Surfin' Windfall at Bahia del Sol, El Salvador !!

February 26^th – Bah'ia del Sol, El Salvador!!

                Arriving on schedule for the 7am high tide, we were six boats sitting at the entrance starring at the big breakers crossing the entire entrance to Bah'ia del Sol. Soon, our bar guide shot across the breakers on a jet ski and began giving instructions to the first boat of how to cross. We sat anxiously watching with binoculars as Mita Kuuluu closely followed the guide to the entrance. Nowhere did we see a place safe enough to cross…then, suddenly the guide gave the signal and Mita Kuuluu began to enter the breakers. Gulp! Just as they started to cross the breakers suddenly flattened…smooth as a lake! Jean, from Mita Kuuluu came on the VHF radio and said, “Hello, El Salvadorl”, and the bar guide turned back for the next boat.

                Windfall was number four in line and soon it was our “chance” to cross. With Captain Nancy at the helm, we listened carefully to the instructions of the bar guide about hand signals and to stay CLOSE to him as we begin to enter...and once we begin do NOT turn around. Gulp! All we could see were solid 6’-8’ breakers where we were to enter. 

Suddenly, our guide gave the “Go” signal.... Nancy pushed the throttle FULL SPEED FORWARD and in an instant we were committed to crossing.  I turned and looked behind as a 6’ wave started to pick up the back of Windfall…in my head I could hear the “Hawaii 5-0” theme music ….Windfall was SURFING down the wave at full throttle!! Nancy held Windfall straight to the wave and the wave passed under the boat. ”Welcome to Bah'ia del Sol, El Salvador,” Well done Captain Nancy! !

                We motored up the bay and took a spot at the Bah'ia del Sol Hotel dock. With much appreciated help from the dock hands Windfall was quickly secured and soon Customs was aboard filling out necessary paperwork.  We walked up the dock, admiring the beautiful Hotel and it’s new swimming pool, to check in with the Port Captain, Immigration, and with the Marina. Within a few minutes we were sharing a dockside coldie with our English friends, Henry and Janis from Cloudy Bay, a very beautiful Nordhavn power yacht.

                With mention of it being near 102° today, Nancy and I returned to the boat and put the new shade over Windfall….Whew! It lowered the temp in the cockpit by 20°, and within a few minutes we were stretched taking a long nap.  The local “cruisers net” is held at the pool at 4:30, early attendance is acceptable and coldies are required.  I can tell you that after 48 hours sailing that pool felt wonderful!

                The next day (Friday) we went to dinner with Rick and Sue (upstate New Yorkers) from Moonshine. They carry Mr. Boogaloo, a poodle, onboard who has a lot of sea miles under his…uhh, collar.  

After the 4:30 “Cruisers Net” at the pool, we decided to go out to dinner with Rick and Sue for “Paposas”. These are an El Salvadorian dish that looks like a Gyro, but made with a heavier bread of corn or rice, and about as thick as a pancake. Inside the bread is a variety of meats, cheeses, veggies, etc…   Very delicious, tasty, and cheap at only 60 cents each! We ordered 3 per person, with beers, and our total bill for the four of us…$10.80 (The US Dollar is the currency used in El Salvador).

It’s 7:30 am, 80°, and another beautiful El Salvadorian day! We have a couple boats waiting to cross the bar this morning with the 9am high tide. I’ll listen on the VHF radio as the bar guide instructs them safely across the bearkers. It’s quite daunting as you wait outside the breakers and watch without unseeingly any opening to bring your boat across….but have no fear, they haven’t lost a boat yet in the 10 years of doing this. It’s certainly not a crossing for the faint of heart!

I went on a bike ride with Anton from Royal Albatross today, we rode about 12 miles and stopped for beers along the way…..Well, you know it’s hot here!

Nancy and I went with the group by dinghies 4 miles up the bay to a small town where we purchased fresh fruits and veggies. I’ve got to say the fruits are some of the tastiest we’ve had, the cantaloupes , pineapples, and melons are so sweet and juicy, plus  it’s fun to shop at these open markets. We parked the dinghies at a palapa (beachside café) and enjoyed cool beers before loading our groceries and heading back to the marina…and to relax in the cool swimming pool.

Yesterday, we talked with Rick and Sue aboard Moonshine about renting a car and doing a sightseeing trip to Guatemala. We can save a lot of money doing our own tour vs paying for a guide and van.

Today we are taking our dinghy,”Blondie,” on an adventure /sightseeing trip around the mangroves and estuary.  This is a beautiful area with palm lined beaches, coconut trees, mangroves, and NO Mosquitoes! I thought we’d have to have all our bug screens covering the windows each night, but we have not seen or heard one mosquito yet! The days get up to about 90°, but in the evenings there is a nice cool breeze and it cools off nicely. We still have two 12 volt fans running in the bedroom at night, but it’s very comfortable without having air-conditioning. We’ve noticed those cruisers who do have air-conditioning usually stay inside their boats till the afternoon “cruisers net” which begins at promptly at 4:30 in the swimming pool. It’s actually for “Beers and BS’n” and some cruisers like to get there early to start the cruisers net “warm up session”! 

We stay busy, doing what I’m still uncertain, but before we know it’s time to head to the pool for a coldie. Oh, but it’s not all about relaxing in paradise. Today I have an “opportunity” to challenge and sharpen my sanitation engineering skills, and to become much closer with the Zen of our boat….Ok, I have to fix one of the toilets. But, on a positive note, I see its 40 degrees and raining in Portland, so I’m going to smile in the sunshine as I take the toilet repair challenge.  If you want to see what true cruising is like, just spread your toilet out on the dock and soon you’ll other cruisers stopping by with advice….no help, but LOTS of advice and stories of…”There we were, 200 miles offshore with six crew members and  our head went out….”

Nancy is below making …and get this… Biscuits for breakfast! WOW! This must be some kind of wife-bribe to get the toilet working sooner! Well friends, it’s time to get some tools out and look like I’m going to do something important…I’ve got to make it look like her “Biscuit Bribe” is working…