Cold Northerlies, whale sightings, and sailors’ gatherings are perhaps the memories that will remain from our winter cruise from the deserts in the north of the Sea of Cortez to the tropical shores of Banderas Bay, logging nearly 1,000 miles.
A few hours more will bring us to our destination, La Cruz, a small town with a marina where dozens of boats are gathering for the Pacific crossing south to Polynesia. March and April are the times to go. Boats we know have already departed and are sending photos of their equator crossings back to WhatsApp groups like “Pacific Voyage 2025.” Soon it will be our turn.
After reaching the mainland side, the archetypical bustle and color of Mexico really came to life. The rustic charm of Mazatlán harbor, the coastal towns and holiday beaches of the Pacific Coast, as well as the forest-clad hills and mountains we observed from the sea contrasted with the dry and stark reliefs of the Baja Peninsula.
Along the way, we realized how familiar this part of the world had become to us after three years. We knew where to go and what to look out for. Our boat was well equipped to be safe and convenient for this kind of sailing. In nearly every anchorage and port along the way, we found old friends and acquaintances to catch up with. We felt at home.
As we prepare for busy port life again and ramp up to get New Life ready to sail across the Pacific, our time in Mexico will fade into memory. But perhaps for Nico, it will remain an important cornerstone for his development into a self-assured, worldly-wise youth with much broader horizons than most children his age…
