Not ANOTHER beach BBQ :)
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Mon 8 Feb 2010 13:31
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09:35.412N 078:40.431W
Back in East Hollandaise, in an anchorage known as
the swimming pool. Been a mad social whirl since the last posting my dears. A
boat get-together in Green Island, then Marion (Kilkea) proposed a lunchtime
beach BBQ for the following day: the following day dawned (clear, blue skies for
once, no wind, real picture postcard stuff (forcasting -12 in the UK this coming
week I believe?) and after the dawn.....the rattle of an anchor chain as Kilkea
set off for East Hollandaise, trying to tell us something, Kilkea?
Anyway, the BBQ went very well, thank you. No
flies, just the odd can or two of cold beer then a swim/snorkel along the reef
afterwards. Night followed day, as inevitable as a cold beer follows 5pm and the
following morning we and Delicado set out for the Swimming Pool (a massive 2.4
hour slow sail then motor into wind to finish, epic journey). Yet another swim
along a sheltered reef, then pot luck on Trouters. Kilkea suggested either pot
luck on them the next day or maybe a lunchtime BBQ, and to everybody's surprise
they didn't leave. Lots of snorkelling done yesterday, rather spoilt by the
presence of several rather large sharks, even Simon was a bit nervous.
Apparently there is a leopard shark (or similar) which lurks around the outer
reef and they can be aggressive. We had a very pleasant pot luck on board Kilkea
, met yet another Canadian couple (John and ? onboard Wind Whisper). What is it
about Canada that makes all the Canadians buy boats and leave?
Oh well. Today (8th) dawned overcast and drizzly,
perfect weather for moving on! The plan is to up anchor about 1000 local, and
drift over to a place called The Lemon Cays. Overnight there then off to
Porvenir to complete the formalities and head for Panama, via Nombre de Dios and
Portobello (and maybe a place called Linto Island). Then it'll be into Shelter
Bay marina for as short a time as possible to get the furling foil mantled, one
or two other small jobs then time to think about assembling a Pacific crew and
arranging the Canal transit. The first batch of Blue Water Rally boats have gone
through (yesterday), even earlier than planned due to there being public
holidays or some such next week when the first lot were due to go
through.
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