3.27.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulu Day #2 Latitude: 19°21 N Longitude: 108°38 W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 112 NM Distance to the Marquesas: 2485 NM Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 217 NM Weather: 50% Scattered Clouds Winds: N 14 Knots Sea State: 3’- 5’ with swells out of the N Barometer: 1016 Crew’s Mood: All’s well…ready to reach the trades.
Things are well on board. Spent some time motor sailing yesterday morning and again in the late evening hours last night but it looks as though we are on the edge of the trades now as the morning winds have picked up and we are fully under sail at 5-6 knots.
Had a small issue with the jib furler yesterday. When we tried to pull in the jib the line fouled. Wasn’t anything major, it just took a while to fix it. Both of us were on deck getting soaked by the waves crashing over the bow. That might not have been so bad but it was later in the afternoon and the air was chilling down. We were freezing by the time we were done. We got her fixed and got the sail in just in time for the PPJ net and dinner. Who says we have nothing to do out here?
This morning is beautiful! Cloudy but still some sun and the water has finally reached that amazing azur blue color. It’s so spectacular and so clear!
Sails are full and the sailing is awesome right now! This is exactly the type of wind and seas Dazzler loves. Looking forward to an issue free day aboard Dazzler today. One filled with great winds for amazing sailing!
P.S. Grape Ape is feeling a bit forlorn this morning as he misses Gordo and his friends in México. We’ve been talking to him about French Polynesia and he seems to be cheering up a bit!

3.26.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulú Day #1 Latitude: 20°07 N Longitude: 107°13 W Covered Distance: 105 NM Distance to the Marquesas: 2598 NM Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico 105 NM Weather: Sunny, 1/8 Cloudy Sky, Light Winds 7 Knots SSW Sea State: 1’ Wind Chop, 3’-4’ NW Swell @ 12 Seconds Barometer: 1014 Crew’s Mood: Still happy, excited and settling into our routine.
We left Punta de Mita, Mexico @ 11 a.m. local, 1700 Zulu. It was a beautiful day! The sun was out, whales were playing and the winds were beginning to fill in. We motored out past the Tres Marieta Islands which took about an hour. Then we shut off the motor and hoisted the sails. It was a bit of a slow start at about 3.5 knots but we were expecting that. The winds began to pick up about an hour later and Dazzler was getting into her groove running about 5.5 knots. It was pure heaven!
About three hours into our journey Dan looked up and saw a problem aloft. We had about a six inch seam separation in the upper third of the mainsail where the fabric overlaps and is stitched together. For some this could have been a huge problem. Not for my man! We dropped the sails, he got out his trusty sewing machine, stitched her up and an hour later the sails were back up and we continued on our way. Got to love the way he can fix just about anything.
The evening brought with it 6-10 knots of north wind that pushed us along around 5 knots. It wasn’t the most comfortable sail as the swell was coming from the northwest providing a bit of a herky jerky ride. It wasn’t awful but not overly comfortable either. It was sort of like riding a mechanical bull in slow motion. One second you’re going port, then starboard then falling back or thrusting forward. This made it a bit difficult to sleep but then the first night underway is always a little tough. It takes a day or two to get into the rhythm of everything.
As the sun began to rise today we were greeted by a small school of spinner dolphin executing their perfectly choreographed water ballet. It was such a nice way to begin the day. We are out of sight of land so seeing other life forms is always a bonus.
Not much wind in the wee morning hours, so we motored for several hours. We’ve altered course a bit to be able to sail. Now on a heading of 286ºT. Just hoisted the sails at a little before 9 a.m. local time. It’s so nice to hear just the wind and the water.
P.S. Grape Ape & Wilson are doing fine. Grape Ape is very excited with his gifts from Aunt Deb & Uncle John of SV Lovely Reta.