Two Clowns Cross the Pacific in a Small Boat

By John Champion

Tells of a sailing journey from San Diego to Australia in a 40 foot sailing boat. Covers Mexico, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji. Also has a chapter on various events "that were too much fun," for the crew. Includes useful detail on various formalities required in the respective ports of call. Chapters on each of the destinations mentioned above and a final chapter on comical (in hindsight) misadventures the crew experienced. Features a fun and farcical quiz to test a readers understanding of the events. Not to be taken seriously!

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Champion
• Release date: Sep 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301271160

John Champion

The author, John Champion is currently living aboard in Malaysia after a three year stint working in the marine electrics industry in Thailand. A regular writer for sailing magazines he has lived aboard since 1999 and sailed perhaps 22 000 sea miles. Much work in sail training and the charter industry has allowed him to test many dozens of different yachts and catamarans. He now needs a bigger boat so please buy a copy for a friend!

Book preview

Two clowns cross the Pacific in a small boat.

John Champion

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 John Champion

Chapter 1.Cactus, Cowboys & Tequila,the clowns cruise in Mexico.

Each year literally thousands of North Americans (and a few Australians, Kiwis and other robust hearts,) head south to escape the northern winter in sunny Mexico. Boats, sail and power, of most shapes and sizes make their way here by numerous means. Some cruise individually down the west coast of the Baja Peninsula, others come with buddy boats, and some come en masse, in the Baja Ha Ha. This rally leaves southern California each year in October (Autumn) and proceeds down the coast in a group. Americans are a gregarious race and this rally is well patronised to the tune of 50 odd boats cruising together. I could think of little worse unless it meant not seeing Mexico and there are no shortage of American sailors with the same opinion. Life with a couple of hundred wiener roasters shrieking about the superbowl or some celebrities new haircut or lawsuit may not be to our taste but if this is the only option then it should be taken. Mexico is that good. Others tow trailer sailers and launch at will. Many end up staying far longer than originally intended if the number of ex-pat live aboards are any indication. Whatever the reasons, whatever the boat, I can understand, Mexico is just a superb place to be on the water.

Ensenada (this is a town, not a meal)

Our introduction to Mexico was Ensenada. This all weather commercial harbour and anchorage is about 60 miles south of San Diego and the US/Mexico border. We had to leave the States in a big hurry and the plan was to put the boat together in Ensenada and cruise south from there. We figured to book into a marina for a week so as to have power for the tools and a stable work platform. This was not to be, getting a berth in Ensenada was as likely as finding a room in Bethlehem 2000 odd years ago. As a consequence of Californian taxes numerous people buy their boats offshore, keep them in Ensenada for three months, (recent law changes now require the boat to be out of the country for one year) and avoid the 7 or 8% tax payable when you buy any boat, new or used. So berths are scarce. Anchoring out is no problem (there is a half sunken ferry which is home to a sea lion colony you can anchor near that is interesting) but when you want to dinghy ashore someone (one of the marinas) is going to have to get paid for the landing privilege. Ensenada is a cruise ship destination getting perhaps four ships per week. Naturally the local tourist industry goes into a feeding