Katharine Smith

Motored to river outlet and check out spot for Guatemala. Ocean ahoy!

Motored in consistent rain from the marina anchorage to mouth of the lake after fueling and filling water tanks. Goodbye Guatemala home!

River motor with head sail out in 14 knot winds from behind.

Checked into customs using agent Raul. Witnessed monohaul being pulled to side to get through channel by 2 motor boats attached to halyard and hull. Motored up beautiful river to fishing village.

9 knot winds on nose and flat conditions. Storm last night changed winds 180 degrees. Motored to Muell Livingston for check in to Guatemala. Channel was 5.9 to 7 feet deep.

15-25 knot winds on broad reach. Waves 2-3 feet and surfing. Sailed wing on wing for short time. Pulled into anchorage before storm with up to 30 knot gusts.

20 knot true winds close reach sail with winds and direction changing to broad reach sail. 2 ft waves sailing with Bokensha and Novastar. Auto pilot quit for Bokensha as hydraulic fluid leaked out.

Very rough choppy conditions in Belize city Anchorage so we decided to leave and go south towards Guatemala and bypass check in in Belize. We have heard of the challenges, fees, and so have decided to move on. Sailed in 18-24 knot winds to small uninhabited island.

11-21 knots wind close reach to beam. Waves up to 7 feet. Captained boat with Michael during day with Bokensha and switched in late afternoon at Mahuhal Cruise port with Mark and Michael while slowly moving to carry on to Belize. The swell was too big and unprotected to anchor in Muhuhal. Michael needed internet to work so we sailed together during work hours since his Starlink quit. A boat with flashing lights seemed to zoom by and then turn around and track us just after dark. Novastar who was 5 nm ahead forewarned that they just inquired with a boat that seemed to track them and it was some sort of authority. We did the same and they wanted to know who was aboard and our intentions. The sail at night averaged 8 knots even with a reef. It was a fast sail under full moon and amazing.

11-15 knot winds and up to 5 foot waves. Close hauled sail behind reef. Close reach to beam on other side as winds adjusted from SE to E. Anchored behind long reef. Port side scraped some shallow rocks not marked proper depth on maps. Accessed the damage upon anchoring. Keel with paint scrape across about 1 ft from bottom. Rudder with 2 inch corner of leading edge on outside. Inch in length scrape about 1-2 mm deep within fiberglass.