Logbook and Photos

This is a partial reprint of an e-mail Michael of the sailing vessel Atalanta sent to his parents. It is beautifully written and mutually sums up our experiences traveling south down the Mexican Baha Peninsula:

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Vienna summed it up last night for all of us when she keyed the microphone on the VHF radio and told Joel, on Tioga, "We miss you already." Directly south of the bitter end of the Baja peninsula, we watched as the color on Tioga's masthead light switched from green to red. They remained on the same course, south-east, bound for Puerta Vallarta while we, for the first time in four months, changed course to the north. The change in light color occurred as we crossed their track, going from the starboard side of their boat (green light visible), to the port side of their boat. It was amazing that 2 weeks to the day after leaving San Diego together, after sailing 700 miles of ocean, we ended our time with Tioga with the two boats less than half-a-mile apart.

The whole buddy-boating experience was an immense success. Not only were the two boats compatible underway, the two families came together wonderfully as well. Joel and Vienna, Gerrit and Rhiannon spent many happy, trouble-free hours playing on beaches and swinging in the rigging and playing imaginary games. At our final night at anchor together, Joel and Vienna were cuddled up together on one of the settees like an old married couple! As for the grown-ups, we bonded together over sailing and the immense work it took to come cruising, the raising of children, and the general camaraderie of being with other independent, young adults living out life-dreams. We all became very close and it was sad to say good-bye. Actually, we adopted a trick from the Mexicans and said "Hasta la vista!" instead: "See you later." With any luck, we will see them next Spring in the Sea of Cortez as they swing to the North, following the sun. Who knows, we may pool resources and go for some summer trips together inland. They also want to sail to Europe and ply the canals of France. This could be merely the start of a long partnership. In the meantime, we will keep in touch with them via radio and email.

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