When we left Vallarta a few days ago we figured we’d spend four days in Yelapa, a few in La Cruz, and on like that up the coast. Instead we’ve been pushed along by this relentless south swell that is producing some epic surf on a few breaks and also producing some really crappy south facing anchorages, which is all there is along this stretch of the coast. Options are severely limited.

So as we approached San Blas today we decided to give up, go up the river to the new marina here, get some sleep, and wait out this weird weather. But as we closed in on the river bar entrance it became quite clear that we would not be doing that at all. The entrance was a solid wall of huge curling waves. I could see the pangas outside just waiting for the right moment to crack their outboards and race the waves in. So that was obviously out. We turned tail over to the anchorage instead which was sure to be absorbing the brunt of the swell as well. When we got here we discovered that the boats here were indeed riding the swell, but that the sets were slow and the motion of the ocean not too bad. So here we now sit riding comfortably over six foot swell.

Along the way today we passed what is marked on our charts as an underground rock. It was about a mile further out to sea than we were but I could see as the swell hit it the ocean just seemed to rise up out of the depths into a mountain of water. It didn’t quite break, but I imagine another foot or two of swell and it would produce one very cool wave. The local fishermen had it surrounded.

We just hung out on the boat for the rest of the afternoon. Ouest and I went for a swim while Lowe had to settle for the pool up on deck. He’s only just started crawling really well, but he’s already pulling himself up to a standing position every chance he gets. He is taking his share of lumps in the process.