Category: Pacific Puddle Jump 2018

Pacific Puddle Jump 2018

SV Aftermath … Safe In Port

Sorry we haven’t updated you on this vessel lately. It’s been sort of a whirlwind journey since we reached the Marquesas. About ten or so days after our arrival in Hiva Oa we were informed that SV Aftermath arrived in Nuka Hiva safely. The captain and crew were exhausted but in good health.

We have since had email communication with the mother of one of the crew members who thanked us for our assistance with communication and said she is just glad they all survived the ordeal.

He will be staying in Nuka Hiva to repair his boat before moving on. Against the advice of several other boaters he is going to try to repair the autopilot rather than replace it. Many are concerned that the diesel fuel and oil mixture he used for hydraulic fluid when he ran out may have caused irreparable damage to the autopilot and therefore should be completely replaced.

Our friend who knows him well said John seems like a different person and he’s concerned about him trying to continue on as there are several other things that need to be repaired or replaced on board Aftermath. Having met John and spent an evening with him on board a friend’s boat we noticed that he hardly speaks of the passage and when it is brought up he just seemed distant and unwilling to discuss it. There were many in our fleet who went out of their way to assist him yet he doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge their help with even a simple, “Thank you.” It’s not like anyone did it to be acknowledged but when people are diverting course and traveling long distances out of there way to help, you really should at least acknowledge them. I guess everyone reacts differently to things like this.

Anyway, that’s what we know about SV Aftermath. Just glad they all made it to safe harbor.

Until next time,

JillyFFC14A80-F007-46C9-AA8B-B16CA86031D4.jpeg

March 2018, Mexico, Pacific Puddle Jump 2018, PPJ 2018

ZARPE In Hand! Woohoo!

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Today we took Dazzler down to Nuevo Vallarta to the Port Captain. Upon arrival the Port Captain instructed us where to dock and we waited about fifteen or twenty minutes for the authorities to come to the boat. Three uniformed officials greeted us and boarded Dazzler. Two were from immigration and the other was the Port Captain. They were all very nice. One of the immigration officers spoke perfect English which made it very easy.

Upon boarding they advised us that once the process was complete we could no longer step on land. Then they requested our passports and visas. All three began filling out paperwork. Dan had to sign several documents and then we waited for the customs agent which took another fifteen minutes or so. He arrived, inspected the boat inside and out to make certain we were not smuggling anything. That took all of five minutes and then they got off the boat, handed Dan the ZARPE and we left. The entire process took less than an hour.

Customs & Immgration working on our Zarpe

So, what exactly is a ZARPE? It is the official exit clearance form you receive from customs and immigration that says you are clear to leave the country. When you arrive in other countries you must have a ZARPE from your previous port. According to some of the reading we have done there are countries that are very serious about this. Not properly checking out of your previous port could result in a very difficult entry into their country. Fortunately Dan is a rule follower and we completed our checkout to the letter. The fee for our boat was $288 pesos and they ask that you pay with a credit card. It makes the entire process much, much easier.

As expected, our clearance went without a hitch. It was far more simple than others have claimed but maybe that’s because we followed their instructions to the letter. Everyone was friendly and they even allowed me to get a picture of them although they are not allowed to actually pose.

Now we are headed north to Punta de Mita where we will anchor out and enjoy some well needed down time for a couple of days. We plan to make the jump on Sunday, March 25th.

Each day we will be posting updates including a photo, our location, distance from Puerto Vallarta, distance left to the Marquesas, weather conditions, sea state, mood of the crew and a few lines about what we’ve encountered in the most recent 24 hours. We want you to be a part of each and every moment and hope you will follow along. Make sure you go to the bottom of this page and sign up to follow our blog. That way you’ll get an email each time we make a new post and you won’t miss a single moment.

Until next time…

Jilly