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The following is extracted from the Log of the yacht
Lorelei during the period from San Diego
to At last ! – Underway from Shelter Cove Marina 0643 Local time 1527Z - Approaching Buoy #5 Position N 32:39;02 W117: 13 :85 1532Z - Course 180 deg REACH 2130Z - Course 95 deg REACH 2300Z - Start Engine. Engine hours 712.7 2357Z - Came about to 145 deg N 32:05:68 W 116:56:84 0133Z - Change course, 20deg N 31:57:79 116:52:76 0240Z - Change course,108deg N 31:53:25 W 116:47:91 0310Z - Change course, 90deg N 31:51:92 W 116:46:07 0518Z - The crew at this point was John, Lenore and Andy
DeMaria. Andy was an old and somewhat salty friend from San Pedro Cal. Each
year at about this time a large procession of sailing yachts gather in 1700Z - Underway Engine 717.6 hours, Miles 17014 Course 221deg RPM 1800 1830Z - Abeam Punta Banda N 31:45:93 W 116:47:21 Contacted Sailing sloop Cajun Blue Channel 16/70 VHF, southbound. Capt. Will Summers, Skipper 1926Z - Change course, 140deg N 31:43:82 W 116:18:50 0138Z - Change course, 158deg N 31:05:63 W 116:28:77 Will turned out be quite a sailor. In his tiny 25 ft.
sloop he was the only yacht able to stay with us all the way. He was from Monday 9 December 1524Z - 54 gal fuel remains. Used 10 gal in 22 hours of running 1534Z - Change course 90deg to 2230Z - Arrived 49 gal fuel remaining Oops! Wrong anchorage This is
actually Tuesday 10 Dec 1985 2105Z - Underway from point San Fernando anchorage,
bound for 1800Z - Anchored at Cedros is a small island near Guerro Negro Mexico .
Which is the site of one of the largest sea salt producing evaporation
beds in the world. The weather that night was horrible. Waves were 10 to
15 ft. and the wind howled until sun-up. At one point Andy made the
comment that he was sure glad it was dark, because if he could see the
size of the waves he would be scared to death. During the night some of
the fleet got lost and sailed into Scammonds Lagoon, a dead end with no
escape except through the same opening you entered. It was daylight before
they figured it out. Saturday, 12 December 1985 1632Z - Underway, course145deg. 2130Z - Anchored at 1430Z - Underway, course 128deg. 1435Z - Overheat alarm – Broken fan belt. 1443Z - Repairs complete. Here we purchased our first fuel. It contained algae. This was to haunt us for the remainder of the voyage. It would clog our fuel filters at the most inopportune times 1928Z - 2320Z - Anchored, Hipolito! 1600Z - Underway with good off-shore wind 1730Z - Wind dies, Motoring, course, 135deg, spd. 7 kts. Sailed all night 1845Z - Off 0149Z - Off 0155Z - Engine off, add 1 qt. Oil 0209Z - Underway Anchored at Cabo San Lucas At this point the crew consisting of Capt. John, First Mate, Lenore and Able bodied sailor, Andy decided to take a break for Christmas and New Years. There must have been 50 yachts in the harbor and it was party time around the clock. Had to rescue Louie Thomas Of the Yacht Bandit New Years Eve. Louie tried to stand up in his dingy on the way back from the party. 1900Z – Attempt to get underway for 2100Z - Course change for Los Frales, 20deg 2200z - Returned to Cabo, bad weather. Anchored in
outer harbor. 1350Z - Underway from Cabo San Lucas with two other
yachts, “My Lady” and “Perky II” Course to 1544Z - Position, N 22:56 W 109:18 could have been 109:38 Sat- nav getting hardto read 1720Z - Position N 22:55 W109:13 or maybe :33 Fuel tank full, 74gal in Cabo 2337Z - Anchored in Added 15 gal of fuel in We spent the rest of the month in 2243Z - Depart Mazatlan bound for Isla Isabella Position, N 23:10:88 W 106:25:40 Engine start, 2230Z Cleared 2320Z Epirb checked – OK, Course, 150deg 0215Z - Start engine, No wind. 0322Z - Engine off. 2100Z - Anchored at Isabella Isabella is a remarkable place. Thousands of sea
birds nest here. They share the island with many iguanas. The relationship
is somewhat adversarial. 2 February 1986 1131Z - Underway bound for San Blass, Engine on. 1223Z - Reset ships log. Spd. 5.5kts Calibrated dip stick for fuel Marker 20=15gal Marker 33=30gal Marker 55=45gal Full =74gal Lenore says “This is accurate” In harbor at San Blass for re-provisioning, very shallow. Evening anchored at Matenchin and visited Inspiration At inspiration a river explodes from the earth and
flows down to the sea. This is also possibly the no-see-um capital of the
world. Up on a cliff above the present city there is the ruins of an old
church dating from the 1500’s 1515Z - Underway for Chacala. Course 167deg Changed course to 205deg. then to 139deg 1949Z - Anchored at Chacala Added fuel Tank now 50gal. 1700Z - Anchor aweigh, Chacala 2000Z - Engine on, making 6 kts. 2100Z - Engine off, making 6 kts 2305Z - Engine on with sail, making 7.5 kts 0104Z - Anchored at Punta Mita 1500Z - Short run to Nueva Vallarta Removed head from engine, Found we have a burned
valve – Looks like we must have a valve job Sent Sheri back to 6 March 1986 1542Z - Cast off at Nueva Vallarta bound for Yalapa. 73 gal of fuel aboard 2000Z - Anchored at Yalapa (There is a sea-story about how we pulled off the anchoring at Yalapa) Yalapa is located on 7 March 1986 Yalapa is N20:14 W 105:43.5 1510Z - Underway, course 270deg under power “There’s Haley’s Comet overhead” 1632Z - Changed course to 238deg 1830Z - Abeam of Cabo Corrientes, course 180deg. 2125Z - Anchored at Ipala, fuel 69gal added 1qt. oil 1250Z - Aweigh anchor Ipala, course 180deg 1730Z - Course 125deg Under Sail 2350Z - Anchored at Chamela in 4 fathoms of water 1700Z - Start engine 1717Z - Up anchor bound for Playa Blanca in Bahia Careys 1810Z - Under sail 2000Z - Anchored in 1443Z - Up anchor bound for Bahia Navidad 1716Z - Engine off, Under sail 1830Z - Lorelei collides with giant Manta ray, Wow! 2000Z - Anchored at This was one very large fish. It was laying just
under the surface enjoying theMexican sunshine and evidently did not notice our
approach. 2145Z - 15gal. Fuel added to tank. Total 60gal. 1519Z - Anchor aweigh, bound for Las Hadas Manzinillo 2045Z - Anchored at Las Hadas Hotel – Total
decadence 1430Z - Inside Las Hadas anchorage, tied up Med style Agua Potable available 1630Z - Leave Las Hadas bound for Pechinguillo, Course, 175deg. (Will from Cajun Blue came aboard to say hello. Will join us in next port) 1830Z - Course 200deg. Under sail. 1930Z - Course, 98deg. Under Sail, Beating, add 1 qt. Oil, fuel 54gal. 2345Z - Course, 130deg.Engine (iron jib) on. 0001Z - Iron jib off, Under sail 0100Z - Iron jib on , wind zero 0823Z - Course 85deg. To Punta San Telmo 0906Z - Under sail 0910Z - Course, 100deg. 0925Z - Wind zero Iron Jib on, Course 110deg. 1017Z - Course, 130deg. Reduce spd. To 4 kts. 1154Z - Course, 90deg. 1206Z - Course, 80deg. 1301Z - Course, 310deg. 1429Z - Course, 100deg. 1716Z - Anchored Pechilinguillo 1800Z - Exhaust valve #3 adjusted checked all valve clearances, Lubricating oil OK, Fuel 43gal. 2200Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Zihuatanejo. Course,
105deg. Wind 10 kts. 0130Z - Iron jib on 0325Z - Engine off, Autopilot not working 0510Z - Engine on ,Auto pilot repaired 0823Z - First sighting of light at Lezaro Cardenas 0900Z - Abeam of light at Lezaro Cardenas 1310Z - Course change 90deg. 1630Z - Anchored at Zihauatanejo, Throttle linkage parted during anchoring maneuver. Engine shut down. Repaired linkage, add 1 qt. Of oil.
Added fuel now 33gal. Right here I had a birthday. Now 63 years young.
Sheri and Lenore both caught food poisoning from dinner at the Club Med
Dining room. Here we found Rene and signed her on as crew. She had been
hitchhiking aboard Sailing vessels all the way from the 1818Z - Start engine 1820Z - Up anchor bound for Bara Potosi 1840Z - Under way, Jib only. 2030Z - Anchored Bara 1540Z - Up anchor, underway to Tequepa, Under power. 1830Z - Engine off. Under sail 2015Z - Power on, sails down, no wind. 2200Z - Anchored, Bahia Tequepa behind breakwater Marines Boarded Lorelei Fuel 30gal. Lube oil OK. Drifter repaired. We spent a few anxious hours with a boat load of very tough looking Mexican Marines carrying some very large M-16’s. Fortunately we had loaded up on several bottles of Bacardi Rum which allowed us to change what looked like a nasty situation into a pleasant social encounter nonetheless we hauled anchor and departed at our first opportunity. 1530Z - On board work 1) Tightened packing gland on rudder shaft 2) Cleaned contact points on autopilot binnacle 3) Discovered leak in saltwater hose on discharge side of pump. Trimmed and refitted hose 4) Generator belt chafing on fresh water hose. Changed pulley. 5) Replaced starboard jib sheet 6) General clean-up 1935Z - Anchor aweigh bound for 0321Z - Added 1 qt. oil. Course, 100deg. 0826Z - Sighted Isla Roquesta 0900Z - Engine off, roller furler only 1.5 kts 1200Z - Engine off, no wind 1500Z - Anchored at 1500Z - Med tied to concrete dock at Club de Yachtes. Lose starboard anchor and Lenore rows out and sets it - Heavy surge and crazy winter sky. At this point our satellite navigator gave up. So we
used the sextant from here to 1400Z to 2030Z - 1) oil and oil filter changed, 968 engine hours now 2) Noted deterioration in fuel line, Removed and replaced 3) Checked valve clearances, no adjustment necessary 4) Disassembled and lubricated anchor windlass and cleaned power terminal 5) New halyard lead on spare sheave 6) Replaced terminal on oil pressure switch 1500Z - Refueled 264.2 liters and topped off water.
Anchored in bay, sail covers on, wind generator, assembled and mounted,
wind scoop in place. Sheri heads for April 1986 1345Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Puerto Escondido. Course 104deg. 1757Z - Under sail. 0000Z - Under power, no wind 1830Z - Anchored at 1) Autopilot, cleaned contacts and replaced lamp 2) Port navigation light replaced. Power connection
replaced temporarily. 1431Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Puerto Escondido. Added 1 qt oil. Course, 104 deg. Iron jib 2115Z - Anchored Puerto Escondito 1500Z - Topped off fuel, 100gal on board,
Re-provisioned Here we prepared ourselves for crossing The Gulf of
Tehuantepec. We had been hearing about this place since we left 1025Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Course ,South for 1 hour then 98deg. 1412Z - Under sail 1418Z - Caught a big fish 1855Z - 2115Z - Under power, wind 10 to 15 kts. Seas 6 to 8 ft off the stern 0045Z - Anchored Huatulco 1) Checked lubrication and water – OK 2) Removed and cleaned sediment bowel and strainers 3) Lubricated Windless and cleaned clutch 4) Repaired Radar reflector halyard. Trip meter reads 79.8 kt miles 1500Z - Anchor aweigh. Motor sailed all day. 0350Z - Anchored at 0100Z - Over temperature alarm sounds. Temp 212deg. while maneuvering among tankers, Anchored That night I swore I would never enter a strange port at night as long as I live. You cannot imagine what maneuvering in a harbor with no engine where there are many large tankers, some underway, does for your nerves Apparent blockage of salt water intake – Added fresh water 1400Z - 1) Reseated lamp and connection on automatic pilot 2) Checked and topped off battery water 3) Checked salt water circulation, OK 4) Re-torqued head bolts 5) Replaced coax to antenna tuner 6) Made connection solid for lamp to LP solenoid 1800Z - Anchor aweigh Puerto Madera. Course 80deg. Motor sailing 1900Z - Under sail, Course 100deg 0300Z - Iron jib on – no wind. Course 110deg. 0930Z - Abeam Aristae 1717Z - Sails up, engine off. Course 130deg. Wind 2305Z - Iron jib on – No wind 0715Z - Anchored at Puerto Madero, Fuel 32gal. 1500Z - Aft section of exhaust pipe re-welded. Zinc
electrode added. 28.25 gal. 1930Z - 1 qt. Oil added, fuel filter changed, reset
belt tension. 1613Z - Up anchor at Puerto Madero bound for Playa
del Cocos, 1800Z - Watch change, John and Rene 2025Z - 2200Z - Watch change, Lenore and Sheri. Course,
160deg. Happy anniversary John and Lenore 0030Z - Iron jib on 0126Z - Change course to 110deg. 0200Z - Watch change J&R 0755Z - Iron jib on again 0830Z - Change course to 120deg. 1040Z - Sat-Nav fix N 13:49 W91:11 1050Z - Change course to 160deg. 1400Z - Watch change S&L 1439Z - Change course to 110deg. 1800Z - Watch change J&R 2125Z - Sailfish strike, Accommodating fish takes line and hook. Two more hookups 2200Z - Watch change J&R 0050Z - Checked oil --- Happy birthday Sheri. Watch Schedule 0800 1200: S&L 1200 1600: J&R 1600 2000: S&L 2000 0000 J&R 0000 0400 S&L 0400 0800 J&R 0200Z - Watch change. 0500Z - Change course to 85deg. Due to strong set & drift south. 1000Z - Returned to 110deg. 1300Z - 44gal. fuel remaining in tank 0800Z - Watch change. Porpoises everywhere, sounds and antics 1800Z - Watch change. 2145Z - Iron jib off, 1.5qts. oil added, 42 gal. fuel remains 2200Z - Watch change. 2158Z - Course change 105deg. Cleaned sediment bowl. All watch changes observed. 10 gal fuel added underway Winds 18 to 20 kts. Sea-state 6 Anchored at 1215Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Bahia del Cocos, Motor sailing. Course 280deg Sediment bowl and strainer cleaned under way. 1600Z - Making 8 to 9 kts under jib alone. Incredible
passage through 2200Z - Anchored at Bahia del Cocos – Greeted by 1 May 1986 1230Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Bahia Portrero 1530Z - Tied to dock. Added 44.44 gal fuel. Topped off water. Changed oil filter. Cleaned sediment bowl, Rebuilt foot switch for windlass. Dissembled main winch and lubricated, Discovered and repaired new hole in exhaust system. 2 May 1986 Replaced alternator belt, Repaired inflatable, sewed
dingy cover, Tuned shrouds, Found starboard rear turnbuckle frozen,
Resealed starboard windows, Cleaned Lexan windows, Note – Bottom zincs must be
replaced in one month. 3 May 1986 1230Z - Cast off 4 May 1986 1815Z - Anchored at Punta Quyepos (Banana port). Fuel 45-50 gal 1.5 qts. oil, cleaned sediment bowl, tightened connection on windlass power engage switch. 5 May 1986 1) Cleaned contacts on autopilot gimbals 2) Replaced power lead to port nav- light, jury rigged lamp socket 3) Added 19 gal fuel 4) Sheri baked a cake and made a pot of beans 5) Navigation calculator reprogrammed 1930Z - Anchor aweigh, chain fouled around both
flukes. 7 May 1986 1815Z - Anchored at Talk about a tropical paradise, this is it. We talked
ourselves out of leaving three times but hurricane season would start in
June and we could not waste time. So we said goodbye to Will on Cajun Blue
and headed for the 16 May 1986 1805Z - Anchor aweigh bound for 18 May 1986 1 qt oil added Repaired sensitive relay on automatic pilot 19 May 1986 Patched new hole in exhaust pipe Topped off fuel approx. 27.5 gal, tank full 20 May 1986 1145Z - Anchored 1900Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Balboa Bay Yacht Club 2100Z - Moored at BYC, Topped off fuel 63 gal While in 22 May 1986 0846 - Cast off mooring for Pilot - Onfre Sousa Po box 1356 Panama 1 Panama, Line handlers - 1) Will Davis Box 10 Anchor Point, 2) Louis Dupree Box 1594 Seward Completed transit of canal in tact. Mimosas for crew and Salud to Lorelei, Fethe the cat too 2230Z - Med moored at Cristobal Yacht Club 29 May 1986 1) Replaced zinc on engine salt water system 2) Change lube oil filter 3) Changed fuel sediment bowl and strainer 4) Put bioguard in fuel tank 5) Topped off fuel, added 5 gal. 6) Added water to engine reservoir, What’s happening to the water? 7) Checked battery water OK 30 May 1986 42 gal fuel in auxiliary tank + 30 gal extra in Jerry
cans New water pressure cap, 7psi 1300Z - Anchor aweigh bound for Respective watches observed 1745Z - Engine off. Position 4’45” 1220Z - Engine on, no wind 0425Z - Engine off, Position 6’25” 0639Z - Engine off Position S 12:42 N79:08 7’40” 0711Z - 45 gal fuel in main tank 1359Z - Engine on S13:06 W79:02 1429Z - Course change to 60deg. Thunderstorm S13:09 W79:01 1800Z - Engine off S 13:09 W78:57 1845Z - Engine on S 2125Z - Barometer 29.88 Beautiful Man-of-war along side 2245Z - Engine off S13:46 W78:53, Added 1 qt oil That was no thunderstorm that was a tropical wave.
The thing hurricanes are made of. 0929Z - Engine off S14:43 W78:33 1145Z - Engine on S14:52 W78:31 1219Z - Barometer 29.9 1232Z - Engine off S14:56 W78:30 1930Z - Engine on Baro. 29.9, Hove to, 20 ft seas,
squally weather, Changed fuel filters discovered fresh water leaking from heat
exchanger 1830Z - Anchored Port Esquival 1400Z - Guided to Feast on board: Stuffed Bok Bob (skin fish) rice and
sweet potatoes & Boiled green bananas. Prepared by local cooks Errol, Bailey
& Milton. Sheri sows us a Jamaican Flag from scratch. Looks like the real
thing. Errol, Bailey & Milton were Jamaican fisherman,
they also served as our body guards while we were in 1) Installed new gasket on heat exchanger 2) Cleaned Thermostat and checked 3) Removed and cleaned oil pressure and engine temperature transducers. 4) Re-connected RPM cable 5) Mast head strobe and anchor light not working Off to 1110Z - Anchor aweigh bound for 1600Z - Engine off 2145Z - Engine on 0430Z - Engine on 1035Z - Engine off 1230Z - Add 1 qt oil, clean sediment bowl 1310Z - Engine on 1114Z - Engine off running with reefed main and working jib. Checked oil & fuel filter OK 1940Z - Engine on. Course240deg. 2030Z - Course, 308deg. Sheri made radio contact with
port security and requested to have her mail forwarded to 2130Z - Hailed by a police boat from They requested that we follow them into 0045Z - Anchored for night in Temporary repairs to Navigation lights. Cleaned fuel filter, Add 1 qt oil Topped off engine cooling water. 1705Z - Start engine 1710Z - Anchor aweigh. Last stop before 2100Z - Engine on. 0315Z - Engine off. 0510Z - Engine on. 0815Z - Engine off. Respective watches maintained, Oil checked OK 45 – 50 gal fuel remaining 1205Z - Engine on. 1 qt oil added. Check sediment bowl, OK. 2155Z - Engine off. 1800Z - Cleaned sediment bowl. Added 1 qt oil. Added 25 gal fuel from jerry cans. Now approx. 50 gal. fuel in main tank plus 1, 5gal jerry can. Added 12 gal fresh water to water tank from jerry can. Approx. 14 gal fresh water remains on board. ONE DAY TO GO! 1900Z - Emptied water in sediment bowl. Checked lube oil, OK. 35 miles from KeyWest 1920Z - Hove to outside 1145Z - Imagine! A slip at Galleon Marina, Called Lenore’s mother friend Carol Ray and sister
Joanne. WE MADE IT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LENORE 1100Z - Cast off bound for |