Next Stop Costa Rica

We left Acapulco on April 18th for the 10-day passage to Costa Rica.  When we got close to the dreaded Gulf of Tehuantepec, we began looking closely at weather patterns.  If caught in the wrong pattern, it can cost you your boat.  The idea is to hug the shore at the 10-foot depth line in case the winds become off-shore.  Strong off-shore winds, typical here, can build up scary-sized waves and chop that aren’t good for small craft.  Care also has to be taken when close to shore.  If strong on-shore winds kick up,  being that close to the beach can also cause problems.  As we got close, we saw there was a good chance we were in a good pattern, so we continued.  With one foot on-shore, we rounded the Gulf.  We saw shrimpers working in the Gulf, which confirmed our decision.  They, more than anyone, would not be out there if the winds were due.   
 
Once around the Gulf, we had a good sail.  The last two days, off Nicaragua’s coast, we tried to avoid papagayos, strong winds that can howl for days.  To lessen their impact on us, we moved into shore, but then got caught in an on-shore current.  No matter what we did, it kept sweeping us toward shore.  It took us nearly a day to work ourselves free of the current and winds. 
 
After ten days at sea, we arrived at Bahia Elena on the northwest corner of Costa Rica.  We spent most of May moving from Bahia Elena to Bahia Ballena, our major stop in Costa Rica.  The longest stop along the way was in Playa del Coco.  Many cruisers stopped here to regroup and replenish supplies.  We stayed there over a week and then cast off for Ballena.  

June 1991. The dinghy dock and pier at Bahia Ballena. The pier is fixed and the dinghy dock floated, so needed a transition skiff to handle the tidal change. Tying to the pier meant instant dinghy destruction.

June 1991. The pier with Brian and Scruffy's bar in the background. Lori (Endless Weekend) with Doug and Nicki (Magic Moon).

June 1991. Brian, Lori and Carl at the bar.

June 1991. Doug, Nicki (Magic Moon), Lori (Endless Weekend), Carl, Greg, Val (Grimsby). Our "tribe" at Ballena.

Bahia Ballena didn’t disappoint.  Many boats in the anchorage and a bar/restaurant with support facilities and run by American ex-pats, Brian and Scruffy, made Ballena a real comfortable, easy place to stay, long-term.  The Gulf of Nicoya became our main body of water for months, with several other anchorages, towns, and marinas to visit.  

June 1991.  Our favorite past time was eating at Brian’s and Scruffy’s.  It became a late afternoon thing.  Beer, hamburger and French fries. YUM!  Add to that, we had laundry facilities that were primitive but effective, and regular stops by a fruit and vegetable truck.  With a secure anchorage, our friends anchored in the same bay, and terrific shore support, Ballena soon became a favorite.

June 1991. Carl dealing with finances over a rum and coke.

June 1991. Always something. Our mode of transport from Bijou to shore.