We have been trying to live the Pura Vida life in Costa Rica but first we had to find the Costa Rica we were expecting. We started our journey in the north and have travelled over 300 nautical miles down here to Golfito in Bahia Dulce. Distance on sailboats is not just measured in miles …
Author: Matilda
Making Ice – A Technical Discussion
Matilda derives her energy for all shipboard systems from diesel fuel. Today I was explaining to Fiona the energy requirement to make ice for cocktails. At first, she said she didn’t care how much energy was required, either we have ice for cocktails or we sell the boat. As I continued to explain the physics …
Fiona and Pippa the Pirate are back !!!
We are back, after six weeks off the boat it feels like a big deal to be back on Matilda. Matt and his merry band of sailors did a fine job of delivering Matilda safely to Marina Papagayo in Costa Rica. In fact, the boat looks so amazing they deserve a medal! The past six …
Mexico to Costa Rica Passage
If you are viewing this on a cell phone and don't see the COMMENTS link above, turn your phone sideways and it will appear. WordPress tells me they know this is a problem but they probably won't fix it. Shady company. Let me start by thanking the three crew who voluntarily joined me for this …
Mexican Departure Complete
After another round of Mexican institutional corruption where two of our crew were fleeced for another $31 each we were finally granted permission to depart Mexico. The amiable customs agent and his charming assistant were friendly and professional which was a welcome change from our previous Mexican bureaucratic authority experiences. The assistant boarded Matilda for …
Escape from Mexico
The odyssey of our escape from Mexico continues. The long and the short of it is that we need a document called a "Zarpe" which proves that we have left the country legally. This document is issued by the Port Captain. If we arrive in Costa Rica without a Zarpe we will be refused entry. …
It’s Hard to Leave This Place
To leave a comment click on the date above or "Leave a Comment" tab if visible. WordPress is working on this glitch. Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico Yesterday, I visited the Port Captain's office in Hualtulco to inquire about the procedure to depart the country on Monday. It was as if the question had never been asked …
First Post
Click on the date above to leave a comment. Matilda is currently in Marina Chahue (pronounced chaw-way), Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico. Fiona and Matt are currently in Park City, Utah, USA. Pippa is currently in Monrovia, California, USA. Through a long and convoluted process involving planes, trains, automobiles, and boats, and with a little bit of …