Lost Elvis Arrives Safely in El Salvador

Bahia del Sol Resort

This morning I received the following email from Claudia at Bahia del Sol Hotel and Marina in El Salvador:

"Hello Thea

Lost Elvis was calling us on the radio at 5:30 am but they were too late for the high tide and had to wait for the next high tide at 4:45 pm.

They are all right.

Sincerley,

Claudia"

The reason they have to wait is that Bahia del Sol Marina is in an estuary and in order to enter, vessels have to cross a bar, sometimes in very high surf. The marina sends a pilot in a panga/lancha to weave each boat through the bar between sets of waves. The tricky part is that the pilot often doesn't recognize that a 23 tonned boat with a full keel and no bow thrusters cannot accelerate or manouevre like a sport fisher so the crossing in Lost Elvis can be a little challenging and quite stressful.

The entire vogage from Golfito, Costa Rica took almost exactly 72 hours. We did it last year (going the other way) in about 65 hours.

I have not spoken to Randy yet as he is still at anchor (standby waypoint: 13 degrees.15.7' N; 088 deg.53.5'W) waiting for the high tide late this afternoon. The marina monitors Ch 16 and during the high season the "cruisers" monitor Ch 22 and will arrange for the pilot who is employed by the marina (Rafael).

Tonight Luis Bondi and Richard Lee Johnton fly in to help Randy sail the boat across the Tehuantepec to Marina Chahue in Huatulco but not before enjoying the fine cuisine, papusas and Pilsen beer. They may also visit the stilt restaurants in the estuary for fresh seafood or perhaps visit with Jan, a kind Canadian woman, who operates a free English school for children. It won't be the same without our friend Alex Kao (Reflections) who just arrived from the South Pacific to Hawaii with his fiance Leah Prentice. Randy will have to find someone else to drink Flor de Cana.

Bahia del Sol Marina and Hotel has rooms and suites, conference rooms, excellent internet, a pool, a fantastic restaurant and discounts for "cruisers" on food and beverages and a mini casino.