12 Oct - Today was our departure day for Mexico.  WE checked the weather (looked like it would be a no wind trip) and calculated that, to arrive in Ensenada in daylight we should leave around 6:30pm, just light enough to still see whilst exiting the harbour but then with a 12 hour run to hopefully get to Ensenada in the early morning.  With everything sorted we took it easy for most of the day.  Late morning we went for a walk along the waterfront again and on getting back ot he boat, we readied her for her journey and settled down to try and sleep in the afternoon before our departure. 

As 18:30 approached we got ready to leave and turned the key in the engine - no response! - our old gremlin with the engine starter had come back.  After some fiddling and jiggling of the key, wiring etc. it did eventually start but as ever this knocked our confidence.  At least we had a spare key barrel to fit when we got to Ensenada.  We eventually left to a beautiful sunset and motored out of the harbor against the flow of traffic with many pleasure boats heading back in after the weekend.  Once clear of the harbor the wind was, as expected, light and on the nose so we settled into our routine.  As we pushed on and we headed onto our main course for the night around 23:00 the wind started to get up and the swell increased.  By the time I got up for my shift at midnight the sea was decidedly choppy with the wind right on the nose.

13 Oct - As we continued into the night the wind kept up around 12 - 15 knots right on our nose.  The wind was blowing directly against the 2m swell and so causing a horrible chop as we motored into it causing the boat to hobby horse quite badly. During the 03:00 - 06:00 wash the wind kept building and by 06:00 it was blowing up to 20 knots and causing us to slam badly into the oncoming waves and significantly reducing our speed.  With little alternative though we kept plodding away in the uncomfortable sea. 

Around 07:00 the engine started to 'bog down' every so often.  After checking all the possible reasons we agreed that it was probably blocked fuel filters after the heavy shaking and slamming the boat had taken had loosened some dirt in the fuel tank.  We carried on doggedly though as we were not keen to turn the engine off (in case it wouldn't start again!) and with the wind right on the nose, didn't want to have to sail  Every time the engine slowed though our hearts were in our mouths as we wondered if the revs would pick up again or the engine would just die. With the slow pace of our journey we were still 4 hours from Ensenada and so the intervening time was very nerve racking in the messy seas.  Thankfully as we approached Ensenada the wind died and so we were just left with the significant swell that actually helped us along for the last hour into the harbour.

On arrival at around 11:00 there was a welcoming committee from the Cruiseport Marina staff who took our lines and had us sign a few forms.  As soon as we had stopped Octavio whisked us up to the office to fill out more paperwork and, even though we were both dog tired (having not slept well during our trip down) we were then driven to the Port Captains office to sort out immigration, importing the boat and getting our cruising approvals for our first Mexican port.  Timo (?) was incredibly helpful in shepherding all the paperwork needed through the various teams and explaining to us everything that was going on - a very valuable service provided by Cruiseport Marina and a great introduction to the paperwork dance we can expect at each new country. Back at the boat by 12:00 we did a few cursory checks to make sure she was ok and then crashed out until 17:00.  We hen had a very quiet evening and were asleep by 21:00

14 Oct - After a blissful and quiet night's sleep catching up from the previous day, we woke to overcast skies and two massive cruise ships docked either side of our marina.  We took advantage of the showers and facilities at the dock and, after a good breakfast, set off to explore our first Mexican town.  Reading about Ensenada we had learnt that the first couple of streets would be very westernized, set up to serve the Cruise Ship market and se we pushed past these initially to investigate more 'authentic' Ensenada and we soon found the locals main drag.  Walking its length was an experience as we started adjusting to the sights and sounds of Mexico; our poor Spanish not helping us much but at least raising a smile from the locals. We picked up some cash and also some staples at a supermarket and then headed back to the boat. 

After lunch and a siesta we started on our to do list which was fairly substantial considering the problems we had experienced of the last few days.  With a month to address them though we could take our time.  Later in the day I had a go at fixing our internet but realized I was missing a part so we headed back into town to find an electrics store.  After some hunting and directions from locals we were successful in finding the part but, on returning to the boat, sadly it didn't help fixing the problem.  We ended up agreeing to using more basic means with the internet instead of having our 'elegant' solution that I had been trying to get working. In the evening, after diner we went for another stroll around town, this time sticking closer to the waterfront.  With both cruise liners gone, this was now a ghost town but all kept remarkably clean and tidy.