Our First sail ever with "Mira" was absolutely nice. The day was sunny no clouds at all  10-12 knots wind, just really pleasant.   We arrived to Punta Gorda, Belize where we checked in. The checking in wasn't so smooth as never easy with the Belizean customs, especially when I was importing a sailboat to Belize. Anyway we did it lets start back to Belize city. We sailed about an hour, than the wind just died. We started the engine, then about an hour the engine died. I had no idea what to do with the engine, luckily i had a book on board so i started to read it and pull apart the engine. Few hours later the engine fired up and we were on our way again. Just some dirt in the fuel line. Few hours later the same thing happened. Fixed it again, than back on the way. Unfortunately still no wind. super calm. the sea looks like a mirror. We couldn't wait to reach Placencia to anchor down and take a swim as it was crazy hot. Finally I could see Placencia, than suddenly the engine stopped again. Out of fuel... Later on I find it out that the ridiculous amount of smoke was because the engine was set badly and used way much fuel as it should be. Before start I counted that the fuel should be more than enough till Belize city and we are not even half way. 

        Finally we arrived to Placencia.  Anchored down, had some rest and a lot of fun. Placencia is a very touristic place in Belize. Great location, has beautiful sandy beaches, great restaurants, perfect place to spend a vacation.  Unfortunately we had to leave as the custom officer give us few days to reach Belize city to do the rest of our paperwork. 
      The wind picked up, big waves as usual for Placencia.
As we start sailing after few nautical miles our steering system broke. What he hell! I put on the emergency tiller and go back to the harbor.  Next day I fixed up the steering system and finally ready to go. 
     We lost a lot of time so I knew that we will have to sail true the night to be in Belize city on time.  Unfortunately the wind shifted to north as we ware going to north I decided to use the engine. The night came and the wind picked up and soon i noticed a really nasty black cloud on our way. The sky got pitch black and I could see the lightening starts. I said to myself its ok we will just go thru that storm. I wasn't scared I know  that the boat can handle only thing I wasn't sure about my engine.  The storm came the waves was pretty big as its normal for the north wind. The waves ware splashing over the boat we was doing only 2 knots at the time. It was pouring rain, crazy wind but we passed it safe. 
      I was really happy to see the lights of Belize city, finally we arrived in the marina.
The engine made it! The oil was leaking all around in the engine the hull of the boat was black because the crazy among of smoke and we are soaked but ok.
I think I can say it was a really adventurous first trip, we got it all...

The first splash was a scary moment. After two months work "Mira" was seaworthy again. There are many question running thru the head in that moment when they lifting up the boat and putting back the water. Did I check everything? All the seacock are ok? Will it float or sink? Everything was fine. She was floating and smoking. The engine was having a ridiculous amount of black smoke as result that the marina didn't do the job what I payed for but we had to leave. All the paperwork was destroyed on the boat so I had a special arrangement with the customs so we had to take "Mira" out from Guatemala and bring it to Belize.  


The first night out.

We ware really exited. This was something new and amazing experience. I think we felt really proud around so many beautiful sailboat and we own one. 
Rio Dulce, Izabal in Guatemala is a hurricane hole. Many sailors going there during the hurricane season. A lot of  marinas, restaurant and shops around the city.  If you need to work on your boat that is a good place. 

Next day we made our way down to the beautiful Rio Dulce. 
The "Sweet River" is and absolutely breathtaking place. If you travelling to Guatemala its a must place to go. 
It is a long way to Livingston the last town in  Guatemala, where we have to check out, so we decided that we will do it in two days. Most sailors stop at half way a place called "Texan Bay" A man  Mike from Texas came there long time ago and opened a bar there. Mike's place is a really cool place, he delivers a great atmosphere. I'm not surprised  its a favorite stop for sailors. 

Finally we arrived to Livingston. The last stop in Guatemala. Livingston is a really small but very pretty Garifuna town. The checkout was relatively easy and fast.  All the paperwork was in order, we weigh anchor and started to our adventure back to Belize. The way was more adventurous  than fun.  We had it all...

People say there are no Small jobs on a boat. Yes they are right, I had to learn that in a hard way and I payed the price for it. I put it in my mind to get out from the hard as soon as possible and get back to Belize. It was a big mistake! I finished the boat approximately two months. Too fast job is not a good job. I cut a lot of corners, missed some spot,  tried to save some money. Later I payed that price, double work and double money. I had to learn and now I remember "There are no small job on a boat". When first I looked at her I never even know where to start. So I just grab a sanding machine and started to work. I did as I could. I wish that I had learn about this jobs before I started. After two months the "Mira" was ready outside. As I never ever had a diesel engine I had know nothing about it. So I asked the marina to fix it up for me. I payed for it but unfortunately the job was never done. I didn't know that time I had to find out on the way home. Since than I don't trust nobody with my engine I learned how to fix it and so far its working perfect.  Pretty much when you purchase a boat you sign an agreement with her that you will work on her all the time. The job never ending. If somebody says, I have nothing to do on my boat its a lie! There is always something to do, painting, varnishing, fixing engine, etc... and all this comes not just time but money and more money. That is the thing what no seller will tell you. As soon we realized this we had to came up with something. That is when we decided we will make money with the boat. That is also a fact that you never can really make money with a boat.  This would question me if I don't make money why do we have a boat and why do we do it? We make something way more valuable than money, memories!

How we got our sailboat? Definitely we did not planned to have a sailboat as I just sold my power boat because it was too much money to keep it. We always believed that only rich people can have a sailboat. I do love boats so we went for a vacation to Guatemala and we stayed for few days on a sailboat as a surprise from my wife. She was not too much fan of it because there was a big storm in the night. (She is a storm magnet) Next day I went for a walk and I've seen an advertising for a sailboat. It just catch my eyes, the boat looked beautiful and the price was really low. Unfortunately we had no time to check it out as we ware going to continue on our trip. After our vacation less than a week I already owned that sailboat. I purchased without seeing it. It was a big gambling but I feel I did really well. We ware a proud owners of a sailboat! 
First time seeing her.
I travelled back to Guatemala to check what I got into myself. 
I arrived to the marina and there was she a beautiful Triangle 32 ketch.  (that was my first view) Than I went closer and I seen the reality. She was abandoned for many years and everything was wet and nasty on it outside and inside. I didn't got discouraged, this was a long time dream for me to have a sailboat. So as soon I  could I started to make her seaworthy....