November , 28 2013.

We would spend five days at Marian La Cruz here in Bandaras bay. The weather perfect although still hot, much too hot. We did a few boat chores and Jan went up to the cruisers lounge to download some episodes of “The Walking Dead” for nights we feel like watching a little TV. Things have changed since we were here only seven months ago. There are fewer boats in the marina but the anchorage is pretty full. When I checked in with the marina I discovered that some of my Mexican paperwork was missing. My Temporary Import Permit was missing. It took a while for me to figure out but I concluded that when I had work done on Maiatal last summer, when I was back in Canada working, a local contractor moved the boat to the yard for painting. He gave the yard my TIP and never got it back. After a  flurry of emails and I managed to get the work yard to photo copy my TIP and email it back. As it turned out it was very fortunate that I had. Later that day three armed guards and three official looking suits came down the dock and demanded to see my papers. All very politely of course. They scrutinized my documents and ask to come aboard for an inspection, Just routine one of the officials said. A rather pretty Mexican lady who spoke passable English. They didn’t inspect me for contraband but demanded to see the vessels serial numbers carved into the wall of the bilge and the engine serial numbers as well. Satisfied that they matched, I was thanked for my cooperation and they left,. But they didn’t go far, only the boat next door. I was relieved that I was not singled out for some strange reason so I went about my business of washing down the boat. 

It would be until much later that I would learn the true nature of the visit by the armed officials. A few weeks later while in Acapulco tied up at the Yachtclub, did I notice that almost 1 in 3 vessels located there had a impound sticker attached saying that the vessel may not be moved. A little perplexed I asked one of the dock workers about it who informed that the boats were being held for not paying fees. At the time I assumed he meant docking fees. A rather hi number of deadbeat boat owners here but I did not inquire further.  Again a few weeks later while tied up in Hautulco Mexico another cruiser told me of an article that had just been published in a Californian sailing magazine. Apparently the Mexican government was cracking down on visiting vessels that had incorrect documentation or had not paid the proper fees for leaving a boat in Mexico, IE there TIP. 

But even if all your paperwork was in order, Even if no one was aboard of the time of the officials visit to present the papers, the vessel received and impound stick anyways.

Apparently any irregularities like wrong serial numbers or missing documentation was cause for immediate impound. And work was that even if you managed to locate all your documents after the fact, it could take up to four months to get your boat released. And if you just happened to be at a marina dock for a few days to re-provision, you were stuck there and would have to continue to pay the docking charges. A cruisers season could be ruined over this or worse, if you happened to have pulled into a expensive dock, with the intent of staying just for a day or so, you were really out of luck. Guess we dodged the old bullet by getting our TIP back just in the nic of time. We here its becoming a nightmare for some cruisers.