In case I left any room for doubt on the matter let me spell it out, C-A-T-S W-I-N. Here is why: go back through our old catamaran logs and count the number of times we complained about an anchorage because of swell (not because of other idiot cruisers). Now go through our monohull logs. Have I ever not complained about the swell in an anchorage? It feels like I do it on a daily schedule.
We’re in Chacala tonight and oh-my-holy-hell does this anchorage suck. We’ve been here three times. Once in the Porsche—had a lovely time. Once last season on the boat—declared it the worst ever. And now again—it really is the worst anchorage ever.
Really, these Pacific coast Mexico anchorages are terrible as far as swell goes. We just roll and roll and roll until we explode and write angry blog posts about it. And how did swell ever come to mean good, groovy, neato, or whatever? Swell is not swell. It’s not swell at all—not even a little bit.
Ahhh, catamarans. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to quadruple down on my current trading positions.
All right, seriously. We left Punta Mita this morning to a host of friends out on their decks to wave farewell. Saying goodbye to friends while knowing there is a good chance you won’t see them again for years, if ever, is a strange thing that feels pretty well confined to this lifestyle. It’s a bit different with kids than it used to be too. When we were getting ready to leave Ouest asked us, “Is Teddy’s boat coming too?” Teddy being her little surfer buddy. “No sweetie, Teddy’s not coming. Hopefully we’ll see him again someday.”
12 Comments on “That’s Swell”
Hey Bums, San Francisco sailor here, did the Haha in 2006, got as far as Banderas Bay that season and loved it!
Returned to P.V. just this past April on a friend’s boat (monohull) for a week. Hated it. At least the anchoring out part. Roll, roll, roll… Your update brings back a lot of late-night cursing memories from that week.
Pulling into Chacala with my own boat back in 06-07, I followed the other boats’ lead and put out a stern anchor as well. Was very much worth the effort!
Whoa did we ever have roll in Chacala. That’s the only place we have ever been where a stern anchor didn’t do the trick, though it did seriously improve the situation. We got a flopper stopper for a song recently and I kinda can’t wait to try it out. I understand though if you were on a multihull you just don’t have to worry about these things.
I’m way too lazy to go and set a stern anchor. What would I complain about then? 🙂
Hi! It is very funny, becuase I just started reading your blog after being pointed to it by “tiny houses” on Facebook. I read all of the monohull experience first, then when I got caught up to current, went back to read the Cat experience. I was really amazed you bought the monohull after so many mentions while on the CAT about how crazy people were, rolling at anchor while you guys were all comfy. I don’t know how many comments I read also that said you were never going to live on another boat. I’m glad you did though, the kids look happy and I admire your thirst for adventure. I’ve just strted “Live on the Margin” too. I doubt you’ll ever come to Delaware, but I’ll stay on te lookout for Bumfuzzle 🙂
Same here, our rolliest anchorage by a wide margin was Chacala!
The only problem with Multihulls is there so Dam Ugly. I just can’t get into a boat that ugly
Dear Pat (and Ali),
I’m so happy to read your blog this morning and hear you talk about the Cat as you are. My husband and I have been following your blogs for quite some time (love them!) and have been going through this monohull/Cat dilemma ourselves… as we’ll be living on a budget and worry about the Cat costing too much. Husband is handy, so hopefully we can manage. Almost bought a Spindrift – I love the roomy, cozy cabin on the water feeling, but get so horribly seasick, worry about the monohull. Did the “plastic” boat feeling and lack of storage on the Cat ever drive you crazy… or did the expense ever feel overwhelming? We love the Athena 38, Fontaine Pajot. Happy, safe sailing to you all. Hope to cross paths with you at some point in the very near future.
That’s the real dilemma for most of us—a cat’s comfort versus a monohulls cost. My feeling, despite my complaining about rolling, is still that it is far better to go now with what you can comfortably afford. Why buy a cat and be stressed about money for just three years of cruising when you can buy a mono and cruise without money worries for a decade? For those for which money is no object then I think the cat is the no-brainer choice.
Hey, guys. I never understood why you bought a mono instead of a bigger cat…imagine all that comfort and space for you and the kids.
We bought a mono because it cost $48k, versus $200k for a bigger cat. That extra 100-150k provides a lot of financially stress free years of cruising. That bigger is better mentality is not something we embrace. Look at how many people are underwater on their mortgages because of that mindset. Could have bought a small house and a small yard debt free but had to have 5,000 s.f. on five acres instead and are now being foreclosed on. Bigger is not always better.
That is the truth for sure!! Bigger is not better. We lived in a 5th wheel with 4 kids for 3 months before we bought a very modest house here and honestly I wish we were back in the trailer again (fixing the AC on her and taking her to the island late this spring and making it a surf central). When they are small, kids could care the less. Keep doing what you are doing……its been said before that they grow up too fast, and with an 18yo leaving for college this year, I am here to tell you it is so very, very true.
Why don’t you try setting both a bow anchor and a stern anchor to hold the boat bow-to the swell. That should alleviate the rolling problem and is easy to do.