15. A passage to Cuba

Tomorrow, two friends and I sail a 42 foot Fontaine Pajot catamaran to Cienfuegos in Cuba. We start out from Rio Dulce, Guatemala and hope , weather permitting, to reach Cuba after 5 days and nights of sailing. The return trip will go via Cayman Islands and the Bay Islands in Honduras.

Unfortunately, the wind is coming from the northeast, which may force us to run along Belize to the tip of Yucatan, Mexico and then cross over to Cabo San Antonio. Cuba.



To give you an idea how mariners inform themselves about marine weather, here are the principal sites of the NOAA. They are updated every hour, so you will automatically get the actual weather.

1. Caribbean forecast:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAOFFNT3.shtml

2. Wind wave chart:
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/PWEE89.gif

3. Wave direction and period :
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/PJEI88.gif

4. Satellite image:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/carb/ir2-l.jpg

We will head for Cienfuegos, the second largest port in Cuba, nicknamed ¨The southern Pearl¨ and situated on a magnificent bay, erstwhile refuge for pirates and corsairs.

By next week we will be sipping Daiquiris in the famous Club Nautico on the waterfront in Cienfuegos, see picture.

And two weeks later we hope to be lounging on one of the beaches in the Bay Islands in Honduras.

Here a picture of me chilling out on the beach of Chachahuate in the Cochino Archipelago.

Now let´s not forget why we are here: THE TRANS AMERICA RIDE!!

The target of the ride is to raise $10.00 for each mile of the ride, which would make a total of around $35,000.00

I you decide to support this ride, you may:

1. Buy miles: Buy one or more miles at $10.00 per mile. There are 3,500 miles to be sold.
2. Sponsor a local event when I am in your area (a ride, a barbecue) for a $200.00 minimum.
3. Become a Student Sponsor at Ak´Tenamit for $30.00 (one month) or $360.00 per year
4. Become a Health Care Partner for $10.00 or $120.00 per year.

All funds should end up in the GUATEMALA TOMORROW FUND in the United States.

If you would like to sponsor a child, become a Health Care partner or simply want to buy one of the 3500 miles of the ride , just go to http://guatfund.org/

tick the box ¨Trans America ride¨and authorize a charge to your credit card.

For more information on ways to donate , see Chapter 5 of this Blog.

14. The BMW Superbike S 1000 RR is fast...VERY FAST!!

Finally, it's here--BMW's first-ever superbike for the road, the new 2010 BMW S 1000 RR.

BMW Superbike

Nothing else in the BMW model lineup can prepare you for the S 1000 RR. But, if you're used to Japanese sportbikes of the highest caliber, then you'll still feel right at home. If you are looking for the best Bavaria has to offer, the name isn't HP2 Sport, K or R any longer--it's now spelled BMW S 1000 RR. As far as the big four Japanese goes, I predict that in a couple of years we'll be referring to the big five: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.
Tor Sagen

Weight 204 kg, 193 HP, an aluminium bridge-type frame, radial brakes, a super sporty tail-up nose-down design, hot colours and the ultimate combination of optional electronic rider assistance systems: the first genuine racing ABS, the lightest of it's kind, and dynamic traction control (DTC) which adjusts engine torque to the current level of grip, ensuring optimum traction out of every corner.

BMW

NOW IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS BIKE, CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW:

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=1a44babcad&view=att&th=127da6e7e020984e&attid=0.1&disp=attd&zw

13. Rio Dulce, a hidden paradise for sailors

Río Dulce ("Sweet River") is a river in Guatemala, part of a lake and river system that has become a popular cruising sailboat destination.

It starts at the large fresh water lake, Izabal, an entrance guarded by a small Spanish colonial fort, the Castillo de San Felipe, built to stop pirates entering the lake from the Caribbean when this part of Central America was an important shipping staging point.

Just after the river flows from Lake Izabal it is spanned by one of the biggest bridges in Central America. On one side of the bridge is the town of Fronteras, commonly referred to by the name Río Dulce, the local center of commerce for the area.
It then enters a second lake, Golfete, which has an island and a large natural anchorage. A few houses and a couple of small businesses line the shore.
From El Golfete the river meanders for six miles (10 km) in a spectacular gorge. The sides of the gorge rise up to 300 feet (91 m) on either side and are covered with teak, mahogany and palms. Wild flowers bloom throughout the foliage and howler monkeys and toucans can be seen. Waterfalls flow over the lip of the gorge after rainfall.
The river enters the Caribbean sea near the Garifuna town of Livingston.

Great landscapes, jungle wildlife and friendly Maya people make this a memorable stay.
Sailing is superb in 15 to 20 knot Northeast trades, in flat water.
The recently founded Rio Dulce Yacht Club is organizing regattas on Lake Izabal and in the Bay of Amatique, the next one scheduled for August 2010.

We spent a leisurely week on our boat, going downriver to the picturesque Caribbean town of Livingston, enjoying the local Garifuna food, coconut bread and tapado ( like bouillabaise), and freshly caught river bass, see picture!
Sea water had been flooding the river, bringing an unexpected boon of big saltwater shrimp to the local fishermen and delicious meals to us.













The weather was cool, but this little feller found out how to keep warm over the aircon exhaust!

To know more about this little paradise, check out the following website:

http://www.mayaparadise.com/

http://www.eveandersson.com/guatemala/rio-dulce

Ak´tenamit is located on the Rio Dulce and a tributary.
Treat yourself to a wonderful vacation and visit the project.

Please sponsor a student and transform a young life.

Ak ´ Tenamit depends on donations to cover its cost of operation and to keep 500 children fed, housed, healthy and in school and the facilities in good repair.

The target of the Trans America ride is to raise $10.00 for each mile of the ride, which would make a total of around $35,000.00

I you decide to support this ride, you may:

1. Buy miles: Buy one or more miles at $10.00 per mile. There are 3,500 miles to be sold.
2. Sponsor a local event when I am in your area (a ride, a barbecue) for a $200.00 minimum.
3. Become a Student Sponsor at Ak´Tenamit for $30.00 (one month) or $360.00 per year
4. Become a Health Care Partner for $10.00 or $120.00 per year.

All funds should end up in the GUATEMALA TOMORROW FUND in the United States.

If you would like to sponsor a child, become a Health Care partner or simply want to buy one of the 3500 miles of the ride , just go to http://guatfund.org/

tick the box ¨Trans America ride¨and authorize a charge to your credit card.

For more information on ways to donate , see Chapter 5 of this Blog.


LIFE IS GREAT, ENJOY THE RIDE
Jean Vayssier, The Riding Dutchman