Isla Linton

Five Islands
John & Sue
Tue 5 Feb 2013 00:01
We are still anchored off Isla Linton and will be here for the next several weeks due to some boat bits breaking. The new Bimini has been fitted and looks great.  The rear edge incorporates a rain catcher but as yet there hasn't been enough rain to test it out. 

 Our old Bimini after spending 7 months sitting at Shelter Bay. The mildew was ingrained into the fabric and the material was torn in several places.

 The new Bimini and Alain (French sailmaker)

The worlds smallest washing machine is working a treat although we get water from Hans's mountain fed water supply (Restaurant on shore) and run the engine for power (more on the reasons for this later).

 The washer is a 5kg capacity twin tub, but the spinner is much smaller. She is worth every penny of the US$80 she cost. Alain even made a cover for her.

We started up the water maker shortly after arriving here and found that the Clarke pump is not functioning fully, with the output down to 2 gals an hour. We are currently fresh water flushing it but will probably pickle it and wait until we get to the USA later in the year where we will have it repaired (at great cost no doubt). This means collecting water from shore or collecting rain, which isn't likely at this time of the year. You certainly become aware of where you use your water and how to cut down (back to washing my hair once/week). The next thing to start to impact was the slow degradation of the house batteries. We have ordered 6 new ones from Miami but they are not due here until the 21st Feb. They are not holding the required voltage so we are topping up with the engine. Next to go was the hand held Garman GPS. Although not a large inconvenience, it is handy as an anchor watch/alarm especially on windy nights. Another one is coming from the US with the batteries. The last boat bit to go was the gearbox on the Port engine. Guido, our German friend and Mr Fix everything, lives here in Linton and is coming tomorrow to work on it. We will need to fly parts in from Miami. That hopefully is the end of the list of current projects. 

The weather has been a bit windy over the past few weeks with annoying showers that are enough to scamper to close the hatches and as soon as you do they stop again. The last couple of days have been just glorious with temps of 28 C, sun and a soft breeze. We have stocked up on Sylvie's 'Potted Pork Pate' (although 2 jars have been consumed already), enjoyed a couple of $8.00 meals at Hans's as well as numerous $2 wines of an afternoon, empanada (pasty filled with mince) at a newly discovered cafe & last night we had $10 pizza at the 'Wunderbar' backpackers hostel (owned by Guido). The activity of the local 'panga' (20ft open boat) tourist trade, the Cobia Fish Farm work boats and the yachts moving in and out of the anchorage keep us distracted during the day. We have met several young Australian backpackers catching yachts to Columbia and a young Civil Engineer from Wollongong (NSW) who is assisting with reno's to Guido's hostel before continuing her travels through Central America. It is just amazing to see the numbers of Australians in this out of the way place. We are certainly not bored and all in all this is not a bad place to be stuck for awhile.

 Our first night out of the Marina, at anchor in Portobelo. Bubbles before the Backgammon.

 Bit of a blustery morning as we left Portobelo on our way to Isla Linton

 It's not just modern sail boats we see. This is a German sailing school come personal development experience. They spend around 9 months travelling from Europe, across the Atlantic and back again.

 Looking toward the anchorage (on the right)

 Isla Linton anchorage.

 'Wunderbar' pizza place.