved from its rest position.

We motored along in the very calm sea doing 5.1 knots at 2000 rpm. After a while I raised the rpm and we were doing 6.0 knots at 2400 rpm. So a 20% increase in rpm had yielded a 20% increase in speed, telling me that the 2000-2400 rpm range was within the "sweet spot" of the boat's speed. I then tested the maximum rpm and achieved a sustained 6.9 knots at 3150 rpm, representing a 15% increase in speed for a 30% increase in rpm. The 3150 rpm is very close to the upper limit of the range stated in the manual of 2800-3200 rpm, indicating a very good propeller pitch.

The wind picked up as we approached Pichilingue and we soon found ourselves in a trying passage up the La Paz channel with a following wind of 15 knots, and adverse ebb tide current, and very low water showing patches of dry land next to the channel that we had never seen before. In the channel we found a depth at one point of only 3.9 meters. The wind and the current were all wrong for an entry into the marina so Brenda and I decided to drop anchor near the marina entrance and see how things played out. We dropped anchor at about 3.30 PM and had a cup of tea with cake. After a brief chat with Cyntia at Marina de La Paz announcing our arrival we had a nap. At 4.30 PM Brenda was up and stated that the current had disappeared and the wind had dropped. Sure enough the wind was below 10 knots. I telephoned Cyntia and when we arrived at the slip at 5 PM there were 4 men waiting to take our lines.

Noel helped me to tie up the boat and after saying hello to Robert from the adjacent boat and meeting his sister Lee, Brenda and I went off for showers. I returned to the boat via the local tienda where I purchased a loaf of fresh bread and 8 cans of cold Pacifico beer. After a couple of beers in the cockpit enjoying the cool evening in the familiar surroundings of the marina we headed off to Rancho Viejo for a meal. We had Margaritas each and Brenda had pork while I had 4 Tacos Arrachera.

Back at the marina I set up the boat with shore power and internet access and we had a good Skype conversation with Stephen, who gave us a tour of the property inside and out, including Bill the dog whom we were glad to see again.

It was great to be back at Marina de La Paz.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com