211: Why THIS is the BEST place to go for Hurricane Season; Rio Dulce, Guatemala, L44

Рет қаралды 1,963

Жыл бұрын

The Rio Dulce is a GREAT place to hide for hurricane season! In this video, we share all of the reasons we loved it there and would recommend it as a destination! At the end of the video, we also share a few things that are less than ideal, but none of them are deal breakers! So, sit back and enjoy the video.
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We are Eileen and Brown Councill. Welcome to our channel and a glimpse into our NEW life adventure! 2020 was a year of uncertainty and change (for all of us, right?), but we overcame the challenges and decided it was time to chase our dream, to sail around the world! Did I mention that we have very little sailing experience? Before leaving Qingdao, China, our home of 4 years, we sold almost all of our earthly possessions and started our international search to find the right sailboat that we would call "home." After 5 months of unanticipated twists and turns, we found what we were looking for, a used Leopard 44' Catamaran located in St. Lucia.
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Пікірлер: 67

@ssa5536 Жыл бұрын

Wow! I think you sold us on going to Guatemala next year when we make it back that way. Thanks for the video. Shane and Tanya on Seascape

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Oh wow!! So happy to help you!! That’s awesome. You will love it! Thanks for watching and your comment!!!

@cncarstens Жыл бұрын

I have been sharing your channel with cruisers in GT thinking of going to Guatemala this season.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome and is why we go to the trouble to make them. Stay tuned for even more super informative and entertaining videos of our Guatemala experience! We love your comments and thanks for sharing!

@davidgarces4925 Ай бұрын

The mayflies are only a short duration. Don’t bite like everything else. Encourage cruisers to get involved in efforts to improve water quality when visiting.

@SailingBlownAway Ай бұрын

Ha. The mayflies were horrible for 6 months. Every night covered the boat. It was a mess all the time. Ironically they are a result of a very healthy ecosystem!

@fps3147 Жыл бұрын

Guatemala is so underrated

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

We agree! It’s an amazing place!

@sailingdelanceyst. 18 күн бұрын

We just arrived here this week (Monkey Bay Marina) and are loving it so much! Your video was great to watch early on in our time here! So excited to get involved and see this beautiful country!

@SailingBlownAway 18 күн бұрын

Oh wow!! We loved Monkey Bay! What a beautiful, quiet place to be! We are so glad that our videos have helped you!! Thanks for letting us know. That means so much!! Enjoy Guatemala! It’s a gem!!

@wailinburnin Ай бұрын

Such a trip to see how Rio Dulce has grown, nice video, that said, I hate cruising videos music, if you’re not listening to local radio, you aren’t there, please consider breaking all the rules and play some local music. La Buga and Jumpy the Rasta (must be acalde by now)! Cool runnin!

@SailingBlownAway Ай бұрын

Ha ha. Thank you. We will certainly consider that!! Thanks for your comment!!

@heberrodriguez5016 8 ай бұрын

Good to know you enjoy Guatemala. I’m from Guatemala and live in the capital city but really lo e going to Rio Dulce.

@SailingBlownAway 8 ай бұрын

We loved it! You have an amazing country! Thanks for watching our video!

@reloadncharge9907 Жыл бұрын

Best episode…..not only content but..presentation…you sold the Rio for anyone moderately interested in visiting. Except for the mayflies. Well done!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

AW, thank you Andrew!! The Rio is a great place...BUT for the May flies!! HAHA. You are right!! Thank you! :) Thanks for watching and commenting!! Happy New Year to you and Stanley.

@pleclerc1 Жыл бұрын

As I've mentioned in the past, I visited Guatemala a few times, it's been about 20 years for me but this was a great video on one of the greatest country to ever visit...thank you for sharing your adventure, and as cruiser, Rio Dolce is now on my list of places to go visit :)

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment and kind feedback. We do love Guatemala and are so glad you will add the Rio to your list of places to visit!! Enjoy!!

@calvinraymondjr.2759 Жыл бұрын

Love your comments, about the medical care. Here in Massachusetts, you’re lucky if you can even see a doctor. Many times your primary care doctor is sending you to the emergency room for non-emergency issues!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Calvin. Thanks for watching and your comments. The medical care is amazing in Guatemala and I am glad that resonated with you. I wish the US could emulate!

@tracyoliver550 Жыл бұрын

I actually paused the video to gawk at the fruit and vegetables😂😂. You don’t realize how much you miss fresh produce.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Ha ha. I totally get it. We have had times where there has been nothing. I am so sorry you guys are going through that!!

@tracyoliver550 Жыл бұрын

@@SailingBlownAway BTW met w Terrell and Misken, who both smiled wide when they heard your names, and we’re moving forward w the solar arch. Thanks so much for the help. PS feel lucky you got yours completed when you did. 🚀$

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Soooo happy to hear this news. They will serve you well!! Keep us posted.

@thomasbrasse3145 Жыл бұрын

Really nice summary. One day. Starting my ASA class in a couple weeks. Reading the books now!!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Hey!! Thank you, Thomas!! You are always so encouraging! So proud of you to get your ASA class started!! The books are great! Keep us posted on your progress!!

@vickietanaka8145 Жыл бұрын

Nice job of the positive and negatives of Rio Dulce! I was happy to see that you noted the Cruising Net in your list of positives (and thanks to Eileen for helping out the Net by volunteering as a Net Controller!). As a note, I trust this year of Mayflies is a unique one (historically the month of May is when they would appear - usually after the first hard rain following the dry season). We have been on and off the Rio Dulce since 2002 and this past year has been a wild one with the bugs. Luckily, like you said, we have worked around them by turning off most of the lights for about an hour or so. Right - we don't swim in the River, but the muddiest to see the river is usually after several days of hard rain which increases the flow of water into the Rio Dulce from adjoining rivers. You guys take care! Vickie

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you soooo much for watching and commenting! I am so sorry we never met in person! I am glad you enjoyed the video and the net and community was the best!! Thanks for the mayfly lesson. It’s been a wild season for sure. ❤️❤️❤️ Hope to be back some day!!

@cncarstens Жыл бұрын

We will be slowly following your path this year. Previous years in Grenada but looking for a different "flavor" this season. Great information and videos. I might ping or email you for a marina recommendation. We don't have a lot of projects - mostly canvas and enclosures and likely an inverter upgrade. Saludos.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Chris for sharing our channel! We are glad you will follow our path. We hope it will be as fruitful for you as it was for us. You are always welcome to be in touch. We are happy to help! The projects you do have are easy for the Rio!! That’s a good thing. Stay in touch!

@paulcallaghan5373 Жыл бұрын

Great info🍻

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!! We are glad you enjoyed it

@SV-Flying-Tigress Жыл бұрын

Just got in the Rio tonight after my long taxi ride.... gotta remember to turn the dehumidifier on when I leave the boat .....ugh...mold fun. Will need to have all the laundry and bedding re-washed. But still love the place, great video. I got PTSD seeing your mayfly footage, the things are fully apocalyptic here, but tonight... so far....NO mayflies on the boat.🤩.. maybe they are not a thing in January; fingers crossed. It is also pretty cool currently.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Hey!! Welcome back! So glad you made it. And so glad the mayflies are not out!! Woo hoo. Thanks for watching!!

@svZia-Switch51 Жыл бұрын

Really good summary on Guatemala! I love the way you guys embed useful contact information in your videos. We are down the road from you in Colombia at the moment but we were looking at a Catamaran online recently that’s located there. Unfortunately it needs lots of work and electronics and I was concerned about availability there. Unfortunately no FKG in the Rio Dulce! Ha

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind words. Oh wow! We are in Colombia too but in the islands. I am guessing you are in mainland Colombia. Wow...HOPING for you guys the boat works out! The Rio IS good for alot of things - I don't know about welding, but electronics, upholstery, rigging, wood work!! You have GREAT people there!! Let me know if we can help!? What cat are you looking at? \

@svZia-Switch51 Жыл бұрын

@@SailingBlownAway Are you guys in the Isla Grande area or elsewhere? How was the sail/motor from Guatemala? There is a Switch 51 with lightening damage in Rio Dulce that we like. Still priced too high for the necessary repairs though.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

We are in the Colombian islands off the coast of Nicaragua. Providencia is where we are at the moment. Hope you can find a good boat. Don’t know about the switch in the Rio!!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

We motored to the Bay islands then motor sailed down here. Not bad but we waited for good weather windows.

@ralphvandereb66 10 ай бұрын

The rio us a hidden jewel been going last 4 years . The road is not that bad if you pay attention and ye the mayflies have been worse recently but as you said batten down or leave the boat for two hours a day early evening Nice one

@SailingBlownAway 10 ай бұрын

We are so glad that you enjoy it like we do! Thanks for watching!!

@sailingsvintegrity Жыл бұрын

Awesome information guys - Thanks!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Oh good!!! So glad. Thank you for your comment.

@JibeTalking Жыл бұрын

Great video AGAIN! Understand the water is not clean, the raw sewage and not swimming because of this... we also heard that crocodiles are an issue as well...What say you?

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Crocs are in the water but the locals free dive and spear fish and never have an issue. I think the crocs are pretty shy and have plenty of food so they don’t need to go after humans!

@dr.michelles3550 Жыл бұрын

Great vid guys!

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thanks Michelle!! Hugs to you and D. We miss you!!

@desnjean Жыл бұрын

Another well done video with great pacing and information. I feel that I'm an expert in all things Rio Dulce after watching this. What made you decide to hang there during hurricane season and what are your future plans?

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your feedback. We appreciate it. So glad it was informative!! We decided to hang there during hurricane season for a bunch of reasons. Safety. Travel opps. Heard it was awesome. Good boat improvement. See our friends and help at orphanage. Didn’t want to fight wasting and head to Grenada. Those are some of the reasons.

@ZeroDot42 Жыл бұрын

Love the new start to your vids...and the content info on Guatemala....was maleria or mozzie born disease a problem?

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Oh wow!! Thank you!!! So glad you enjoyed it and found it interesting. No issue with mozzies for us but they are there in the villages but they do spray. But I have not heard any people got malaria

@annwild8577 Ай бұрын

How can I tag a patron? Mom wants to be sure Kathleen & Chris watch this video. Thanks bunches, Ann (mom)

@SailingBlownAway Ай бұрын

That's a great question. I think the easiest way is to share the video. Under the video is a button called SHARE. If you copy the link, you can email it to Kathleen and Chris! ;) Thank you!!

@FaithAnne955 5 ай бұрын

We are retired and our thinking about going sailing again… Could you tell us if there is a lot of rats/ mice in Rio Dulce? Any in the old towns, marinas?

@SailingBlownAway 5 ай бұрын

Where there is jungle, food and humans there are rats and mice. I hope that does not deter you from going sailing!

@timothymcginnis2867 Жыл бұрын

Hello, did your insurance recognize Rio Dulce as a hurricane hole? We have spent this past winter cruising Belize and have been seriously discussing spending next summer there. Our insurance won't quote that far in advance, and it is a concern.

@SailingBlownAway Жыл бұрын

Hello! We had to change insurance companies as we were on a US/Bahamas insurance. I was quoted by Special Concept and specifically said that we are going to Rio Dulce. When I read the proposal they sent, Guatemala was NOT included even though I was told 6 months earlier, "No problem." And a month earlier, "No problem." When I said, "We need Guatemala on the proposal." I was told, "the company is no longer writing for Rio Dulce." It was infuriating when the broker kept telling me to wait to write the policy and we were already enroute! Anyway, the broker also told me NO ONE was writing for Rio Dulce which I found hard to believe. It took me about 24 hours and I found a new broker and a new underwriter and that broker said, "No problem." We had a written policy the next day. They are also fine with us going to Colombia which Special Concept was not allowing. So, be ready to change insurance companies if the one you are working with now is already not quoting. I am happy to pass on my broker's information. He is great.

@user-so3nx6lp5q 10 ай бұрын

Which insurance are you using as we want to do the same and have a hard time finding insurance. Please share the info if you can

@SailingBlownAway 10 ай бұрын

@user-so3nx6lp5q we use global yacht. Ask for Kel. Insurance@velosgroup.co.uk

@danielboughton3624 Ай бұрын

I have heard that the bar going in is about 6' so this is an issue. I have also heard that waiting near the mouth of the river e.g. overnight for a tide change, there can be crime issues with boardings not being uncommon. Do you have information on either of these?

@SailingBlownAway Ай бұрын

It is about 6’. If you have a deeper keel you can do one of two things. 1) follow in a cat who is reading you depths and plow through the sand with your keel of barely touching. 2) hire the company that comes out and tilts your mast so your draft is less. The other option is go in on an unusually high tide. That happens a couple of times a month. As for crime in front of Livingston. Yes, it’s petty theft like they will steal lines, etc. you can anchor out at tres puntas and sail over in the morning to time the tide. That’s what we did. I hope that helps!

@danielboughton3624 Ай бұрын

@@SailingBlownAway Thank you for the first hand information.

@SailingBlownAway Ай бұрын

@danielboughton3624 of course. Any time.