This blog is by Kris, who received e-mails from Suzi and David on Dec. 1 & 2. (They are having issues with posting blogs and asked me to give them a hand until they get the hang of it.)  

The two intrepid sailors are currently resting up in Turtle Bay below Guerrero Negro after a rigorous sail from Mission Bay. Suzi commented, "I had forgotten from long ago about the first few days out. Being out at sea, especially not able to go downwind effectively (like we did in Hawaii) is very intense. The stomach tightens up and I forget to breathe correctly sometimes, which makes me feel a bit queazy when down below trying to get warm soup or something easy ready to eat. Watches at night are exhausting, and after two days David and I tried to make our night watches 3 hours instead of 4 hours. Sleep deprivation sets in, and all your body wants to do is sleep. The first night we frayed the reefing line in the main, and David, bless his amazing skills, was able to tie a new knot in the reefing line. Other lines in the headsail got pretty beat up from radical flopping when waves would hit us and drive us downwind and then back up. As you can tell, being out at sea is really intense and it was sooooo wonderful coming into the Bay of the Turtle. Phew!!!!" 

David's birthday was Nov. 29, but since he was in survival mode then (they also ripped their asymmetrical spinnaker), he didn't get around to celebrating it until Dec. 1 in Turtle Bay. David did say, however, "All in all, it was a great sail down, and we still love each other in spite of it all."

Tomorrow (Wed., Dec. 3) they will take off for Bahia Santa Maria, which I haven't yet located on my Baja map. I think it's another two day sail. Prior to closing her e-mail, Suzi added, "As we head out to sea, I focus on wonderful warm wind whisking us down the coast to our next stop. I now understand why many people who cruise tend to find niches where they feel comfortable to rest for a while. It is hard out there!!!!!! Yahoo! On the other side of those thoughts, the intense color blue surrounds us and carries us wherever we are going. Dolphins escorted us out to sea off of San Diego and met us as we got close to Bahia de Tortuga. The stars are incredible . . . they are everywhere across the clear sky."