Caught a Ride with the Pilot to lead a Boat out over the Bar

Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Sun 25 Apr 2010 03:55
I was up early to do my row, and see "Shannon" off, I forgotten that it was
market day, and many of the other cruisers went up there, including Bill who
often goes out with the pilot to help bring boats in over the bar, (Bill is
off Mittu Kuuluu who is running the rally). So as Shannon did a fancy
maneuver into the fuel dock as they were being pushed by the incoming tide,
I approach the pilot(Rahilo I think that is how you spell his name) about
catch a ride, no problem was the reply. So off I went with coffee in hand to
get my life jacket and underwater camera, as Ron and Sahara on "Shannon" had
asked for some photos and maybe film.
The day was to be another hot one (the team that had gone to markets
regretted the late start and roasted in town as it is well up the estuary
and very little wind), we had a slight breeze over the water, but we often
find the breeze following the moving water, and when you are at slack tides
not much wind. Note the tides around here are larger than up north with
negative -3.+ feet low tides and 6 + high tides that is why we get such fast
currents.
Once "Shannon" had pulled off the fuel dock after filling every jerry can
they could find and buying a couple of water cans and filling them as well,
(how I am so happy to have a large fuel tank) but Mike and the "Shannon"
team have a schedule to make Panama by May 7th to catch their booking to go
through (the thing you should never had when cruising is a schedule). Rahilo
and I jumped on the water jet ski and headed out, the cool breeze
surrounding our bodies and water running up to my ankles I soon cooled down,
and settled into the rhythm of the ski (like a motor bike just a little
wetter and rollier), we went out slowly looking around and waiting for
"Shannon" it gave my a chance to ask a local a lot of spots along the way.
The trip out to the bar is about 2 to 3 miles, as we rounded the corner it
looked flat, except the rolling waves on either side of the entrance,
Rahillo stated it was a flat day. But we continued out, the water here was
still moving like a stream and you can see what happens when the current
goes against the waves they build up. When we crossed the bar the depth
dropped to 12 feet this was at high tide, this means it is only 2 to 3 feet
at low tide, not good for boats. So when that cat came in mid tide, they
were probably in 6 to 8 feet, and current moving not a good thing.
My shots with the camera are not great, as it jumped about a bit, and lens
was fogging (I was in a rush to get going so did not clean it).
But we rode the waves out, none closing out, so they rode up the hills and
down, and were out, no big issue no water on the deck, and all calm, and as
expected as they turned south we realized the wind was on the nose, (what do
you expect this is cruising).
When we turned around we hit the gas the peddle and sped up to catch some
waves and have some fun, we surfed a number of them in sliding down the
waves and across them, with plenty of power, out running the pangas.

It is nice to a close inspection of the bar and what to expect when we go
out in a couple of months, we expect some more boats in Sunday/ Monday, and
we expect big seas Wednesday. The rest of the day was testing out
electronics between boats with AIS, VHF and SSB we are all trying to get
them better, but it is a are as much as science.
You can also see some photos from yesterday where Tracy had her massage on
"Sunsenation" from Sharron quite the life!!!


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