I used my “Performa” (16.3 feet) with built in compass. Had a Garmin GPS but only used it for statistics. Picked up the windy hours (2 to 5 PM) with southeasterns at 10-15 mph. Coincided with low tide. Waves were 1.5 to 3 feet, eventually 4 and about 4 when breaking at the low reefs that I had to cross.

The ship channel of the most important port in Mexico lies in between the two islands. Wind was blowing form the South East, and both Islands were in line at 40 degrees from Magnetic North in an almost North-East direction.

Water current was moving almost West at a rate of probably 2.0 mph. Going to the Islands implied surmounting waves mostly coming from my front right quarter. The kayak is not meant to have a rudder, so just leaning and with eventual sweep strokes I could keep course. At first I found it difficult to lean; too choppy. I remembered some well behaved wave patterns in the Pacific at San Blas. After a few minutes I got used to it.

I was paddling steadily but moving slowly up to the first Island called “Isla de Sacrificios”. (The name reminds of sacrifices of conquered Indians in the Prespanish times and of French soldiers during the French occupation in the 1850’s.)

Some tourists, that arrived in a motor boat, watched sharks confined in a square area surrounded by a hopefully solid net, close to the concrete ship that half sank there about 100 years ago. They all looked at me half surprised half amused, and made comments. One sailor balancing in a hammock watched the Island entrance because tourists are not allowed to walk in. I asked for permission to rest in the sand and drank some water.

The sand was clean and smooth and water so transparent you could see 5 or 6 feet under. The bottom was full of urchins, sand, corals and algae.

As I surrounded the island there was in front of me a low reef, made possibly of coral built on the ship channel dredged material, very irregular, standing one or two feet above the water and extending a long way to each side of the island. I didn't want to go around so looked for a passage and saw one that would fill every time a wave would come in, and show rocks when it retreated. With good timing I passed through, barely clearing the bottom, and maneuvering to avoid front objects.

Once out, waves were steep because the shallow reef extended out a bit. After passing shallow waters I saw fishermen in a motor boat, casting their net near a perpendicular reef that seemed to grow a bit into the channel. I saw some black flippers splashing every now and then and thought of dolphins until I saw a snorkeling diver using a long pair of fins. I got close, greeted the fishermen who looked at me as if I was an alien and told them I was kind of lost and wanted to know where the port of “Tampico” was. They were astounded and signaled north. I told them I was kidding since I know Tampico is something like 250 miles away. We talked and I asked them how far the ship channel started and if there was some kind of signaling but there was not. Wished them good fishing and safe trip back and went on.

I started crossing and saw many ships kind of stationary, except for one that seemed to be getting closer as I moved. I would stop for a while and then paddle hard, until I realized that it was not moving and was growing because I was getting nearer.

I went for the crossing until I saw shallower water. Once in the Island I rested all alone in the white sand watching some nice tree dry pieces that would make a great camping fire, or a modern sculpture. Water was clear, temperature just right, beautiful sight to the island and coast.

I left some stuff and did a couple of rolls and went back to get ready for my return crossing. I opened the front hatch and had about 3 gallons of water and the neoprene cover floating. The boat had been repaired in my shop and the cover was left inside. I was so glad I didn’t capsize or attempt a roll out in the channel. The back hatch cover was OK and totally dry.

Going back I learned that navigation has its details. I pointed to the Island with my compass at the correct 220 degrees, but the current was so strong that when I stopped to accommodate the GPS on my deck for a good speed reading I noticed that without paddling I was making about 2.0 mph, to the right side of the island. Since I could see the island well I just pointed to it. Islands are tricky because they look almost the same from all sides and as I got close at a very fast rate, I didn't realize how much North I had drifted.

When I wanted to speed I would turn the bow down wave and I would accelerate. Unfortunately I had to paddle most of the time sideways with left coming waves. The kayak handled great in spite of wind and currents. I have been in kayaks that you must keep paddling on one side only until exhaustion. Here I paddled evenly on both sides, except when I had to paddle-rudder a little bit on a passing wave. Perhaps I only felt a little broaching in slow slope swell and a little leecocking on steep fronts. Nothing that could not be easily corrected pushing to the proper direction with the hips while paddling.

Now, the trick was to find the reef entrance. I got close to the rocks and couldn't find it. I realized that since I had drifted North I was by the outer going reef and waves were pushing me against the rocks. I don't know how close a call that was, but I turned around and started going out just where waves were rising ready to break on me. Two times I had to brace leaning to the wave, and paddled hard to get out. At 2.0 mph water plus rising wave I really needed power to start gaining terrain. But I did get out and started paddling south climbing on waves again. I passed the outgoing reef and saw the longitudinal reef that I had crossed but no clearance. I figured that I needed to surmount some more of the current and finally saw it. Now the problem was to find the right wave, since it really looked too shallow and too rocky. I was not ready to broach and glide sideways through a 6 foot window with a 16.3’ kayak.

I lined myself properly with the coming waves, picked up one and went in smoothly, avoiding obstacles. I was so glad that the boat surfs so nicely. Tide was so low that I felt a couple of hull scratches. Being the sun in front of me, it reflected in the water and wouldn't let me see the low level corals.

The rest of the paddle was uneventful until reaching my put in place. When I left, there was a beach and coming back I only saw rock walls. I thought that people work very fast there. Moving south again I found that the beach was still there and the rock breakers were coming out in an angle and I was on the wrong side.

I lined myself again waiting for two or three good waves to take me to the beach but it took only one to go all the way, to the amusement of many beach soccer players there. I really love my boat.

Immediately called my wife and told her I was back standing on solid ground.

Time out	2 hours 50 min.
Moving time	2 hours 15 minutes.
Time spent finding entrance	~15 minutes.
Max speed going out	4.4 mph.
Max speed coming back	7.2 mph.
Distance to island and back	7.5 miles.

GOOD ACTIONS:

1. Called my wife Lety and told her where the car was, where I was going, put in time and told her to call my kayak friends in Veracruz if I would not call back by 8 PM.
2. Wore PFD all the time, carried paddlefloat, spare paddle, cell phone fully loaded, lots of water, extra wind jacket, compass, GPS and spare batteries, paddle leash, towing cord, knife, dry bags.
3. Went out in conditions that drifting would take me to land.

FLAWS:

1. Open front hatch.
2. Forgot whistle, night lamp with strobe light, plumbing tape. I don´t know how useful light flares are in these waters.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Check hatches and all equipment before leaving.
2. Rely on the compass and stick to it. If you see your target forward and your angle is wrong, ferry until you are facing it again with the right compass reading, specially when your entrance is 6 feet wide, on a few miles crossing. Even better, ferry some more so that you end up where you want to be.
3. Run through the check list to avoid forgetting some safety equipment.
4. Build up skills to paddle faster in choppy waters.