Past Year in Numbers

This weekend is the start of the 2015 Baja HaHa event that each year marks the beginning of the cruising season in the North Western Hemisphere. Both Dan and I are looking forward to coming back to the states for the holidays to visit family and friends.  We realised it was just a year ago, that he and I left the safe harbor of Ensenada, Mexico to join last year's caravan of boats migrating south to Cabo San Lucas.   I can't believe that within a year we cruised (although a small portion) of the Sea of Cortez, crossed the sea to the west coast of mainland Mexico and visited its many ports and anchorages.  

Uninhabited Island in Fiji

From Puerto Vallarta, we crossed an ocean to the South Pacific Islands and are now relaxing in Fiji.   Looking back I thought  I would recap our past year with numbers.

• Number of countries visited:   4

• Number of Anchorages visited:  Mexico 19, Society Islands 9, Niue 1, Fiji  8

• Number of Marinas visited: Mexico 8, Society Islands 1, Fiji 2

• Miles travelled to date:   8,205nm

• Average speed:   5.9kts.

• Number of hours under sail:  1,391

• Longest passage: 25 days/3,200nm Puerto Vallarta to Hiva Oa, Marquises

• Highest wind speed:  45kts.

• Highest wave:   18 feet

• Number of squalls:  23

• Number of lighting events:   4

• Number of Southern Cross sightings:  3

• Number of times we saw a Green Flash:  4

• Number of books read:  27

• Number of manicures:   3

• Number of pedicures:    4

• Number of haircuts:    3

• Number of days I wore shoes:  0

• Number of days barefoot or flip-flops:  365

•  Number of times Long Windid had a paid diver clean her bottom:  1

• Countries our new sailing friends are from: Austria,  Australia,  New Zealand,  France,  Germany, Mexico,  Russia,  Spain,        Switzerland,  Canada,  England,  Ireland,  Italy and Hungry

• Different marine animals spotted:  Grey Whales,  Spinner    Dolphins,  Bottlenose Dolphin,  Green Turtles, Humpback Whales,  Puffer Fish,  Barracuda,  Flying Fish,  Moray Eels,  Trigger Fish,  Black Tip Sharks, Sting Rays,  Manta Rays.

• Number of memorable and enjoyable days:  365 (minus a few days during some of our crossings).

We are now preparing  Long Windid for our trip back to the states.   Not an easy task.  All the sails, solar panels, dodger and bimini, jerry jugs and anything else on deck that could possibly be blown away has to be removed in case there is a cyclone.  Dan and I have hired a captain to look after Long Windid while she is secured on a swing mooring ball in Port Denarau.

Mangroves in case of Cyclone

 
In the event of a cyclone warning, the captain will take Long Windid up the river into the mangroves (see photo above) where he will secure her to the long rooted trees.  This should protect her from any possible cyclone damage until all is quiet.

As a side note, we have been in contact with some of our cruising friends who decided to stay in Puerto Vallarta during hurricane season .  Although they faced potentially the largest hurricane on record in the western hemisphere,  fortunately they are all well with little or no damage to their boats.    Puerto Vallarta is a "true hurricane refuge"!