Thursday, March 12, 2015

Crossing the Bar at Bahia del Sol, El Salvador

Crossing the Bar at Bahia del Sol in El Salvador

Bienvenido a El Salvador!

Before I start this little story I must share a moment with you. A couple of days ago David asked me if it was the second or third of March. My reply - "I didn't even know that it was March!". I know - comments like this must really make you shake your head! 

And now to really piss you off further - the other day I heard that with the wind chill factor it was -33C in Sault Ste. Marie and it was + 33C on that day in Chiapas!

Now back to the adventure!

A sandbar guards the entrance to Bahia del Sol - Bay of the Sun - and our stopping point in El Salvador. Crossing a bar can be a challenging adventure as we so often discovered along the Pacific Coast of the United States. These bars, however, were well marked with navigational buoys and lights and break waters that extended well into the ocean. No such luxuries here. We had made arrangements to have a local pilot (guide) and Bill (an American local who assists cruisers with just about everything) to meet us outside the bar at 1330. As we crossed an area as designated by their coordinates we tried to make out the opening. 



There always seemed to be large waves breaking at all points along the coast. No way could we pick up the opening on our own.

If you remember my description about doing a surf landing with the Dinghie - well this is kind of the same thing except on a much bigger scale. So you are not going to do this on your own. The marina provides the services of the guide and Bill for free. I imagine if they did not than people would just bi-pass this delightful lagoon and carry on to the next port.

So all these arrangements were made ahead of time at a time when there is a high slack tide. If you mss this time or the conditions are too dangerous than you will be directed to anchor in a very exposed open surf until the next day. We had to do that from about 0730 to 1230 and believe me it was not fun! Very rolly and even though we were exhausted from little sleep there was no sleep to be had.

We were instructed to have all port holes and hatches secured, to run the engine at high speed for 5 minutes to ensure that it would not over heat and to ensure that everything was stowed. We even put our boat papers and passports and money and computers in the water proof bag in case we took a wave. Are we nervous yet? Remember we are not in the dinghie! We are on our boat!

We had to circle around a couple of times in order to get lined up properly as 8-10 foot waves are breaking around us. The guide was watching the surf and waiting for that break. 



As soon as he saw the lull we were instructed to apply full throttle, keep the boat perpendicular to the wave and GO! The wave picked our boat up 



and we surfed down the other side, 


over the bar with 10 feet of water under the keel.
We were lucky as we only had to surf over the one wave and then we were through.



Our guide sure can read those waves. As with crossing the Tahuantepec, actually crossing the bar was a snap. We followed the panga into the marina and were immediately greeted with a large welcoming committee. Al was there to grab our lines.


Customs and Immigration, other cruisers, Jean and Bill and the bartender with two Cuba Libre's. We were welcomed to Bahia del Sol and congratulated for crossing the bar. I tell you a drink never tasted so good.



Jean and Bill, who also organize the El Salvador rally, gave us a wonderful folder with lots of information about the area. Then we took our drinks and followed the officials up to the office to get our clearance documents for El Salvador. Within 20 minutes we were all checked in. Smooth as silk. Then we went over to the hotel/ Marina office, arranged Moorage for at least a week, 60 cents per foot per day, paid the weekly fee of $14 per boat to use the pool and showers, get $1 beer and 30% off the restaurant and we were back at the boat.

Marova and Confidence secure at the dock.



 I already had my bathing suit on so it took me no time at all to get into that pool!



I immediately liked the feel of the place. It took me a couple of days to figure out why that was - it really reminded me of Belize. The marina is on the lagoon side with docks reaching into the lagoon and mangrove along the shore. 



So we will stay here for a couple of weeks to enjoy the people and the area and get some serious swimming in. We will go on a road trip to Guatemala next week. So stay tuned for the next installment!

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