Barreling Bar

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We are now in Bahia del Sol, El Salvador after having successfully negotiating the bar crossing. The only thing we can say is have absolute faith in the pilot!

After spending a few hours hove to off the meeting way point listening to the surf on the bar, we figured that at HW slack (the only time the pilot will bring you in or out) the waves have to be better..and of course it always looks more scary when you view the bar from the back of the waves!! Barisa (Bakewell and White 52, who know Flame from FSC!) had arrived from the south and were coming in after us....

There was a little swell running (4-6 feet..ulp!) which we could not figure out where it had been generated as the Tehuantepec and Papagayo winds were not blowing. The only disconcerting thing for us to start with was the call to 'stop' when we were in between two sets of swells (over 1m high) in 1.2m of water, then asked to get out of there quickly..which we did! The time between full speed and stop for us is significantly large, as one would expect.

However...have faith in the pilot.....who is on a jet ski and we are told is a very experienced surfer....

Bill from Mitu Kuuluu was on the back of the jet ski, with the VHF, translating the pilot's instructions. The call of 'you are about to get a gentle push'(3 times!!) was exactly what we got...surfing in over the bar at 12.2 knots. Whey hey!!! Peter described the waves as perfect surfing waves!

So ... here we go... Peter keeping the boat nice and square to the wave..

Coming off one wave...

Building to 12.2 knots on another....


Just when we thought we were finished with surfing.....

Here comes another one....and yes, we were following the pilot carefully...still nice and square to the wave..

The welcoming committee...Cloudy Bay and Royal Albatross....

It took us 3 surfing waves to get over the bar, then finally we were in the estuary..to our relief!!

The marina in sight (I use that term loosly!!)

With stunning views....

......magnificent playground....

We have watched many boats coming in and going out.....so far we have 'won' the surfing stakes...and getting out seems to be a lot easier.

Thanks to Bill (Mitu Kuuluu); Janice and Henry (Cloudy Bay) for their photos!