Grounded

Today the marina was essentially closed due to weather patterns.  The wind started to pick up yesterday evening and was gusting overnight but the key as we found out this morning was the wind direction.  Apparently, if the wind comes from the west or north/northwest i.e. over land, the water is very calm albeit that the wind brings mosquitoes and insects with it from the jungle.  If the wind comes from the northeast the area is protected by Cozumel, an island directly offshore from PA.  Problems arise if the wind comes out of the southeast or south (which is basically the path that most hurricanes take) because there is no protection and combined with the angle of the marina entrance, it causes large swells that together with the offshore reef make navigation almost impossible.  This was exactly what happened overnight with winds coming from the southeast.  There is a flag warning system at the marina entrance and today it indicated that  no vessels less than 12 metres were allowed out although larger boats also stayed in today.  Needless to say it was not a good day for the fishing crew and boat captains as their livelihood depends on the tourist traffic but, of course, safety comes first.

These guys park directly outside our condo and usually head out to Playacar hotel zone by 7am each day

Big or small, everyone is grounded.

We estimated 5ft swells.

We walked out to the marina entrance to take the above photos and when we got back the army was taking one of its boats out of the water (there is an army base in PA).  In the back of their truck was this handsome dog; we are not sure if it was purely a mascot or if it was a working animal but he certainly behaved himself as the soldiers got to work hauling the boat up the ramp.