Guatemala - 6 weeks in Rio Dulce

Our main reason for going to Rio Dulce, was that we had a couple of tears in our Main Sail, and costs in Miami to do the repair and reinforce all the seams on the Main was huge. In Rio Dulce, there is a Sailmaker, Chloe in Cayo Quemado and she is very competent with staff to help with the moving of large sails for sewing purposes. As it would have it, when visiting her, she was busy with work for 2 weeks before she could take delivery of our Main and begin our work. So we hung around Cato Quemado doing little chores aboard. Taking off the Main and lifting it into Chloes Loft was quite a procedure, but all went well with her staff and Nicholas.

Chloe said the repairs and resewing of all seams would take about 2 weeks, so we headed up river to Fronteras to stock up on Fresh Supplies, and I wanted to visit the excellent dentist Cledente for Teeth Cleaning. I also recently discovered a spot on my Face which I was not happy about and wanted to see a Dermatologist about.

Sailing up through the Golfete Lake and to Fronteras

We anchored close to Catamaran Marina where we’d berthed last season

Catch up dinner with Ben of SV No Cry at The Shack

Excellent Pina Coladas

And excellent The House Burgers with Fries

Friendly House Cat

You might recall we brought some boxes from Miami for a Fellow Cruiser. Well we met them and they were kind enough to Thank us with a dinner at Dreamcatchers with Chef Lizelle.

Nicholas had an excellent Pasta dish with Shrimp

I had Rib Eye Steak

Meshugga at anchor, boat to the left in the photo.

We decided to try sell some of the huge amount of equipment that Nicholas has upgraded on Meshugga, so we took a table at the bi-weekly Cruisers Swop Market. NO luck…….

Off to the Dentist for an excellent Teeth Cleaning

To go to the Dermatologist it’s a half hour ride away in the town of Morales. Even though Nicholas said I should take a taxi, I was most happy on the local Litequa Bus. I met Horst, who sat next to me. A 85 year old German sailor, who was also going to visit the same Dermatologist. 

We kept each other company and chatted about our sailing lives.

Walking around Morales, whilst we waited for the bus back to Fronteras

Whilst at anchor near Fronteras, one night during a Huge Thunderstorm we Again got a Lightning pulse and it took our out Wind instrument. We rushed to order not One but Two Wind Instruments from Hodges in Miami and had them AirFreighted in.

 

Chloe messaged us to say our Main was ready for collection so we Motor-Sailed the 10 miles to Cato Quemado where her loft is, to collect our Main, and deliver our New Gennekar which Nicholas wanted slightly cut as it was a bit long and low when flying it.

Installing our Main

The local fishermen are Very proficient at throwing their Throw Nets

I got stung/bitten ( I think by a spider), the welt was huge, red and inflamed. Antibiotic crème and no scratching helped it along and a week/10 days later all was back to normal.

We delivered our Gennaker to Chloe, and here’s Nicholas marking where Chloe should cut the Gennaker to his specifications.

Main installed, we went back to Fronteras to again stock up with Fresh Produce and collect our DHL Airfreight Wind Instruments. This time being more prudent of a possible Lighting Strike, Nicholas did not isntall it, and thought he’d only do it as we left Rio Dulce.

Nicholas decided to try a Faraday Cage around the Wind Instrument. Hopefully it’ll deflect another Lightning strike.

Final dinner with Ben. No idea when or if we will see him again. This time at Ah Wei, which tonight specializes in Margaritas and Tacos

My Shrimp Tacos

Carne (meat) Tacos

Houses alongside where we were anchored at Fronteras.

Back to Cayo Quemado and collected our cut down Gennaker, 

Leaving Fronteras

The wind looking favorable for our voyage, we motored the final 10 miles to Livingston to clear Customs and Immigration.

Stunning Ravine of the Rio Dulce

Heading to go under the Dreaded Power Lines again. But this is our 6th time, so getting used to it, although we still hug the Left bank where the Lines are higher.

A quick visit to Raul, the Agents, office we were all legit with a Zarpe and stamped passports and free to leave Guatemala.

The tides showed that High Tide all week was in darkness, so we took the Bull by the Horns and crossed the bar at 3am, following our previous incoming track, sailing 10 miles across the Bay to anchor in the lee of the headland, and getting a few hours sleep.

Morning gave us a sloppy swell, which was not great for Nicholas to go up the mast to replace our Wind Instrument and lift our 8 foot VHF aerial which gives us VHF and AIS comms, but there was no alternative.

Final prep to sail to Panama….