Pacific Crossing Prep: Balancing Boatwork and Big Dreams in Puerto Peñasco
The air here in the Puerto Peñasco boatyards sometimes seems to taste of a mix of bottom paint, diesel residue, and desert dust. Overlaid with fish and salt odours from the surrounding port, it’s a heady combination that, for us, signals both the endless to-do list of boat preparation and the intoxicating proximity of our dream: crossing the Pacific Ocean.
As we navigate the final stages of getting New Life ready for the open ocean, we’re also ready to plan the crossing itself. It’s a delicate balancing act, juggling the nitty-gritty of boat maintenance with the grand vision of blue-water sailing.
We returned from a spell at home In New Zealand, to earn some money and reconnect with family and friends. Now stocked up and charged up, we’re on the final leg.
The Planning: Charting Our Course across the Pacific
“If we stopped in Tonga for the Cyclone Season, it would give us enough time to explore the remote parts of French Polynesia!” For Marea that was a manageable risk and she agreed that in the following sailing season, it would give us more time to continue exploring Tonga, Fiji, Eastern Polynesia, and beyond.
While our hands are busy with boatwork, our minds are starting to drift ahead into the vast expanse of the Pacific. Nico points at the photos of palm lined beaches and exclaims: “I want to go there!’
We could spend countless hours poring over charts, weather patterns, and cruising guides, plotting our course through the island, but right now we need to chase more rust, and so much more, like e.g., work out how to get the radar working again, which is essential for watching the weather ….
Boat Life: Sweat, Smiles, and the Endless To-Do List
Anyone who’s ever taken on a major boat project knows it’s not all smooth sailing. We’ve faced our share of setbacks, from stubborn rust spots to finicky electronics. And then there’s the looming challenge of navigating the Pacific’s unpredictable weather, including those sudden squalls that can whip up out of nowhere. We’re constantly reminded that preparation is key, both for the boat and ourselves.
Right now, we’re tackling a range of projects, from replacing two port lights (aka windows) to installing new lithium ion batteries. And the real work continues to be finding, sanding and painting rust spots inside and outside the steel hull. Each task brings us one step closer to our departure date, but it also serves as a reminder of just how much work goes into preparing a boat for a long ocean passage.
And then, even after we splash, we know the work won’t be over. There’s always more to fix or improve on a boat. We’re mentally preparing for those first few weeks of living aboard again while still tackling those final jobs. It’s all part of the adventure!
Living the Dream? Family Life in Port
For Nico meanwhile, it’s a regular school life, in a private Spanish-speaking school with also two hours of teaching in English every day. It’s a taste of Mexico culture for him, with for example the Day of the Dead celebrations for which all children dressed up last week.
To keep our sanity we stayed off the boat for now and rented a small flat just ten minutes walk from the boatyard. Every morning at 7:30 am Nico gets picked up by boat friends and returns cheerfully by 2pm ready for a lesson of Te Kura online schooling so he doesn’t fall behind in teh NZ curriculum.
Stay Tuned for More Updates
This Pacific crossing isn’t just a dream; it’s a culmination of years of planning, hard work, and unwavering commitment. We’ve poured our hearts and souls into rebuilding New Life, and every sanded plate and tightened bolt brings us closer to this long-held goal.
All going well, for once we may make the planned splash date, which we had arbitrarily booked for 28 November back when we hauled out in July. A few more weeks in the marina, Christmas somewhere south and warmer, then by March we are ready to leave the Sea of Cortez and cross to French Polynesia …
We’ll be sharing more updates on our progress in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more stories from the boatyard and our ongoing preparations for the Pacific crossing. We’re grateful for your support and encouragement as we embark on this incredible adventure.
We would love to hear back from you!
- What are your thoughts on our Pacific crossing plans?
- Do you have any tips or advice for us?
- Have you ever dreamed of sailing across an ocean?
Nico, Marea and Rendt
P.S. You probably know or can guess that you can follow us on Facebook ‘Sailing to Fiji’ (facebook.com/sailingtofiji) and on YouTube as ‘The Curious Sailors’ (youtube.com/@sailingnewlife). And if you are really into the nitty-gritty then why not support us on Patreon and join us ‘behind the scenes’?
