Richard on Dauntless is headed north

Well - for those of us who follow his travels , an FYI for you all.

Richard is again underway & left Costa Rica & is headed north on his Great little Kadey-Krogen 42 -- " Dauntless ".

You can follow him on his web-site.


https://share.delorme.com/dauntless

The bash north begins anew.

Alfa Mike

I've been chatting with him and he sure would like someone to join him for a leg or two up to Mexico. Seems all the people who offered to go suddenly disappeared.

Dauntless anchored for the night tonight

Well Richard on "Dauntless" is slowly working his way north out of Southern Costa Rica at Golfito where he was at the "Bent Hook Marina".

Currently anchored a little more north in the Costa Rican Bay called -- Bahia Drake - but it is a rolley anchorage.

Then he will rest some, eat some & move to next jump spot when ready.

Unfortunately his 1 crew guy that was going with him decided to pass on the trip at the last minute, so he is on his own.

So he is traveling alone on this stretch.

Any one want a interesting boat trip. The help would be appreciated.

Alfa Mike

I would do it in a heartbeat if it weren't for that whole "having to work" thing.

Isn't hurricane season down there?

I get sea sick

Do you need a passport for Costa Rica or can you do it on a drivers license?

Probably not the dumbest thing I've ever done....

A C15 to Catalina in the fog might qualify....or close enough for public forums...

Now at Bahia Dominical - Anchored

You need a US Valid Passport.

Only Canada can be done with an enhanced Drivers license that I know of.

For all the Central American countries from Mexico south, you need a passport. Also to get back into USA, you need a passport as well.

Richard is tonight anchored now in Bahia Dominical in Costa Rica.

So the trip north continues one little step at a time.

Alfa Mike

Dautnless continues to head north in small steps

Here is the Latest word from Richard on "Dauntless" heading up the pacific west coast going up through Costa Rica & continue making his way north.
Currently approaching the general area of " Puntarenas" in north western Costa Rica as we speak.

BTW - not hurricane season this far south - he is below the hurricane belt, just lots of rain. NO Hurricanes in this area at this time.

Plan so far is to be Headed more north a little jump to "Bahia Herradura" on the east side of the Gulf.

Then hoping to press on the next day go across neck of the gulf to "Isla Centos" & "Jessusita" which is said to be a great Anchorage.

He is trying to just stop for overnight rest for the night & then press on to the next anchorage the next morning.

With no crew & him being alone he can not do non stop for days & days of non-stop cruising as it is just to dangerous.

Still looking for crew that can fly down to join him so they can run 24 / 7 & put some sea miles under their belt.


It is really better to have at least one more crew.


I would go myself & help him out except my job is not such that I can just take off at this time.

More info to come.

Thanks.

Alfa Mike

Why is he in such a hurry and wanting to run 24/7?

- Wants to run longer - but no crew - Hot humid weather not fun.

Why so much in a hurry.

Well he is not exactly speeding along at top speed, as his most efficient speed is about 6 knots or so & he is on a budget to keep expenses down when he can. So that is his average traveling speed - give or take a knot. But if he could go 24 hours a day he sure could cover double the distance a day or more & a lot more open sea miles that just traveling the 8 to 12 hours a day of reliable day light at sea & then turning back to the coast to find an anchorage. So he is often currently useing good part of the day just going in to anchorage & back out to sea - back & forth to various anchorages.

Richard does not like 95 % to 99% humidity & 90 to 100 + Degrees weather day in & day out in this area when they are combined at the same time. The heat & humidity is often oppressive & saps your energy.

So he is just going through this area, to get through it & come out the other side, to go to another area, one he actually wants to go to, up north.

He has already done the visiting & vacationing in Costa Rica & the tourist thing in Costa Rica previously in his past & not needing or wanting to do it again all by himself. -- So Already -- been there - done that --- !

He does need to be in New York at beginning of October. So needs to get the boat way more north before then.

It is a lot slower going by yourself, as he must stop most nights to get some sleep & prep & eat meals, do maintenance, etc.

It is not as much fun by yourself & to be all alone & such when your exploring those places.

He is actually not in this location to visit Coast Rica - he is just passing through - as he is a traveler (Not a cruiser) -- and is on his way from Northern Europe - through the Panama Canal - to go to the North Pacific & then Asia in his KK42.

So he is just passing through.

So he is a traveler.

Alfa Mike


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Update. -- 07-19/2017 @ 5:45 pm Pacific Daylight Time


"Dauntless" has successfully crossed the "Gulf of Nicoya" in Costa Rica & is now anchored behind "Isla Cedros", which is in the "Bahia Paquera" .
That in turn is across from & south of " Puntarenas".
He is within sight of the ferry landing at Paquera - maybe a mile or 2 away or so, where the ferry docks that runs back & forth from city of "Puntarenas" to town of "Paquera".
If the anchorage turns out to be a good one that we think it will be - he will Probably stay there a couple nights to rest & such.
Note - there are very strong tidal currents in this area due to tide changes & this large body of water that is north of here in this bigger bay above Puntarenas. He is near the entrance - so strongest tidal flow is there.

alfamike said:

You need a US Valid Passport.

Only Canada can be done with an enhanced Drivers license that I know of.
...

Click to expand...

Maybe so, but with my travel there last month, the cruise line required a passport between USA and Canada.

Get a passport!

I understand why he's doing it but it's that round-the-clock schedule that would keep me from volunteering. (Well....that and the fact that I have no real blue water experience...)

I'd want to stop and smell the roses.

Around the clock happens. I have done it more than originally planned. It happens. To stay on schedule (necessity for weather etc.), or sometimes lingered to long smelling the roses. 2-3 days at sea equals 2 weeks gunk holing. If anyone can help and is even considering the Caribbean past the Bahamas, this is invaluable experience. If you think you are going to do 8 hour days down the islands, you are misinformed.

Running - Round the clock

I have done it many times. Some times you have no choice if you want to make some time & put sea miles under the keel.

it's not for everyone.

Key - you need multiple crew members to rotate shift.

I recommend three as minimum.

4 or 5 is better. However I would say 5 is the max for a KK 42 footer as no more room to sleep them all comfortably while underway.

Also, One being the cook that does the 1 single Cooks watch which is a day shift only, as they are also preparing the food for the crew which is usually 3 meals & also snacks for the graveyard shift.

So properly trained & manned it is fine on the right boat that is properly equipped & that has those capabilities.

So not to bad, even fun with right personalities.

But not for every one.

In fact, ocean passage making in general, is not for everyone.

However, I do enjoy it.

Alfa Mike

I hope Richard gets use to the heat. It doesn't get any better till October or till he gets north of Cabo on the outside.

He is approaching, or has just passed, Flamingo Bay in the NW part of CR - incredible bill fishing! Several world records for marlin and sailfish from there. Had the chance to fish there several times on 'business trips'. My clients were charter members of the Nat Billfishing Assoc, and they were 'catch and release' only - quick photo, tag the fish, and back they went into the deep. But lots of fun
Maybe he can slow down and fish for a day or two.

Looks like he is taking a lay day. Looks like a neat spot.

On the move again!!

update

Update. -- Saturday night - 07/22/2017 -- 8:00 pm PDT.

Richard on Dauntless did another jump today to Bahia Guacamaya.

He will probably stay there till Monday.

So another step further north.

I believe he now has a volunteer crew member coming down that will join him soon, So that will be better & safer.

Stay tuned for more info as it is available.

Thanks.

Alfa Mike

alfamike said:

Unfortunately his 1 crew guy that was going with him decided to pass on the trip at the last minute, so he is on his own.

Click to expand...

Sorry you had to deal with this Richard.
This would make me furious, especially at the last minute

I see Richards staged to cross the Papagayo winds. Right now they're blowing pretty good. Hopefully they'll lighten up for him.

Staged to head north - New crew member joined boat

UPDATE:

That is correct - He is preparing to jump off for the trek to southern Mexico across the Papagayo gulf area & the winds there.

He today is currently in the harbor at "Playa del Coco" which is a great protected harbor & is where the Costa Rica Port Captain is located to get his "Zarpe" & port clearance to leave CR.

Only bad thing about "Coco's" is that to get ashore there you have no docks & such, as the old wharf has never been rebuilt. So you need to land through the surf to get ashore, which can be a tricky & wet ordeal.

He does have some good news to report, in that a new crew member yesterday has joined the Dauntless adventure for a 10 day stint. His name is Cliff & he will be on Dauntless till the 2nd of August or so. By then they hope to be at the first southern port in southern Mexico.

So plan is, get exit papers done, then prep for departure - head up to "Bahia Santa Elena", which is the most northern uninhabited anchorage area near the Nicaragua border, but still in CR, & wait for weather window to cross the Gulf of Papagayo, then go like hell.

Right now the weather guessers say the weather window looks to be coming July 28th through the 31st. They will skip all the other smaller Central American countries & anchorages in between & make southern Mexico their next port of call once they make the jump off.

So that is the plan & we will see how it goes.

As always wishing them smooth seas.

Alfa Mike

Cheers Richard!

That's a nice area, if ya had more time to explore, but so many places to go, so many weather windows and of course time in general.
Fair winds bud, "Pairadice" is watching and saying a few prayers for ya!

FlyWright said:

I understand why he's doing it but it's that round-the-clock schedule that would keep me from volunteering. (Well....that and the fact that I have no real blue water experience...)

I'd want to stop and smell the roses.

Click to expand...

I'm with you on that. Even if you don't want to smell the roses, make it something more palatable. I'd even go as far as 13 or 14 hour days, but then ten off to rest, relax, and sleep. To each their own. Just seems a bit oxymoronic to hurry at 6 knots.

UPDATE - 7/28/17 - Dauntless Continueing North.

Friday, July 28, 2017 - UPDATE. -- Dauntless on the move again !

Well at 7:00 am this Friday morning the Skipper, Richard, & new crewman, Cliff, departed from North West Costa Rica for the last time & are headed North once again in their trusty Kadey-Krogen 42.

Destination is a Direct offshore open ocean multiday passage to Mexico, with no stops planned for those in-between countries of Nicaragua, Guatemala & El Salvador.

They got the weather window they needed for transit of the Gulf of Papagayo area crossing that they needed & cast off to again continue going north.

Next stop is Porto Madero / Tapachula / Chiapas area in South West Mexico.

Wishing them smooth seas & fair winds.

Alfa Mike

Does Dauntless have SSB?

Looks like pretty good weather conditions through Monday, then a low shows up.

Dauntless - Progress so far as headed North

UPDATE - Saturday - July 29th -- Noon time.

Dauntless is still running north up the Pacific Coast of Central America - Staying well off shore & away from Nicaragua, etc.

They are running close to parallel with coast line. Actual Progress north, as to how far north so far, they have reached the Nicaragua north border to El Salvador south border line where those two meet.

Weather: - they currently have a following current, don't know how long it will last, that is giving them a half knot or so boost in speed.
Having the stabilizer flopper stopper birds deployed for less rolling & better ride & they also get a plus, as they do help a little accentuate the following currents pull on them, so no complaints with that.
Engine cruising & running with no stress on it at 1600 RPM - so Cruising at 5.6 knots with stabilizer birds in water - but doing SOG of 6.3 to 6.5 knots on GPS. Normally Birds slow them down a 1/2 knot.

Winds are on the beam. - have been consistently @ 040 to 070 degrees since departure. 18 to 33 knots yesterday. then 15 to 25 knots this morning. then suddenly now 5 to 10 knots for last hour, but probably won't hold at that comfortable wind speed as sun marches across the sky.

Seas are coming from a general north direction & hitting them on Forward Stbd quarter of bow. (Rt front bow area).

So about two more days to go & then they hope to arrive into Mexico on Monday the 31st.


Alfa Mike

See Dick run! Run, Dick, run!

https://share.delorme.com/dauntless