SAILING WITH SANTA?

If two years in a row makes an annual tradition, then we've just had our traditional Christmas dinner at the (ahem) Yacht Club. It's the only time of year I know of, when we riffraff who haven't signed up are welcome to join the members for libations and semi-potluck dinner (ham, scalloped potatoes and LOTS of desserts) in their classy digs, and have catch-up chats with people we haven't seen for months.

Our friend and fellow blogger (Ferroever), the skipper of "Arigato! Jack" (who recently promoted herself to Admiral) crashed the party for an hour or two, so I introduced her to her new crewmember (more about that in a minute) and got a photo of her with no hat, kerchief or other headcovering...a very rare occurrence indeed.

The new crew is compliments of the grateful gaggle of feral felines who live around our house and would starve when we're away if it weren't for our amiga Maria, who comes over daily to feed them, at least as long as she's in town. Since she has a sweet spot for the species, said crew is a cat who will cause no quarantine problems on voyages to Australia, French Polynesia, and other stuffy ports where the natives consider any pets other than their own to be scrofulous, disease-ridden vermin. Humph!

We also talked to Ray from "Pavane," who will be sailing south about the same time we are, about buddy-boating. He takes a unique approach: instead of gunkholing here and there all the way down as most people do (spending like...well, drunken sailors), he leaves the anchorage, turns left and goes straight to Barra de Navidad. Not as easy as it sounds. He says it takes about eight days of sailing (literally...he very seldom turns on his motor). "Pavane" is a Cape George, faster than our Morgan, so even if we motor we may lose him along the way, but at least it helps us set a goal for getting started.

Pogonophiles take note: This time of year, Ray, with his snowy white beard and red & white hat, makes you think of Santa Claus, but the rest of the year he's just another old salt. This is a great place for people who like facial fur.

So now we're actually looking at a possible date (Jan. 7, mas o menos) for cutting loose the mooring and getting underway! Zihuatanejo, here we come!