[PUP] Alanui 350miles down, 150 to go!

[Scott E. Bulger]

We are 35 miles off the coast of Guatemala at 13'22.410N and 90'56.720W,
just south of Puerto San Jose.  We have 350 out of 500 miles under our keel.
The trip has been picture perfect with a full moon, flat seas and calm
winds.  To top it all of this morning I had 4 sailfish strikes, but no
hookups (still learning how to hook set these critters).  It's worth noting
that last night at sunset we were about 25 or 30 miles south of Puerto
Madero when we started to encounter long lines.  We navigated around the
first one after the panga skipper freed up a line from one of the boats
stabilizers, but about an hour later I picked up a line in complete
darkness.  The panga operator made no effort to guide us around his lines.
As we passed over the line it hung up on my port fin, but didn't get caught
in either priop.  I quickly grabbed it with a boat hook as we were bleeding
off speed and could feel that it might pull right through the hang up once
cut.  Sure enough I cut the line, dropped both ends in the water and 10
seconds later we were long line free!  We made the decision to head another
20 miles off shore and only encountered one more line in the entire evening.
We have been told the long lines in Guatemala and El Salvador are often lit
at night, so they should be easier to navigate around.  Few things are as
stressful as managing being caught in a net or line at night.  Fortunately
for us it was a quick fix, I believe the Gods are with us on this voyage.  

 

Several people commented that they preferred the "foot on the beach"
approach to crossing the Gulf of Tehuantepec.  With the aid of Bob Jones at
OMNI, Enrique (Harbormaster at Marina Chahue), and my dad in FL, we had
three sources that all said the GofT would be flat calm.  They were exactly
right, with Bob Jones even correctly anticipating an early morning rain
shower to lightly rinse the salt off our boats!  Most people I talk to are
taking the direct route, AFTER waiting for a window.  I suspect this will
become the norm in the future as more people discard the practice of hugging
the beach.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but respect for those of you
that will never do anything different based on your experience!  I'm sure
it's born of real world experience where the Tpeckers beat the heck out of
you or a friend.  I also think it's gotten much more predictable as the
weather systems that cause Tpeckers are better understood.  

 

In summary, we hope to arrive at  the bar entrance to Barillas Marina at
10:00am tomorrow morning and go up the river to catch a slack at 11.  With
any luck we will have lunch at the Marina.  Oh, Marian has done a great job
of manning the helm in the night, so I'm MUCH better rested this trip than
previous overnights.  

 

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA