LETS GO FLY A KITE [Adventure #43] 

Epic bow posing by Hillary! She even kept her cool lying on the dingy at 2:25, when getting slapped in the face with the halyard! :-) Great video as usual!

Meat pie and mushy peas. You are showing your Aussieness! Woo Hoo!

Nice video :) That spinnaker looks great when it's flying :)

I read about what seems like an effective technique to put your bow into the swell. It utilizes a line tied to your anchor chain say 20 feet forward of the bow (not sure the optimum length). One then leads the line aft where you winch it in to draw the stern towards the anchor chain thereby pointing the bow into the swell the required amount. Looks easy... Give it a go and let me know if effective. :)

Hi Guys I relay like the way you both explain things. It is good to see the harmony.....

Warning...Long Story I’ve been following you down the Baja Coast. Your trip is stirring up old memories. In 1971 or 1972 I was returning single handedly from La Paz in my 32’ Cutter “Ne’ Libre”. I ran up on one of the sandbars just south of Punta Abreojos at Laguna San Ignacio. (Episode 43) The weather had been super nasty for more than a week and I was tacking dead against the wind going north. I was doing about 20 miles each time on each leg before tacking, and gaining maybe 5 miles. This off course was before easily available GPS, and my dead reckoning was off. (I guess that’s why they call it dead reckoning). I had seen a light the night before, which I assumed was Punta Abreojos but as it turned out was probably just a light from some ranch further south. The following day I saw some mountains which I assumed were the mountains just north of Punta Abreojos. (They turned out to be mountains way inshore south of the point) Even though I thought I was many miles offshore, I apparently was not very far offshore at all. I never saw the low shore, even on that clear sunny windswept day. In reality I was still way south of Punta Abreojos in the bay. Again, assuming I was north of the point, I had plotted a course parallel to the shore north off Punta Abreojos. That night, I ran up on a very low shore, bumping over two sandbars. It was pitch dark and my spreader light showed me in nothing but white water. I had no idea where I was, but immediately set out both anchors. The tide was coming up as the boat was pounding deeper into the sand. It was not to long before all Portholes blew and the cabin began to flood. I decided to stay with the boat, and with the breakers getting bigger and bigger decided to climb the mast with my ditch bag tied to me. I almost made it to the spreaders when I slid back down and badly ripped my leg on one of the cleats. It also ripped one of the pockets in which I had some important papers, but luckily not my passport. Since the waves were getting bigger, I decided then to get away from the boat, not knowing how big the waves were going to get. I tied a long line around myself and when I jumped into the water, I almost broke my ankles. The water was maybe a foot deep. Spray and surf crashing all around me, I made it through the white water that swept me of my feet several times even though I never was over knee deep until I reached dry land. That parallel to the shore rip current must have been more than 20 knots. I spend the night ashore and the next morning saw my beautiful boat had almost pounded 3 or 4 feet into the sand. At low tide I could easily walk around the boat in knee-deep water. The deck at its lowest point was maybe a foot above the water. The boat itself was full of water and I dove in diesel coated water for anything I could rescue. There was stuff all over the high water line on the beach for miles. Amazing how much stuff there is on even a small boat. I got most of the water out and somehow I got that little Volvo started, but the shaft was bent. So that was that. I set up camp in the dunes that day and (I think?) since I had swallowed some diesel, I passed a kidney stone that night. I passed out from the pain. For how long I did not know. As the pain became intolerable, I had written a letter to my wife and son. I should explain that at that time I had no idea that it was a Kidney Stone. I spend the next few days resting and improving my camp. I was even making water (In a pit filled with succulent green plant material, covered by a clear plastic sheet, with a rock in the center and a pan under it from my ditch bag), even though I still had several gallon bottles of water that I had salvaged. I probably got two quarts a day. A few days later I flew my spinnaker off the masthead when I saw some shrimp boats with their outriggers way off shore. Actually I was quite content and comfortable until several days later when they came to investigate. The send a party on a skiff and tried to get back through the current and waves to get me aboard the shrimper. That is when I managed to step on a stingray walking in the surf, which promptly used its barb to hit me right above my little toe on my right foot. There was a black spot the size of a nickel on my foot for at least the next ten years The pain was excruciating, and I was still somewhat thrown off because of the pain I had had in that area, and additionally it did not help, when even though my rescuers did not know about any of this, they kept asking me if my kidney area hurt. There apparently is a type of Stingray that is fatally poisonous and kidney failure is a symptom, as best as I understood them. Thankfully that was not the case and I could quickly alleviate all pain by putting my feet next to the fire that they had built, since they could not return to the boat that night because of the waves and current. We all huddled around the fire that night and it was very clear the next day that they wanted me off that beach so they could get my crap, especially my 12 Gauge. But I did not hold that against them. I was handing out stuff left and right anyway. Anyway long story short, after a lot of back and forth with the Shrimp Boat owners in Mazatlán, Mexico City, the US Consulate and the Coast Guard in San Diego (who I later found out was busy flying an retired Admiral with a broken leg back from Cabo San Lucas, and could not been bothered to stop off midway), I was transferred to a motor yacht that was going south whose owner was a LAPD Police captain and a real Jerk. He apparently was not amused for having to take a diesel covered castaway on board and even told me that he had been highly inconvenienced and what is wrong with all the sail-boaters anyway. But he had no problem to put me to work trying to fix his 40KW generator when he found out that I was a trained Electrical Machine Builder. I was flat on my back in his engine room when his wife finally took pity on me and handed me a sandwich. I was just real happy to inform him that his generator was toast. Anyway he dumped me and my sail bag full of crap unceremoniously off in Magdalene Bay, from which I made my way back to La Paz and the States. The News reports and TV stations had me and my whole family drowned, but by the time I got back that was old news and nobody bothered to set the record straight. That trip was to be a shakedown cruise, and I guess it did shake me out. Anyway… I knew even before all that, that my navigation skills were crap, but I never had a problem keeping a boat seaworthy unless I crash it on shore. I wanted to stay connected to the sea and I left a very successful real-estate career, temporarily, and decided to build four “Most Dangerous Catch” type Steel Fishing Boats, all of them still plowing the Bering Sea. I am proud of that. I would build Steel boats to this day, but I got shut down by 20% interest rates in 1982. For a while I played with the idea of building steel cruising boats like some outfit in Canada was doing, but my new wife had enough of all those crazy ideas and strapped me back into the real estate harness. I paid my bills, sold my crane and everything else I could, let 20 people go and threw a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of jigs and templates in the thrash. Broke my hearth! During that time I owned a 45’ Sea Wolf Ketch in Oxnard and sailed the Channel Islands. That kept me sane, even though my wife would argue that. So… real life interfered, and now it’s too late for me. I spend my days watching everything that sails the sea, and dream of what could have been. I’ve watched some of your later episodes and decided to go back to the beginning. The fact that I also live in Portland makes it all the more dear to me. Hope you do not mind me throwing out some stories now and then. Take care of that precious Northwest Gal you probably don't deserve. Most of us don't. Women are far superior to us you know.

Good flying big kites,good on ya. Had a couple different sizes in inventory on the Ketch, pricy lightweights.

Why dont you have a motor for your tender. just thinking safety in rough seas or emergency.

My mum used to always tell me to go fly a kite and then went nuts when I said that there's no wind.

so did leaving the laundry alone to slosh work?

That dress looked great on you by the way.

Have you thought about getting an outboard?

Nice "ghost" at 15:50ish....

thanks agin for the best info ,if we were not saving up for our boat I would be more the happy to send patreon cash .you to are the best thanks

Aloha Guys, great episode, I was wondering if you have ever used a Swell Bridle, I saw an episode by Jake & Jill Adventures were they explained its use and this episode some how reminded me of it.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TIx-YdjdLjk.html

And that's why you shouldn't use double braided halyard for anchor rode. But I see so many Ytube sailors doing it. There are purpose built double braid ropes for mooring to docks, jetty's, but for anchoring, nothing beats a braided nylon scope. Takes all the shocks out, strong as hell and splices into the chain, so you can run it straight through the anchor windlass. And before I get yelled at for being another sailing 'TROLL', I have been sailing for 46 years from dinghy's in Moreton Bay Qld, through trailer sailers, keel boats and even offshore cruiser/racing, AND 25 years in the marine chandlery trade. Another good video guys, been really enjoying this Baja journey. Cheers Brad

Lovely video. The indigenous seem to be really great people. So glad you saved your anchor. Always check twice, eh? Love these vids about the local towns. We've decided to explore Baja before we head west towards the Marquesas, so this is great to see!

Love it

Great Videos. What do you think of your dinghy? How well does it handle? Thank you! Cheers!

Love your vids u two, but honestly, you do WAY too much laundry. In my 4 seasons cruising Baja and Sea of Cortez, I can remember maybe five laundry days. Sail naked, save agua.

Did the bucket washing technique work, by letting it just slush around in the bathroom in the bucket in the boat ?

Thoroughly enjoy your videos and the information you share. My horizon has a 30' monohull on it, still a ways off but patience is key to most things desired. Thank you both for your time and effort to post, greetings from Plymouth, UK

How could you ever have doubted ole Dan? You should be ashamed of yourselves (lol)! Showed my wife the part with Hillary lounging on the bow. Told her that's the image I have of her on the bow when we finally raise our kite. She liked!

Really enjoyed this video. Thank you. Taking Kayla to shore looked crazy, does she float if filled with water? Love the sailing shots. You guys are doing great. Keep it up!

I must say I get excited when I see you have put out a new video. I watch a few other people but you guys I just seem to really identify with. I can't believe we are so far behind in the production though as this one was done at Christmas. You could actually be in South America by now and I want to know how you are presently! I hope you are doing well, good sailing and good luck.🍀

Great video guys! Interesting and well put together. Like your style!

I I enjoyed the video a lot, I hope that you make a new videos soon.

Guys I have been following you for a while and have enjoyed your video's. I am about to do my own solar panel project with 3 145 watt panels . I thought of you guys doing your solar upgrade. I was wondering what type of controller did you use? Did you do one controller per panel or one controller per panel? I was also very interested in the app you had on the cell phone to show your solar panel out put what was that called and how did you connect it to the panels. Thanks for your help.

Great video as always! I noticed your Dickinson Cozy Cabin propane heater in the background. I put one in our boat last year but did not get to use it but one night. How do you like it? Do you use it much?

Shame about the water droplets that I keep seeing on the lens at shower time. Although this time I wasn't as disappointed.

Laundry is a time consuming chore, I wondering is it an across the board task, or, do you only wash your own clothes?

Nice video! Great to see you having some relaxing sailing time.

Have you guys considered using an anchor spring instead of a stern anchor to turn your head into the swell when its at odds with the wind? It may be less hassle! www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f74/anchor-spring-lines-653.html

Hi Guys, really enjoying this series. Is there a reason you don't use the shower in the head for bathing? I saw on a previous video it was full of gear, and in this and several other episodes you've taken bucket, seawater baths. I have the same boat, except mine is a ketch, so I know it has a separate, decent size, usable shower in the head. Is it a mater of conserving fresh water? Or not having or wanting to use a hot water heater? Just wondering, because the shower was a major selling point for me. I haven't cruised mine much yet, so I'm also wondering if the shower isn't as practical as it seems to be. Thanks.

First, let me say that I love the videos. I'm a little disappointed that you've changed the Patreon goal totals so that we can't see how you're doing with the per episode totals. Just saying'.........

Hi Guys, looking good there. Just a thought, you outer forestay with the pro fur durm, I think you should have some turns on it as this will take the tension off the knot as you have with your inner forestay, which has some turns on it.

Are you guys eating a lot of raw fish ? Are they a way of testing fish for lead ?