SALTBREAKER II

First Dawn and the first look at our humble abode.

You may tell by the view that my traveling partners and I are experiencing a little time warp geographical continuum adjustment phase. 

There is something to be said for the warm waters off the coast of Manuel Antonio, they make for a great experience.  Please read that second sentence as a “Complete understatement”. 

Overview from the adult pool deck.  

Notice Saltbreaker? Left side of the photo just off shore and far enough away to look like a little rock outcropping. Swimming to and from the boat makes the event start and end with an adventure. It’s all part of the scenario, have you ever wondered how you provision when you are required to swim to the boat?  You have to take the groceries with you of course.  

This might mean in a cooler you hope will float, plastic bags and, indispensable on our forays out on the deep blue, a surf board. It’s a buy, pack and carry to the waves, swim to the boat and climb aboard as you pass the floating supplies up to the deck kinda thing. Mind you this will be happening in whatever the sea conditions are at the time and in our cases, little excitement or swells were present. 

Saltbreaker just outside the surf. 

This is the extent of our swim to our ride, supplies included. When a little band of travelers cross the sidewalk with a variety of food stuffs and libations, walking past the local vendors hawking umbrellas and chairs for a day at the beach – you tend to get noticed, What? Nine of us worked our way into the surf with a variety of things in our hands or being carried between two folks (like the cooler). We string out as we near the surf in trail…the objective clear – Saltbreaker, at anchor just off the coast. We can’t arrive at the ladder in mass, so the mostly single file line works out great. Saltbreaker at anchor for a week, here in this bay, has drawn some attention – the locals know 

Alex and Lisa with the superior supply and Drowning Ladies Water conveyance device.

Upon arrival to the bay during the early morning light (to navigate the interesting entrance), having sailed overnight to meet us, Saltbreaker immediately had a visitor. As is in the typical experience, it was not just any visitor. It was a local business man on his daily swim out to the rocks past the boat and back, of course you know a punch line that is coming – he invites our intrepid sailors for a drink after dinner…for sunset.  We all tag along…

Alex Nique and Allan

You should have seen it in color – but I was having flash issues and had been set up for sunset. We come to understand that he happens to be the owner of the restaurant too and of course the sprawling complex known as Costa Verde.(The hotel we have chosen to reside in for the week) Allan is a gracious host and completely enjoys the story of Saltbreaker. Of course the boat groupies (the family present)are an interesting band of brothers (sisters and Mom) too!

But I digress...

Once aboard Saltbreaker the show must hit the road! We un tether from our two anchor set and head west thru the charted waters of the Manuel Antonio Bay.

Easily seen here the treacherous possibilities of arriving before dawn to take anchor @ Manuel Antonio.

Once in open ocean head south. We are nestled right up against the rain forest in the harbor and travel along the coast viewing the previous days hiking travels from the vantage point only being on the water can provide.

The Rainforest from Saltbreaker

The sails have been raised, the sun is high and if not for the breeze we would be uncomfortably hot.  I hide in the shade of the sail and at some point lay across the cabin, hand in hatch to keep from rolling off and promptly “stop.”  I awake to find my legs have been covered to avoid sunburn, it was a great nap. Lisa tells me they were watching for a swell to cause me to drop off the cabin and onto the deck. The effort to stay balanced with two cameras on my body and no “seat” for my rear end just wore me out.  Alex immediately understands the pendulum effect I was fighting and decides I should tie them off to the mast and drink more fluids – much more fluid!

Under sail, open ocean swells and smiles all around me. I have, apparently, hit my head and am in a day dream. Can this be real? Music filters forward from the wheel – speakers have been mounted under the solar panels over the cockpit. We are surfing over the swells under full sail looking at the wild blue water and the deep greens of the rainforest, heavy clouds roll over the landscape and we are under clear blue skies – visibility unrestricted.