Filling in Some Gaps

I left Drake on the 13th and sailed for Bahia Uvita.

There was a little wind, but not to much. the skyies were clear, and the water blue.

I was planing the trip to be about 26 miles, and thought it would take about six hours.

along the way the wind picked up enough to turn off the engine, not hearing the engine noise was welcome.

I sailed not directly for uvita, but rather just strait out across the wind, with the idea of then running with the wind into the bay, for a nice down wind sail.

the plan worked flawlesly, i got a marvelous down wind sail strait to uvita. with poled out forsail, and the boom on the other side the ride was marvelous. If that is anything like the Pacific crossing, or Atlantic i cant wait! with the wind and swell dead astern, and sailing about six knots the ride was wonderful!

however the arival point was far less the friendly.

the first glance at the area is nothing like what the charts say- it is simply HELL.

all around the area are rocks awash, rocky coastline, no shelter area to speak of. not a good sign for someone who is handsteering with out a crew member. I saw an island called Bellina, and noting the direction of the predidcted ten foot swell that was running into the rocks and making incredable breakers, i decided behind the island would be the safest place.

getting around the reefs was intersting, big breaking waves all around.

when i got inside i found the going behind the island wouldnt work, it was to shallow and the waves were breaking all around it.

so i anchored in as much of the lee as i could, but still had alot of swell. the boat was rolling more that night, then anyother moment. from gunwale to gunwale.

next morning, I woke up and sailed to Quepos, all was wonderful. a perect sail here.

afew breaking rocks at the entrance, but over all quite nice.

cheers

Josh

Live Your Dream!