16:01N 83:06W

 

The Hobbie Cays appeared out of the shimmering blue sea like mirages in the desert.....white sand, palm trees and a few ramshackle buildings. They must have hay paddocks somewhere though as through the binoculars we could see piles of big square haybales on one of the islands......took a while before we realised they were lobster pots!  The Hobbies really are remote – just a handful of tiny islands and cays fringed by a huge horseshoe shaped reef in the middle of nowhere.  They are owned by Honduras and the mainland is 45miles away.

 

Within minutes of dropping anchor the friendly local fishermen appeared. Two of them spoke good English and offered us a bucket of lobster and conch.  We produced a small bottle of rum and some cold cokes and their faces lit up.  They were very friendly and told us the commercial lobster season is over (hence the piled up hay bales!) but they snorkel to catch a few for themselves and passing yachties.  Despite hearing about this type of bartering, this is only the second island (Blanquilla in Venezuela being the other) in the Caribbean where it’s happened to us.  In the eastern Caribbean they come offering lobster but want ridiculous prices for it.  And these guys didn’t even ask for anything in exchange and probably would have been happy with just a chat.  We’ve prepared a parcel for them with soap, razors (they looked and smelt like they needed both!) t-shirts etc.....as once they are over their hangover they’ll be back out!  The boat we sailed up with also traded rum for lobster so it was a big night for them!

 

Our friendly swallow that was with us most of the day, even sitting on our hands, started to fade.  Obviously the migration north had taken its toll and despite our efforts to give him water he eventually conked out and was given a watery burial – ie chucked overboard!

 

Plan to stay here today and perhaps go and snorkel on the reef then head for Guanaja in the Honduras Bay Islands at first light tomorrow.  Wind is predicted to be 15knots out of the east so should be good sailing.