Finally in the Las Perlas islands
Anastasia
Phil May and Andrea Twigg
Thu 2 Feb 2012 00:54
8:29.50N 79:02.97W
Yesterday we set off for the Las Perlas
islands. These islands are only about 40 miles from Panama, so while our
replacement Parasailor has not yet arrived we can go back to collect it when it
does. There was a good wind and we were cruising along at 10 knots when
the strap connecting the genoa sheets to the sail broke. We furled the
sail, and returned to Panama to fix it (which was just a case of replacing the
braid strap with some strong rope, but involved taking the sail down to tie it
on).
Today we set off again for the Las Perlas
islands. This time it was a smooth sail across, marred only at the
end by a couple of aborted attempts to sail Anastasia over reefs before we
found the right route to the anchorage. (No
we didn't actually hit any reefs.) There are no good charts of Las Perlas,
the cruising guide gives you a general idea of where to go but you still have to
be careful to find a route between the rocks. Woe betide anyone who tries
to come in at night.
We are now anchored at Isla Bayoneta which the
guide book says has a beach covered with cowrie
shells. Andrea will be able to go beachcombing tomorrow.
Unfortunately she won't find pearls because apparently an epidemic wiped out most of the pearl
oysters.
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