Leaving Guatemala over the sand bar at Livingston I went aground for the second year running, and yet again called for Hector to pull me across. From there I anchored at Tres Puntas until 11pm and set off on an overnight passage to Placencia in Belize.
I’m now cleared in to Belize and moored in Placencia Yacht Club which is in the feature image above, and the sunrise reflected in the distant clouds.
It’s now the last week of February, and I’m now settled in to one of my happy places…Placencia. But I’m unsettled in my mind…I think I’ve reached the end of my sailing adventure and I’m ready to begin the next adventure of life on a canal boat in the UK. This will involve the winters spent backpacking overseas while the canal boat is safe in a marina, and then the summers spent cruising the canals. So while at the very beginning the sale process for the Wildbeast I made contact with a guy in Rio Dulce who wanted a sail boat ready for immediate ocean passages! But after great discussions my lowest selling price was still above his highest price…so I pulled out of the discussions, and I’m contemplating my vague plan. But certainly, for now I’ll remain in my happy place, Placencia.
Over the next few days I said goodbye to cruising friends, Debra & Adam and Sophie & Jerry, who are sailing away in different directions to new adventures.
Well, the negotiations to sell the Wildbeast are back on track and I have proposed a date to re-enter Guatemala in order to progress our discussions face to face. Carl & Jill, on MV Searcher pulled together a celebration of my future plans with a last night in Placencia Yacht Club, and their pièce de résistance was a round of “little beers” prepared with Licor 43 and cream.
Steve & Diane and Ralph completed the gang. The next, and final, day in Placencia began with a trip to Independence to clear out of Belize, and by mid afternoon I motored into the anchorage to say goodbye to Russ on SY Tautog. After hoisting full sails and setting Gloria, the Hydrovane, to steer the Wildbeast 40nm to Tres Puntas in a fabulous average speed of 6.5 kts. I dropped anchor in a delightfully quiet Tres Puntas at 10pm for a welcome nights sleep.
In the morning I lifted anchor at 8am for a peaceful three hour motor to Livingston. Although I had chosen a day of a 1.6m high water forecast for 11am I was concerned about my grounding earlier this year.
I reality the passage across the sand bar was uneventful, and I anchored in front of Livingston to clear in to Guatemala, and to meet Francesco who is keen to learn all about the Wildbeast and negotiate a purchasing deal.
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