[PUP] Alanui update, Jicaral cove, MX nearing Gulf of Tehuantepec

[Scott E. Bulger]

My Dear PUP Friends,

 

This email comes to you from Jicaral cove, about 8 miles west of Huatulco,
our jumping off 

point to cross the Gulf of Tehuantepec.  Our lat/lon is 15 41.756N/96
13.495W.  The Rains 

guide suggests this is an anchorage appropriate only day use only, but
Paloma has spent 

three wonderful nights here and say it's paradise!  We are only an hour or
so from the marina 

where we will leave the boat and go inland for a 3 day visit to Oaxaca.  The
anchorage is 

small, currently occupied by Paloma (43 Nordhavn), Alanui (40 Nordhavn) and
a Fully Involved 

(40something Island Packet S/V).  The cove is part of a park system, they
have areas or coral 

roped off to prevent anchoring and killing it.  It's open to the South, but
the seas are very 

calm so the roll is manageable.  

 

I just experienced a great accomplishment, which may sound trivial to some,
but is significant 

for me.  As some of you know I embarked on this trip with a paralyzed
diaphragm, which hampers 

my ability to breathe very well, especially in water.  I was able to breathe
with a SCUBA tank, 

as long as I kept my head below my lungs, so the air would rise into them
and assist inflating 

them.  Well several days ago I went in the water to see if I could breathe
with the snorkel gear 

we bought before leaving San Diego.  Within about 5 minutes I was feeling
like I was falling 

behind the curve of breathing, so I returned to the boat, (honestly in a bit
of a panic).  There 

is something about the feeling you can't catch your breath that raises your
anxiety very quickly.  

Today I decided to try wearing a life vest to see if raising my lungs
slightly would do the trick.  

Well sure enough, I found that using a life jacket (offshore type, lots of
flotation) I was able 

to breathe very satisfactorily.  Marian and I went for a 30 minute swim in
the coral and saw some 

of the best tropical seascape we have ever seen!  It was marvelous!  I hope
over time I can 

increase my ability to breathe, to the point I don't need the life jacket,
but this was really 

great, as you can imagine how much I'd be missing by not being comfortable
in the water.  

 

Tomorrow we will continue to Marina Chahue and go inland.  We have decided
not to drag a foot 

on the beach, but rather wait for a good weather window and then go straight
across the Gulf of 

Tehuantepec.  I think we will be at least 3 boats, perhaps 4.  It's
225miles, which will take a 

day and 8 hours to cross at 7 knots.  We won't go unless Bob Jones at OMNI
and Enrique at Chahue 

agree it's good.  Then it's on to Guatemala and the rest of our journey.  

 

Thanks to those of you who have written, as soon as I get to an internet
enabled site I'll reply 

individually.  Take care!

 

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA