12:32:10N 70:20:47W

 

Now we’re back at sea....with two overnight sails ahead of us from Aruba to Santa Marta in Colombia....it seems appropriate to talk about our spinnaker pole.  We’ve used the pole on just about every sail since leaving Gibraltar as it’s been all downwind sailing.  The pole is attached to the mast and we set it either to port or starboard, depending on the wind, and attach the clew of the headsail to it.  This means the headsail can be opened right out (a bit like a butterfly wing) to catch all the available wind. 

 

Much of our sailing has been absolutely dead downwind so that generally means using twin headsails – wing and wing (one out either side) – with the bigger headsail attached to the pole.  We think our pole is fairly easy to use but it still results in David doing a bit of a dance on the foredeck....hence Dance with Wolves.  The pole has a mind of its own and, when its rolly (which it always seems to be sailing downwind) David does a rather unique dance as he grapples with the pole to get it in the right position.  I am usually in the cockpit controlling the height of the pole to his frantic shouts of “up, down”.  I have a love/hate relationship with the pole – when it’s in position and conditions are good it does a great job....it’s just getting it up and down that I hate!  Watching David dance on the foredeck in biggish seas is never much fun....but he’s getting it down to a fine art these days.

 

Yesterday we opted to run with a reefed mainsail and the headsail poled out to starboard but today we’ve gone back to twin headsails with the genoa poled to port (luckily David changed the pole over last night in the anchorage so it was without the usual drama that happens at sea).  We sailed along the Aruba coast dodging oil tankers, bulk carriers and dozens of sport fishing boats and we’re now heading towards the Colombian coast.  Our waypoint is well north of the coast as there are a few islands to dodge.  Once we reach the waypoint we’ll alter course to head straight down the coast to Santa Marta – still 200 odd miles away.

 

Last night we overnighted in Aruba in an anchorage beside one of the biggest oil refineries we’ve ever seen – luckily we were upwind of it.  It was a huge complex full of chimneys, pipes, tanks and buildings.  Worst of all it was rolly.  Despite being behind a reef, the waves continued to roll in and we spent a rather uncomfortable night.  We woke this morning wishing we’d just kept on going last night – we would have had more sleep doing night watches and sleeping between!  We decided not to spend more than a night in Aruba as, like Curacao, they have strict anchoring rules due to drug traffickers.  Also – the island itself is full of wealthy Americans who flock to the casinos so it’s not really a cruising ground.  Judging by the dozens of smart fishing boats we passed this morning – when they’re not in the casinos the Americans are out fishing.

 

We’re currently sailing in 20 knots of wind (from behind of course.....how we look forward to a beam reach!) with a fairly flat sea....just the odd roll.  Getting lunch will be a breeze.