Mexican Navy Armed with Machine Guns Boards Vagari

Actually not a big deal. We had company coming at 5:30. As they arrived an owner from another Morgan 41 Classic sister ship was just leaving after a tour of Vagari. I was helping one dinghy leave and one arrive when a large open Mexican Navy boat with two 225 H.P. outboards arrives and indicates they want to board us from our right side. No problem, we move one dinghy, put out our largest fenders and take their lines.

The boarding gate is open I point to it but the commander and a soldier with big black combat boots and a machine gun step over the life lines. Four others stay in their boat holding their machine guns at the ready.

The commanders English is not much better than my Spanish, which is zip, but our guest's Spanish is better than mine by a factor of ten. The commander tells us he is going to inspect us for guns (by patting his gun) drugs, and explosives. I say "OK". He then asks if we have any guns, he shows me his gun, drugs or explosives. I say "no".

That being done, he opens a plastic ziplock bag gives me two papers all in Spanish. He looks at our guests and says "captain" He shakes his head and points to me. The guest then points to his boat and says "Captain". Please notice how much communication can take place using only one word.

The commander smiles, he now has a to-for-one, and gives the other captain two papers from the plastic bag.

I invite them into the cockpit to sit and open the table, which we can all use as a desk.

Long story short, our Spanish dictionary saves the day, I had all the requested papers, Coast Guard vessel documents, import permit, passport, visa, fishing license …etc. Of course the other captain didn't have anything, everything was on his boat but he must have an honest face because the commander indicates that he should just keep writing.

I mistakenly offered the commander a cold beer. He informed us he was the Mexican Navy. I apologized and we proceeded.

After 30 or 40 minutes of struggling thru the form we signed them and so did the commander. It did occur to me that he could probably read English as well as he could speak it so as long as we filled in the blanks we were OK. But we did our best. He then asks for a stapler. Once the two pages were stapled and in the ziplock plastic bag we were all happy campers. But one item of business remained. He asked if we had any guns, showing me his gun, drugs or explosives. I gave an answer consistent
with my previous responses, we shook hands, they both stepped over the lifelines, we untied them and off they go to inspect our sister ship and several other boats in the anchorage. The wives stayed below during this inspection.

We had a pleasant, calm, but very fast 28-mile sail/motor boat ride to San Juanico Cove today. We enjoyed dinner with our guests.

Not something you would expect in the states but no big deal here.