January 2000

The Garson’s and their friends spent Christmas through the first part of January on the Leda in Puerto Vallarta. They enjoyed several day sails while aboard Leda.

During the second week of January, several Bethany College students boarded the Leda in Puerto Vallarta. From January 7^th through the 13^th, Jim Paul, Erin Kelly, Matt Bowers, Erin Martin, Bonnie Ahlers and Amy Barnick participated in this January term adventure. During their stay, they went on three day sails into Bahia de Banderas. The first day was highlighted by a visit from a whale that decided to show off a little with a full-body jump out of the water.

The second day they motored to Las Tres Marietas. While there they did some snorkeling and hiking. The island they were on is a nature reserve, nesting area for the ever-clumsy, always squawking, pastel blue-or yellow-footed booby birds.

Then they went south across the bay to the town of Yelapa. Yelapa has a beautiful waterfall that you eventually get to after a rather windy, uphill dirt path.

After the Bethany students left, Gene and the Leda set sail for Manzanilla and then on to Acupulco. Leda docked in Acapulco at Club de Yates for the last 2 weeks of January. This is as far as the previous boat, Finntastic, had sailed.

The Leda remained in Acapulco for the month of February. A variety of guests visited Leda while she was in port.

Leda and her crew spent most of March in Acapulco. Leda was being fitted for sails and having a few other minor repairs done while in port. Gene joined Leda and crew on March 7^th they left Acapulco and headed for El Salvador. They arrived at Tapachula on March 28^th. They arrived in El Salvador on March 30^th.

April 2000

On April 1^st, David Munguia and his immediate family and 4 staff members from Childreach, The weather was perfect for their day sail. David invited Gene to his graduation. Gene has sponsored him for the past 4 years. During Gene’s stay, he adopted another childreach.

April 3rd the Leda set sail for Costa Rica and arrived April 5^th. Gene left the boat and went by ground to Flamingo Bay then flew to San Jose, Costa Rica to pick up a friend and drove back six hours in a SUV to Flamingo Hotel where Leda joined them.

On Monday, April 10^th they left Costa Rica and headed to Quepos and will be going on to Panama City.

After brief stays in both cities, the Leda will begin the trip through the Panama Canal. Click here to see how the canal works.