Passage To The Galapagos Islands Day 6
Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Wed 7 Mar 2012 17:09
Passage To The Galapagos Islands Day 6
We left the Las Perlas Islands heading for Galapagos at 10.00 am local time Panama on the 2 Mach 2012.
Day 6 Distance to go, 263 miles.
Log reading now 13445
Distance through the water was 127 miles, and distance over the ground was 119 miles, an improvement over the last few days.
Noon to Noon on the 7th March 12
Slightly more wind throughout the day and night, so we have made a slight improvement in our progress towards Galapagos. We have managed to get about 19 hours of sailing done over the last 24 hours, even though at times it has been a bit slow.
We are still keeping the engine RPM down at the 2,200 level to conserve fuel.
Today we passed through another line squall, not so much rain and no thunder and lightning this time.
Not much wildlife so far other than sea birds and another small pod of dolphins. It would appear that the Pacific dolphins don't play in the bow wave as do the Atlantic dolphins. May be it's because they have better things to do or places to get to.
Still not caught any fish, I have now tried four different lures, what to do next!!!
All the other boats in the group have now set off.
Marita 3 left about three hours before us, 2nd March, and they are now on the 7th March 49 miles behind us.
Karacool left on the 3rd March and they are now on the 7th March 136 miles behind us.
Camelot left 3rd March and they are now on the 7th March 150 miles behind us.
Like us, the rest of the group are still doing a combination of sailing and motor sailing, and all like us are make slow but steady progress towards Galapagos.
We have calculated our expected arrival time depending on various boat speeds. The results are as follows:-
If we average 5.8 knots, we would arrive at noon on Friday the 9th. I think with the wind we have this is unlikely.
If we average 5.2 knots, we would arrive at 18.00 on Friday the 9th. I think with the wind we have this may be possible, but we would be arriving just at sunset, and the advice is to only enter the bay in daylight.
If we average 4.3 knots, we would arrive at 06.00 on Saturday the 10th. I think with the wind we have and what is forecasted, this will be the best option, as we would be arriving just at sunrise, and the advice is to only enter the bay in daylight.
So we wait and see.
Next report on the 8th.
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