Jova a Non-Event in Banderas Bay

Here’s something you’re not likely to see again anytime soon — a hurricane/slash tropical storm passing to the east of Puerto Vallarta. In other words, inland of the coastal city.

Yet that’s exactly what happened early this morning, as Category 2 Hurricane Jova made landfall at Chemela on the Gold Coast with 100-knot winds, then headed NNE across the tall jungle-covered mountains on a path that would take her just 15 miles to the east of the city of 250,000. Boating interests had been justifiably concerned, as forecasts included the possibility that Jova might make a direct hit on Banderas Bay, or at least blast it with 50+-knots winds. Banderas Bay is home to four marinas and hundreds of sailboats.

At 10:30 this morning, Doña de Mallorca, who had rushed from the States to Vallarta by plane and by bus from Guadalajara to oversee the waterfront condos she rents at Punta Mita, reported there had only been a little rainfall and the winds were less than 10 knots out at the tip of the bay. By this time Jova was directly to the east, the least destructive side of a northern hemisphere tropical storm, so there were lots of smiles all around.

Some video of the surf smacking up against the waterfront restaurants at Barra de Navidad, to the south of where Jova made landfall, was posted on YouTube. At the time, it didn’t look too bad, so we haven’t bothered including it. Our best wishes to those nearer ground zero of Jova‘s landfall, meaning Chemela, Careyes, Tenacatita Bay. The good news is that in just weeks they’ll all be basking in warm winter sun, with cruising boats anchored just offshore.