I will be praying for your return to freedom,or your ability to come and go as the tide allows. I'm sure its just a matter of government management of information. I am sorry for your untimely detention and hope it will end soon. God speed. Capt. Curt
On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 8:04 PM, Wally Bryant <w...@wbryant.com> wrote: > Jim Watts wrote: > >> Anyone down there right now with local knowledge? Wally? >> > > The msg below was on the southbound list today, and spells out the > situation very well. It's not nearly as funny as my rant, but will > probably pass under the radar. (My little message probably would have put > me on someone's 'troublemaker' list.) > > I pulled into La Cruz to spend the holidays at the dock, and am next to an > impounded CS36. They won't be heading to El Salvador this winter, now, but > seem to be taking it in stride. There's no point getting all worked up > about it, because all that will do is make folks not want to help you. > > > > As one of those people who has a "dog (aka boat) in this fight" perhaps >> I can set the record straight(er). Following is our own >> experience/understanding on this matter. It may be different from yours >> if you have a boat here in Mexico that was effected since every marina >> may have had a different experience and there are those others who >> interpret what is proper and not and proceed on their way even though >> that "technically" they readily admit it is not correct. >> >> 1. Here in La Cruz there are either 50 or 55 boats on the "list" that >> are temporarily impounded. We are included on that list. Over all we >> have been told that there are 388 boats on the list across Mexico. We >> have also been told that there are fewer. >> >> 2. Our documentation was correct. Initially, we were not asked for our >> documentation. The SAT (presumably) personnel walked down the dock >> backed by 2 armed military personnel and a representative of the marina. >> In some cases, they inspected paperwork. In others, even when asked to >> do so, they declined. In our case, they did not knock on the hull nor >> did they shout the boat name they simply wrote down the name and moved >> on without looking at anything. Lynn was off the boat at the time and I >> was onboard working and waiting, with paperwork in hand, for them to >> arrive. I was unaware that there was any perception of a problem. >> >> 3. We have been told (no informative paperwork to tell us) that we >> cannot leave the dock for any reason. We would do so at our own risk. >> However, there have been some races and other activities here since this >> all began and at least some of those on the list have interpreted the >> impound to mean they can go off the dock and return. They do so at their >> own risk (presumably of being formally impounded although that has not >> been formally indicated). >> >> 4. The SAT personnel (?) returned a few days later accompanied by the >> harbormaster. They were physically inspecting the boat HIN as compared >> to the TIP info and took a photo of the HIN. Then they were checking off >> on 2 or 3 lists that it was correct and then moved on. Our documentation >> was completely correct and we were told that everything was okay. We >> presumed that we had cleared the "temporary impound". Not so. >> >> 5. A few days ago I had a conversation with the Harbormaster and was >> told that this entire matter had to be cleared by Mexico City. >> Apparently the "local" people were unable to make that determnation. He >> said that both he and the marina attorney had made several trips to >> Mexico City and elsewhere to get this matter cleared but as yet, nothing >> had been finalized. Conversations "on the dock" have yielded estimates >> from "a few days" to "maybe 6 months" to get this straightened out. No >> one knows or seems to know. IF they do, they are apparently well >> upstream in the Mexican government and haven't yet spoken with those >> here who need to know. >> >> 6. Lat 38 has a boat in this too (also here in La Cruz). He has the >> deeper pockets and the political connections to get to the top of this >> (we are at the bottom) and get something going. He writes about it in >> Lat 38. The fact that he does and has a mag doesn't mean he is catering >> to advertising, etc. interests. IF you were here or elsewhere AND >> involved in this you might have a different picture of what was/is going >> on. >> >> 7. In some of these posts, it was indicated that the marina might not or >> did not have proper paperwork on file. La Cruz (properly called Marina >> Riviara Nayarit) is a relatively new marina and, it would seem natural >> to have the most current info on what is necessary. The original marina >> person you might have checked in with is no longer here. Someone else >> is, and she does a great job. They do what they are told to do. If their >> files were not correct, I tend to think they were told they did not need >> to have that paperwork. The question is: where did that info come from >> originally and what was it? In most places that would seem to be the >> government that set down the rules for running the marina as far as >> paperwork goes. However, there are others who have said that all the >> information was always required but WE do not actually know one way or >> the other. So, given all that, the marina could well be as surprised and >> as much "in the dark" as the rest of us who have boats and are directly >> caught up in it. HOWEVER, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE ORIGINAL >> INFO, THIS IS SPECULATION! >> >> 8. Mexico just recently had a national election. The incoming political >> party is the same political party that was in power for about 70 years >> and was displaced 12 years ago. The previous 2 Presidents (from the >> "other" party) were sailors. I understand that the new President is NOT >> and therefore MAY NOT have as much understanding in this realm as his >> predecessors and may look at boats in the same way as they look at cars >> and trucks with VIN numbers. This MIGHT have been the govenment's >> attempt to get a "snapshot" of the situation at a particular point in >> time. This kind of thing MIGHT just be the party's way of >> telling/showing us there has been a change. It MIGHT signal the return >> to the way cruising in Mexico was over 12 years ago. HOWEVER, THAT IS >> PURE SPECULATION AND MIGHT HAVE NO BASIS IN FACT! NO ONE AT OUR LEVEL, >> TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, ACTUALLY KNOWS! It is a dangerous and slippery slope >> to think that what was in the past will repeat itself in the now and/or >> in the future. AS I SAID, THE POLITICAL INFO ABOVE IS PURELY SPECULATION >> AND HAS (AFAIK) NO ABSOLUTE BASIS IN FACT. >> >> I have tried to be as even handed as I can be. Some things (what we >> experienced) we know from our POV. Other things we "know" by talking >> with those that are directly involved. Other things we "know" because we >> have heard it on the dock or read it somewhere. The ONLY thing that we >> can say that we actually KNOW is what we experienced directly. Yes there >> is speculation above. We hear it daily on the dock. But it IS (as far as >> we know) pure speculation when we have indicated it to be. >> >> Our thoughts: WE have done things legally and all is in order. WE have >> no reason to think that it will result negatively for us. It may take >> some time but we believe it will be a positive resolution for us and by >> far most others. >> >> Those that are doing the "puddlejump" might (that is might NOT will) be >> impacted depending on timing. Those that are going on the El Salvador >> Rally might also. However, not everyone doing those things were in >> marinas. (Those anchored out were apparently NOT effected at all.) For >> some of us who are getting a bit older or who have financial commitments >> back "home" that require them to return at a specific time might find >> they have to modify or postpone their dreams a bit. However, if you keep >> busy during the interium and are ready to go when the impound is >> officially lifted (maybe days or maybe weeks or months), you might still >> be able to do what you want to do this year. If you are effected, >> instead of hanging our/your heads and complaining/speculating, get ready >> to be out of wherever you are and be able to cut the dock lines without >> delay when the start is possible. >> >> Worried about coming to Mexico? Yes and no. "Yes" if you are trying to >> deal in illegal activities or disappear into the woodwork. "No" if you >> are doing things above board and legally. Mexico is computerized and >> connected to other countries and has done so rather quickly. They are >> serious about who enters, stays, and leaves their country and they >> should rightly be. >> >> Safety? It is most likely MORE safe here than in the states. I can't >> speak to safety in Canada. Media blows up things unbelievably. If it >> bleeds it leads is a common saying. Good info dies on the vine because >> it doesn't bleed. >> >> Rick >> >> S/V La Vita >> 1987 Hans Christian 33T >> >> http://www.la-vita.us/blog/ >> >> Currently: Lying La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico >> >> >> >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > -- “Sailors, with their built in sense of order, service and discipline, should really be running the world.” - Nicholas Monsarrat
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