Marinas versus anchorages

3º 43.347n 123º 29.077w

Sun Apr 28 2019

JollyDogs is a Seawind 1160 catamaran sailboat. Back when the model was introduced in the mid 2000’s it was named “best new sailboat design of the year” by one of those sailing magazines. The 1160 moniker refers to the overall length in meters, which works out to 38’. We’re actually 37’ at the waterline, and 21’ 4" beam which means the widest point between the 2 hulls. Marinas such as the one in Mazatlan (love those folks) charge us a daily fee based upon the length of the boat. Marinas such as the one at La Cruz de Huanacaxle, adjacent to a lovely village a few miles from Puerto Vallarta, do the same only if they have room for us at the end of a pontoon. If we have to go in a regular slip they charge a 50% premium due to our width. We don’t like that.

We prefer to anchor. It’s free. It’s also generally quiet, secluded, often scenic with good fishing and wildlife viewing, and somewhere we can enjoy exercising on our SUP’s (stand up paddleboards). The Sea of Cortez in Mexico is packed full of remote and stunningly beautiful anchorages. Plenty on the Pacific side of mainland Mexico as well.

Marina life is like living in a condo building with neighbors all around. At worst, anchoring is like living in one of those subdivisions with 3 acre minimum lot sizes. A best, like the countryside where your nearest neighbor might be a couple miles or farther down the road.

We are social animals and occasionally enjoy the big-lot subdivision lifestyle, but we dearly love the seclusion a remote anchorage can offer.

There are places such as Mazatlan where a marina is the practical choice, and worth the price of admission. Our favorite shipwright, Rick Cummings of Marine Services Mazatlan has his business there. He and his crew have helped us maintain JollyDogs to a very high standard. Our favorite dentist on the entire planet, Dra. Ma. Isabel Nieblas Urias has her office in the old downtown section of Mazatlan. Costs about 50 cents to ride the bus from the marina to her office. Costs around 30 bucks for a full cleaning and examination. She does it all herself; no floss Nazi dental hygienist assistant in sight. She’s a lovely woman who speaks good English and understands a lot more; typical with most folks who speak a second language. We enjoy our visits with her, and she helps us maintain our teeth to a very high standard. When’s the last time YOU looked forward to a dental visit?

Old Mazatlan is a neat place, chock-a-block with great restaurants, interesting colonial architecture, opera and theatre, and the Tres Islas craft brewery. I love West coast style ales, and these guys got game! There’s also Hector’s Bistro, one of the best fine dining establishments anywhere. Thanksgiving weekend 2017 we enjoyed a long, lazy lunch there, and after cocktails, appetizers, entrees, a bottle of wine, desert, and tip we walked out for about $100. An amazing degustation, and Hector himself spent about a half hour chatting us up about fun things to do in the area, great dining and drinking venues, and the cultural opportunities Mazatlan offers. In my mind, Hector is almost as interesting and sweet as Romeo and Janice Taus who run Romeo’s Euro Cafe in Gilbert, Arizona. They’re lovely; you’ll leave their place with a happy belly and a warm feeling in your heart.

Now where was I? Seems like I wanted to work my way to a discussion of catamaran versus monohull ride and handling qualities, but as usual my mind wandered to food and drink and friendship.

Well, what do you expect? I just came on watch, the 2200 - to 0100 shift. The only ickier one is the 0100 - 0400, which I’ll have tomorrow. No telling what rabbit hole I’ll wander down then. . .