March 28, 2016: The holiday rush was over at Marina San Carlos. From what the marina staff told us, the marina had been crazy-busy the whole week. But now, it was a post-holiday Monday and we got lucky with an early slip assignment and a haulout date for April 6, nine days hence.
The usual dry-storage prep began in earnest, made more convenient by having stored Mr. Truck at the same outfit near the marina in which we had stored the furniture we'd brought to San Carlos from Mazatlan back in January. Washed and dried all removable lines. Flaked and stowed sails. Cleaned deck. Did general belowdecks cleaning plus laundry. Changed engine oil and filters. Relocated books from salon to V-berth in the event any porthole began to leak for the first time during a hurricane. Dry bilge emptied and cleaned. Packed what could be packed for travel back to the US.
Had big fun most evenings with the crews of Perla, Sea Dancer, and Kia Ora, trying out San Carlos's various restaurants. The excellent El Esterito restaurant was the runaway favorite. Seafood, people – fresh and tasty.
As March turned into April, the wind blew from the west through the Tetakawi gap, generally in the mid 20s gusting to the low 30s. Every afternoon, without fail. The mosquitos were aggressive in the bay and even more so in the marina. The crew of Kia Ora said they tend to get even worse as April becomes May. So maybe an earlier-than-planned haulout was not such a bad idea that year.
GB yanked out one of the cockpit instruments to take back with us to the US for refurbishing…thereby rendering inoperable all instruments including the depth sounder. Nevertheless the April 6 trip from the slip through light vessel traffic to the launch ramp was uneventful. Though I complained about not having my depth sounder.
Protip: If tides allow, always ask Marina San Carlos to give you the first haulout of the day at 0800. And be there by 0730. It is a splendid time to maneuver around a shallow marina.
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