Crossing the Pacific to the
Galapagos Islands

Certainly we all worry contemplating a blue water passage. A good dose of planning and preparation, a little extra concerns ensures that things get done and details don't fall through the cracks. It pushes us to buy the proper safety gear and to make sure our boat and our skills are up to task. Sailing exposes us to a unique environment, we get to know Mother Nature intimately and learn never to take her for granted. Out there on the water we face ever changing conditions and experiences. These include a host of things which some may find intimidating, such as big waves, big ships, bad weather and the unknown. With 2000 miles & several coastal passages under our safety harnesses, Adelia is ship shape, our tanks topped off & our provisions stowed we're ready to enjoy whatever we'll encounter during the 1100 nautical mile passage from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands.

After monitoring the weather for several weeks our window for departure finally arrived, Leaving Marina Chahue in Huatulco at 14:30 we set our course south. Leaving the bay behind us, with perfect wind we set our sails, looked at each other and said " This is it, we are here."

We settled into the routine of a long distance crossing, taking turns on watch for three or four hours at a time. While some cruising couples like a regimented schedule we swap when we are tired. Being "on watch" entails looking for traffic, recording our position every couple of hours and trimming the sails. The first 48 hours we made about 180 nautical miles. Along with our electronic navigation tools we kept the paper chart to compare notes and orient ourselves. It was time for me to apply my navigation skills I learned through the Ventura Power Squadron education program. I must admit my skills had acquired rust during the months not at sea.

After a few days of doldrums, the wind finely picked up, adjusting the sails we were finely moving in the right direction. We had a couple of nice sailing days, finely caught a fish. We enjoyed some of it in ceviche and siered the rest. On day eight of our passage the winds got stronger and stronger increasing our speed and bringing with it clouds, thunder, lightning and powerful downpours. This weather lasted for a few days giving Adelia a fresh water bath every few hours. While crossing the ITCZ (Inter tropical convergence zone) which is the convergence between the north and the south seas we got plenty of practice changing sails as the weather was very unsettled.

We also indulged in our modern offshore cruising luxuries, firing up the satellite phone connected to the lap top to pull down weather forecast, make calls, and using our single sideband radio to send and receive sail mail and check in with the cruisers nets which we enjoyed listening to every morning and night. Having time on our hands Kip went up to fix the rip in the genoa caused by a sharp edge on one of the spreaders and I sewed a quarantine flag which we need when we arrive in different countries.

With almost no wind for many days, Kip was ready to try anything, putting the outboard motor on our swim step to push Adelia didn't help. Finally on day 14 at 17:15 Adelia sailed over the equator. Celebrating with a steak dinner we watched the sun go down in clear skies for the first time in many days.

Through out our long passage once in a while we were entertained by flying fish, manta rays and sword fish dive bombing into crest of waves, birds resting on sea turtles and dolphins which leapt and streaked gracefully around Adelia. Beautiful sunsets and sunrises, incredible array of stars along with the a quarter moon glowing on the water made each day out on the ocean a unique experience.

Fifteen days, one hour and over 1100 nautical miles we arrived at Naufragio Bay, San Cristobal on the Galapagos Island. With my galley duties down, it was time to take on my anchoring duties. Kip picked a spot safely spaced among more than a dozen assembled mixed fleet and I dropped the anchor with the help of Adelia's windless. We were here.

With the anchor taking over the duties of keeping Adelia safe, the engine turned off, it was time for a well deserved cold beer. I cracked open the last coors light on board, Kip with his modello light we toasted to our friends, family and the most incredible voyage thus far.