SV Cariba

Floods, splashing, sailing, night watches and more!

I am sitting in Santa Rosalia and reflecting on all that has transpired in the last two weeks and almost don’t know where to start to tell the stories! The 25 hours 126nm passage here from Puerto Don Juan Brian described as some of the most challenging sailing he has experienced in years….. and as newbie to longer and night passages, well my emotions ranged from “OMG” to “WHEEEE”… but more about that after I fill in the gaps leading up to that dramatic passage.

Ball valves with no balls, boosters and road trips!

Yes we are still in the boatyard…. but we have good reasons. It has been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster ride for the last month, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will be spending the holidays on the hard. But before I elaborate on why we are still here, let’s fill you in on what we have been up to in the meantime.

Kindred spirits in S#*T Guest blog post from Suddenlysailing

View of the entrance out to the Sea of Cortez. We hope to be out there soon!

We are still in the boatyard in Puerto Penasco and the work to get Calidris ready to hit the water continues. We (note we means Brian) just started this week’s smelly messy task – changing out the toilet pump and sewage hoses. I will spare you any pics… it ain’t pretty. Remember we did the same thing on Cariba not so long ago when we put in a new holding tank….ewwww . That story can be found under the heading “Where do old holding tanks go to die?” – Feb 18, 2020.

Well then it was interesting when last night I got a request from a fellow sailing blogger to swap posts and guest blog on each others’ site. Apparently unbeknownst to her, our “shitty” worlds were aligning even though we are several 1000 miles apart – but as we our both up to our elbows in shit, I thought it was appropriate! Enjoy the read, Ruth is a great writer.

Stirring up some shit

Some pics to show what else we have been up to!

Outdoor cleaning – the desert dust is relentless

It’s not all work, we do take some time to play and lunch breaks!

Are we crazy! Two boats!!

As most of you know we have a great boat at home in Vancouver… and any boat is a labour of love …..and a hole in the water in which you pour cash, frequently. So why on earth would somebody want to double that type of trouble? Let’s just say we look at it differently… it is double the fun and adventure! And did I mention no more PNW winters for a while!!!!

A first glimpse of our new “home” in Mexico

No more winter for us!

Since returning home from our summer cruise of the local waters, we have been making plans so we don’t have to spend another winter in the PNW for the foreseeable future. The SV Cariba crew have plotted a new course which will get us to warmer climes…. read on for the details!

Home…. for now!?

Well we had an awesome summer. The weather was amazing and we got to see the Broughtons at their best. To be honest the last time we were there two years ago, the weather wasn’t great and we wondered what the fuss was all about… this year showed us what we had been missing! So now we are home, reminiscing about the summer…. and plotting the future plans for the crew of SV Cariba.. and the plan does not include staying another winter in the PNW!

Basset Bay, Stuart Island

Seeking endless summer!

The time had come to leave the Broughtons. All the clues were there….. the morning fog and mist that took longer each day to lift; that chill in the cabin in the morning that made us appreciate the Dickinson fireplace; and the clear blue skies that we could see to the south of us. This seems to be an annual rite of passage for us. The Broughtons provided remote and beautiful solitude in anchorages we could have all to ourselves. But if we wanted to tan rather than rust, it was time to head south.

A misty cloudy start to the day in the Broughtons

Summer in the Broughtons

Our last visit to the Broughtons in 2019 after rounding the top of Vancouver Island brings back memories of fog, rain and chilly weather and exiting stage left for the warmth and sunshine of Desolation Sound. That season made us question why people raved about the Broughtons… well this year showed us what the area had to offer. It was amazing!

Beyond Desolation!

Our goal this summer was to expand our cruising beyond Desolation Sound. Last year out of respect to our First Nations communities, we didn’t feel comfortable venturing further north into the more remote villages. The rules now have relaxed and the Covid numbers are inversely proportional to the vaccination rates… so off we go.. beyond Desolation…. just how far remains to be seen!

How did a month slip by so fast?

Leaving False Creek… see you in September!

It is almost a month to the day since we left.. and what an action packed time we have had! It actually feels like we have been gone much longer. What a we been doing you ask? Sailing, and more sailing, hauling out, painting, living on the hard, more sailing, great family visits and lots more. And we have the pics to prove it!