After a lengthy hibernation period, I return to the Flapdoodle Blog for a 2022 update. With this comes the feeling of, “Todo de Nuevo – All Over Again.”

Following four months at Koehler Kraft Boatyard San Diego, doing the engine refit and hull repainting, and one month at anchor going between the A9 Cruiser’s Anchorage and A5 at Glorietta Bay; it was time to head south once more. The crew got prepared and found a weather window to return to Ensenada Cruiseport Village Marina. Getting organized involved a dive to check the state of the hull, and fixing a broken steaming light, amongst other things.

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As Flapdoodle exited San Diego Bay she was met with unexpected sailing winds, so the mainsail was hoisted and Flapdoodle was able to sail for 35 of the 78 miles. The engine was fired up in order to motor the last half of the journey. It was our longest motor with the new engine. There are now nearly 50 engine hours on our new Beta 43hp motor.

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As the sun set on January 2nd we moved onto crossing into Mexico.

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It was a new moon and a very clear night, so we had the privilege of enjoying the starry night and to be accompanied by a small pod of dolphins that danced in our bow wave creating  beautiful, swirling, bioluminescence patterns. We stayed in the cockpit rugged up as it was very cold. Apparently it was 40 degrees F in Ensenada that morning. Along the coastline the whole way we viewed a sprinkle of lights. It was a clear indication of how populated the coastline is.

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We arrived at 6:15am on Monday, January 3rd, safe and sound. As we entered the Port of Ensenada we were aware of the familiar territory and the sense of returning to one of our many homes. Here we go again.

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After docking, we stayed aboard until the health authorities checked us in, taking our temperatures and updating us on Covid-19 protocols. We then checked in at the marina office and headed off to the Port Captain’s Office to pay all the necessary money, including a new TIP [Temporary Import Permit] for Flapdoodle, because we had replaced her motor.

Now we are settling back into the Ensenada way of life and enjoying hot showers in the marina facilities. We have been catching up with lots of people we know that are still here, and meeting new sailors. In some ways it feels like we haven’t even been away. So now we have the ongoing boat projects to continue, paperwork, medical and dental responsibilities to take care of, and the planning of what happens next. [BTW I was present on the trip, even though I have no photos of me there. I guess that is what happens when one is the chief photographer.]