Lady Ann- Irwin 37’
Captain: Joel Hoyt
Marina Chahue to Puerto Vallarta
While in Chiapas putting the finishing touches on the sale
of Mer-Sea, we received an email from our friends Joel and Vivien Hoyt
inquiring if we would be interested in crewing on their boat Lady Ann from
Huatulco up to Puerto Vallarta. Since arriving last April in Huatulco and
spending the hurricane season there, they have become quite fond of the land
life on this quaint picturesque stretch of Mexico’s coast.
Lady Ann is not a day cruiser. With her previous owners she
circumnavigated with a family of four. The Hoyt’s called her home for the
better part of ten years and cruised her south from northern California down
the Mexican coast including a stint around the Sea of Cortez. It just wouldn’t be
right for her to sit tied to a dock. They decided to put her up for sale in PV
as it hosts a large cruising community.
Excited for the opportunity to get experience on a different
vessel under our belts, and just to get back in that salty air, we boogied up
to Vivien and Joel’s place in La Crucecita. They opened their home to us and
our mornings were spent checking weather for a good window. This would be an
“uphill” run (against wind and prevailing current) and our hope was to make it
as smooth as possible. Being an El Nino year, we watched and waited as a late
season hurricane ran up the Baja and a few more systems spun off the coast
threatening to develop into something more. 
Finally the Pacific settled and within 24 hours we were loaded
with provisions and cutting the lines. Just out of the marina Joel opted to
anchor in Bahia Risquilillo, one of Huatulcos many scenic bays, to give the
bottom a quick scrub. Oh yeah, Torch was approved to join as well! We all took
a quick swim, then anchor up and we were off!
Marc had drawn up a delivery plan that had our assumed stops
and estimated travel times (based on how many knots we would average). We were
scheduled to stop in Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Barra de Navidad before reaching
Puerto Vallarta. As we approached Acapulco, Joel assessed our fuel situation
and found we had enough diesel to make it to Ixtapa. A unanimous decision was
made to carry on to Ixtapa, direct from Huatulco!
We arrived early the second morning to Marina Ixtapa. Joel
got us a slip for the night so we could grab a couple provisions and enjoy a
good nights sleep. Marc grilled up some fat burgers for dinner, while we all
enjoyed a few icy gin and tonics before turning in for the night.
On the next leg we were regularly escorted by dolphins.
Torch would usually spot them right off and get very excited. We would tether
him to the jackline and he would run up and down the deck barking at them. Not
really sure if felt he needed to protect us or he just wanted to play, I prefer
to believe the latter. In any case at one of the dolphin shows, Torch decided
to try to join the action, by leaping off the bow. Luckily he was tethered to
the jackline and never hit the water, but things could have gotten interesting
quick! I was crying I was laughing so hard at the look of shock and confusion
on his face as Marc pulled him back on board. We’re starting to believe this
little guy is becoming a bit of an adrenaline junkie…
At this point we began nearing our waypoint to turn in for
the approach to Barra de Navidad, but again Captain Joel found our fuel level
was enough to get us to PV. We were well in the groove and welcomed the
opportunity to skip another port. Now we were going for a record!
What we had estimated to take ten or so days, possibly
averaging as low as 3 knots (due to head winds or current) ended up being a six
day cruise. The majority of the seven hundred or so miles was spent motor sailing
but we did get a few “leans on” under sail, once up to 7 knots, which is
relatively un heard of for a northbound trip!
Fish were bountiful and the weather was fine. Our only rough
patch, which had us pitching and rolling pretty well was around Cabo Corrientes
(Cape of Currents). It is the Southern Cape of Bahia Banderas and quite
infamous for strong southerly flowing wind and water currents, (hence its name)
the mix of which amount to short period choppy seas from every direction due to
refraction. It slowed us down quite a bit but overall we averaged a good four
knots!
Once the lines were tied and Lady Ann was cozied up in her
new slip, Joel treated us to a delicious dinner and a few icy margaritas! It
was such a great experience to get under our belts and glad we could help out
friends as well. Not to mention our first crewing gig to put on the resume!
Cheers Joel and Vivien!
