Tsunami in La Cruz

We woke Thursday morning to the devastating news of Japan's earthquake and the inevitable tsunami to follow. Last year, Chile's earthquake shook Mexico's gold coast just barely; we were in Mazatlan and felt absolutely nothing. So, the news of a forthcoming tsunami in La Cruz was nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders for us.

Hotspur is in a single slip on Dock 3 in the La Cruz Marina. We have the option to tie up on two sides. Jim went to the store and I stayed behind cleaning the boat like any normal day. When someone on the radio announced that Santa Cruz, CA had severe damage in the marina, I linked to the internet news and began to have panicky thoughts after seeing the photos. I began to get the kids to help get the boat ready to go: dishes put away, radar uncovered and on, decks clear of clutter, covers off front of dodger, etc...

Jim returned around 18:30 Zulu - an hour before the estimated tsunami surge for our area. The biggest worry was not about dying, getting drowned or taking on water - our worry was about the water LEAVING the marina and damage to the boat. Jim made the call to clear out. Since we are "self-insured", I felt this was the best call.

We scooped up Maia from s/v Ceilydh and left Tim behind to help out Diane. Evan was in Puerto Vallarta to pick up his impellers - Ceilydh was going to have to stay at the dock. We escaped the channel and began a lovely day sail; 18 knots on the port beam. Beautiful! The Bandera Bay Regatta was canceled due to the tsunami. But it didn't look like it - tons of boats dotted the horizon and sails billowed with beautiful breeze.

We stayed the night in the anchorage due to the Port Captain refusing entry to anyone - aftershock quakes and tsunami's expected. We re-entered the marina this morning - only damage has been two fingers that were ripped off Dock 11 and electricity outage on Dock 10.