Waiting for Customs

90 minutes and counting. While waiting, # 1242 and the rest of the Etchells Fleet return.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Dan takes the helm...

... as Jim switches fuel tanks for - you know - the usual reason.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

The Etchell Regatta is underway

We cruise by the regatta to spectate and cheer on Jim and Andrew's boat. Jim, of course is not in his Etchell.



Hence the wistful expression. One of the two boats of interest is doing well.



One is not.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Interesting doings as we approach SD

Dan spotted several new empty life jackets floating by. Jim brings Morpheus around and we retrieve one.

There is no boat name on the jacket, it is waterlogged and of Mexican manufacture. Jim calls it in and within minutes a Navy helicopter is screaming overhead. It heads up-current and up-wind and starts a search pattern. Later we hear a repeated Coast Guard "Pan Pan Pan" alert on the radio. The chopper retrieved seven life jackets, did not determine the source, and asked all vessels in the area to keep a sharp eye out for a vessel in trouble. We proceed to San Diego Harbor. No telling what the rest of the story may be.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

14 miles from Tijuana and the border

Finally back in sporadic coverage. Catching up on some reading in preparation for shouldering the yoke of the blogging plow next week. Morris Fiorina's definitive work "Divided Government"

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Dawn over Ensenada

... At 6:45 AM.  SWAG ETA in SD - 3:00 PM at Customs... 4:00 PM at the dock.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

On cutting a deal with the fish gods.

During my 10-12 watch last night, Jim took us on the inside route and closed within 2 miles of Cendros Island. A little too close for comfort during a moonless night.

Adjusting to the new watch schedule, I did not wake on my own for the 4-6AM watch as usual, but was still in time to repay Brian the 12 minutes he claimed I owed him. The watch was made remarkable by the remarkable lack of anything happening at all - calm, straight course, no sea traffic, no course adjustments - nothing but a spectacular sunrise. It was exhausting. I felt compelled to take a nap at the end of the watch.

So began our last full day at sea.


After breakfast (cereal and a block of frozen milk) the hand line went back in the water. Same rig, same painted cedar plug. After a couple of hours, I decided to improve the odds and also deploy the rod and reel.


The reel was still rigged with underweight line, just as I left it after the Hawaii passage. Dan and I reloaded it with new 50 lb line, and I started to rig another cedar plug. While I was tying on the leader, before the lure hit the water, Dan called out - "Fish On!"


With practice, our second fish should have been easier to land, and it was. The boat was moving faster in calmer seas, so the hooked fish was already exhausted by the time we set up in the back of the boat to pull it in. It didn't have much fight left in it by the time we landed it. Another bonito, somewhat larger than the first.


With the previous practice, I was a bit more comfortable filleting the fish on the precarious perch of the transom step...

...and much happier with the results.


Half the fish went into a ceviche for the next day, another quarter allocated for sashimi, and that left one fat fillet for a future repast. Jim wanted to know when I was going to deploy the rod and reel after investing the time to set it up. I explained I had made a deal with the fish gods - If we catch a fish, I stop fishing until that fish is eaten. Plus I did not want to have to clean up the transom step again.

The rod and reel were stowed below having never been used, but loaded with nice new line. Final score for this delivery - two fish caught on one plug, zero lures and no line lost.


Cocktail hour was delayed until I finished preparing the fish and cleaning up the mess. To supplement the sashimi and the now traditional cheese plate, Dan takes the remaining flour tortillas from Turtle Bay, the leftover beef brisket and whips up some delicious quesadillas.

We are eating well.

The day ends as it began, with another dramatic sunset.


Once again I see the green flash, when no one else on the boat does. Happens every time.

Progress - Thursday 11:05 AM CDST / 9:05 AM PDST

Elvis has left the Building...

As you can tell by the tracker, Morpheus left Turtle Bay yesterday about 4pm. They had a windy 1st few hours, but wind should be 15 knots now, and should decrease the rest of the way home.

Brian's Morpheus Blog Sea-date 04/07/10 Anchors Away Turtle Bay

9 - ish:
Everyone was up and about the boat by 8:00. We were surprised to find that a majority of the boats had departed, considering we were still experiencing 30 knot winds. Captain Jim thought we should wait for the winds to die down and plan on an afternoon departure. Mike and Dan called Enrique for a ride into town, in search of an internet cafe to update the blog and to catch up on e-mail. I stayed on board to help Jim prepare the boat for departure. We knew we had plenty of time before #2 and #3 (Dan & Mike) returned, so we worked at a leisurely pace. Did I mention the that the two geniuses forgot to bring the garbage into town with them?


Jim and I cleaned the head (bathroom for you landlubbers), strapped down the gas tanks & cooler, put loose objects away, and did a few other things. We determined that we had earned a beer. I lay down to rest my eyes and Jim started to make brunch.

11:30 - ish.

Mike & Dan returned. I went on deck to greet them and to make sure the garbage was passed to Enrique. They were just in time for brunch. Jim mad scrambled eggs mixed with onions, tomatoes, sausage, and cheese. This was served with fresh flout tortillas and jalapenos. Second breakfast was thick pancakes and syrup. It was a very good brunch and we were stuffed. After breakfast a group decision was reached to immerse ourselves in the Mexican culture by taking an afternoon siesta. It was a great idea.

2 - ish:
Captain Jim was still asleep and the wind had died down. Mike wanted me to wake him up, but I felt he should wake up on his own. So I went on deck and walked from the bow to the stern and back a couple times. Jim then woke up on his own and decided it was time to set sail. I don't think my footsteps had anything to do with waking him up.



Mike and I took the cover off the sail and undid the sail ties. I connected the rope to the main sail.. Mike and Dan pulled up the anchor. A few comical pictures picture of mike bending over in front of Dan were taken, but were later deleted by Mike for some reason. Once the anchor was up, we hoisted the main sail and headed North with me at the helm for the first hour. A dolphin escorted us out of Turtle Bay.

We stayed on course, don't doubt me.

Watch times were reassigned. Jim 4-6 PM, Me 6-8 PM, Mike 8-10 PM, Dan 10-12 PM and so on. After my first watch I took a nap to be ready for my 2am -4am watch.


Mike tried fishing again and did not catch anything. The course I steered us was blamed for the failure. That pretty much wraps up April 7.

350 nautical miles to San Diego. - Brian

In Turtle Bay - preparing to leave.

As reported by my much more reliable co-blogger (Deb not Brian), we are in Turtle Bay. Dan and I hitched a ride ashore with the Enrique water taxi service and found an internet cafe in the town. I had hoped to post a few pictures, but they won´t permit me to connect the laptop and the USB ports are disabled on the pc´s. Pics will have to wait until I find a more accommodating intertube.

Most of the fleet have left or are in the process of leaving. We will head out noonish. #1 is still on board helping Capitano Pego Lego prepare Morpheus for sailing. Our Capitano engaged in his favorite sport of kite sailing yesterday as we were waiting out the weather. A spectacular day for it on the bay, and we have some great pics and video which will be posted later. Watching Jim was quite a hit with the locals and fellow sailors, and it went very well until it didn´t. Regarding aforementioned knee - it appears to be tweaked but serviceable. With that exception, all are doing very well. No sea sickness episodes. No other traveling afflictions.

We are eating too well, have way too much food on board and expect everyone will have gained five pounds on the cruise. Tuesday night´s dinner was typical: Fresh bonito sashimi appetizer, bonito tuna ceviche´ as a salad course, choice of marinated beef brisket or seared bonita tuna for a main course, served on a bed of brown and wild rice, with warm Mrs. Fields Cookies for desert. All washed down with Escanaba Pail Ale (Bottle #1) and other more conventional brews. For the nutritionists out there concerned about the vegetable course - no worries - the seared tuna was encrusted in a wasabi, soy sauce, cashew nut rub.

I thought I should also clarify that the utensil crisis on board is not quite as dire as represented in a previous post. There are actually two plastic spoons on board, and after an extensive labor negotiation, the captain has been allocated one spoon and the crew the other. As a consequence, the delivery crew has now organized into a union and will be bargaining collectively for future deliveries. Utensil allocation is sure to be a sticking point.

As we get closer to the US, I hope my Sprint Pre will again find a cell tower it likes, as it has not found one since leaving Cabo. I am very bitter as everyone else is connecting regularly. When I again get in range, I´ll get a few pictures up - but they are likely to be jumbled mess as far as the timing when the pictures were taken and will have to be fixed later. #1 and I are also maintaining a pen and paper journal on board, and once back will post portions here with more comprehensive illustrative pics.

Sailmail is again working on-board. We will receive short text e-mail messages sent to wda7721@sailmail.com (I think). I may try posting en-route using sailmail.

This will have to wrap it up for now. Brunch will be waiting on the Morpheus - We´re expecting fresh eggs, peppers, cheese and salsa in a Mexican omelet with a stack of banana pancakes. Then off to San Diego.

With a little luck, we´ll be just in time to clean up for dinner at the San Diego Yacht Club on Friday. Adios Amigos.

Hey Mike...

Jim wants you to pick up an ace bandage while in town.

Bienvenidos a Bahia Tortugas Enrique Town

I double bagged the lightweight sleeping bags found on board and bunked in the cockpit, sleeping under the stars. It was a beautiful night but cool and breezy and I am up with the dawn.

Slow start on the boat this morning as everyone else sleeps in late. No one sleeps in later than Dan. We make book on when Dan would emerge from the aft cabin. The "over" on 11:00 won.

Jim gathered his kite surfing gear and we hail Enrique's water taxi service (same as Enrique's anchorage refueling service) for the boat ride into town. We stop by Prevail to pick up up Captain Bill, who insists on paying Ernesto (Enrique's overworked water taxi driver) with cans of spam. Ernesto circles the boat until negotiations with Bill are complete and we finally head for the pier.

That first step on the landing is a doozy.

Jim sets up his kite on the beach south (west?) of the the pier. A small group of kids and locals stop and gather to watch the launch. Jim's kite is a black & gray inflatable scalloped wing. I told the kids he was Batman. I don't think they believed me. Big excitement when he launched - the kids were squealing and jumping.

With Jim now happily threading his way through fishing boats, sail boats, anchor lines and masts of the racing fleet, we make our way up the beach. We intend to explore the town, but get no further than a bar/restaurant at the North end of the beach.

"Enrique's Bar" of course.

I don't know why they do not just rename this place "Enriques's Bay" and "Enrique Town". BTW - that dot floating over the horizon in these pics is Jim's kite.

We grab a table on a terrace overlooking the bay so we can keep an eye on Jim. While he plays in the bay, we order a round of cervesa and a plate of lightly breaded and fried camarones, accompanied by fresh, hot, flour tortilla's, frijoles, salsa and chips. We are nervous about the fresh salsa, but dive in anyway. Delicious. No harm, no foul.

A tortilla chip blows off the table and we are overwhelmed by a hitchcockian swarm of sea birds. Distracted and beating a hasty retreat to a more protected table, we failed to notice our captain had gone down and was floating out to sea. After finishing the meal, and another round or two of cervesa, Brian notices that Jim was nowhere to be seen. A quick survey of other patrons in the bar yields the information that he had disappeared heading Northeast. We are very concerned and order another round of cervesa to discuss the situation. Finally we decide the best course of action is to explore the north side of town and go looking for him.

We soon find Jim limping up the dirt road near the cemetery. He tweaked his knee on a bad landing. I am the first to welcome him to the Old Man Club. Brian relieves him of the board and he hobbles down the road to Enrique's for a medicinal dose of alcoholic beverages to ease the pain. We continue our tour of the eastern hills, the cemetery, and the spectacular vistas of the bay and fleet. All this touring makes us thirsty, so we return to Enrique's to see how Jim is recuperating.

The Three Amigos?

Over the course of the afternoon, most of the fleet crews make it to the bar. Much sail talk, race talk, weather talk, fish talk and beer consumption ensues. Enrique's staff is overwhelmed and cannot keep track of the bills and bottles, much to the dismay of those left explaining they were not responsible for the food consumed by the people who sat at the same table earlier in the afternoon.

Eventually we pick up some additional supplies and make our way back to the boat. Dan prepares a fine dinner of cheese ravioli in red sauce with Johnsonville sausages. I contribute an avocado,onion, blue cheese salad with oil and vinegar dressing. Since we forgot to bring balsamic vinegar we substituted distilled white vinegar scavenged from Jim's cleaning supplies in the aft deck locker.

Tonight's Movie Night Feature - "Inglorious Basterds". My first viewing. Great flick.