Los Roques Our position 11:57.05N 66:40.82W

Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Tue 24 Nov 2009 20:35
 
So after the disappointing start to Los Roques we moved to a new anchorage near El Gran Roque, haven't been this far north for a long while. The water was beautifully clear, we anchored in about 3 metres of water behind a reef so we still got the sea breeze but the calm waters. Our first task was to get the dinghy off the deck and lowered into the water, fix on the outboard and throw in the fuel tank. We then took the windsurfer to the beach in order for Rob to rig the sail etc, it has been a long time since Rob had chance to windsurf in good waters and winds so he wanted to make the most of the opportunity. In the meantime Susie rigged the inflatable sailing boat and sailed it across to the beach with Berny on board too. Yvonne, me, Billy and Evie  took the dinghy to the beach to explore the little island. It was a beautiful beach, Evie loves the water you can't keep her out, she'll soon be swimming, just needs to keep her mouth closed long enough, being female of course she finds it a little difficult! Yvonne and Susie took a stroll around the beach, it was picture perfect as all the anchorages are though we didn't have time to explore too many. You could spend months here sailing between the islands, different conditions, different snorkelling.Our visit was to be brief, thats the trouble with holidays. 
After a couple of days we took Chaser ll around to the main town, the only town actually in any of the Islands. We anchored offshore and took the dinghy to the dock, we checked out a local bar, as one does, to sample the local brew. It was a little more expensive as you would expect because everything has to be shipped or flown in to Gran Roque. Nevertheless they had a varied supply of most things, tourist gifts, clothes, food and drinks etc. There were several restaurants and a bank too. For the evening we arranged a meal in a beach side restaurant but daytime we explored the town and bars, the airport and bank. Our cruisers guide tells us we should check into immigration and customs and pay a park fee too. Well be paid when we cleared in to Venezuela 18 months ago so we didn't feel the need to go offering anybody money because surely they would have taken it and said thankyou very much. So we waited until we were asked, we were not! So I would advise any cruisers visiting to do the same. That evening we had a good meal, I had Baracuda chips and salad; when cruising fish is often on the menu but salad and chips are something of a rarity, salad stuff doesn't keep and saucepans of cooking oil not such a good idea. Potatoes or potatoe looking things are normally boiled, roasted or a jacket in the microwave.It was nice to have a meal ashore though then in the darkness we dinghied back to Chaser ll, in shifts the girls first with Evie in her lifejacket and I returned for the lads.El Gran Roque is a lovely town, there are no vehicles and the streets are of sand, the only asfalt is the airstrip.
Next day we sailed to a new anchorage and tried to catch some fish on the way but no luck.Believe it or not time goes very quickly when sailing especially when you have family or friends aboard and soon it was time to make tracks towards Caracas.We moved west to an anchorage where it wood be easy to leave in the early hours, Cayo Del Agua, fishing again and Rob's reel sounded off while travelling through the Cays, we slowed and Rob began to wind, it didn't feel too big, when he got it aboard it would appear to have been a Red Snapper type fish about 40cm long, unfortunately something biiger had it in sight and Rob was left with the head! Rob had taken some big fish one of the biggest was a Baracuda probably over a metre long, it was big, unfortunately as it came to the back of the boat I missed the gaff and it struggled and broke free.The follow day Rob caught a big Dorado but again wasn't to be it fought well and broke the rings holding the hooks to the lure, thats fishin!
We left at 0330hrs, daylight was only a couple of hours away and we had a 90 mile trip to the Venezuelan coast to the port of Carabelleda, this then only means a 30 minute cab ride to Caracas airport. We arrived just before sunset, time to moor up and have a sundowner before dinner. The following day, our last of the kids holiday we got everything packed and ready to taxi, then lunchtime we strolled around to the marina bar for a last meal, the bar restaurant was a beached boat, it was really good, good food well cooked, beer all at good prices, thats why they are always busy.The cab arrived at 1430, he came to Chaser ll everything was prepared to load, 2 cabs actually, there was 7 of us wih Evie plus all the luggage.So our last journey together until next time but what a good adventure we all had an experience to remember, Evie to young to do that so she'll have to come again and again. She was an excellent crew member even at 9 months, sailing never bothered her she loved the water, in it or on it.
 
 

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