Dear Reader(s)

 

Finally slipped the surly bonds of Flamenca Bay and motored across an oily, unappealing sea to a fatal rendezvous (for the tuna that is) with a little tuna which now sashimi and being scoffed by the lucky crew not suffering from scurvy/dengue/yellow fever - aka a bad prawn at lunch yesterday.

 

At anchor in Las Perlas isles said to be where worlds biggest pearls come from. When the Coquistadores got here seemed they took a fancy to same and the biggest pearl in world was fished up and given by Phillip of Spain to Elizabeth the First. Apparently it's now owned by Elizabeth Taylor by way of Richard Burton; which must be some sort of metaphor for something.

 

Had genny up for 1/2 hour or so on way across  but soon back to iron topsail. Cautious entrance thru the islands and first choice for anchoring abandoned in favour of one recc. by Pilot Book.

 

Shore party about to leave - eyes peeled for pearls.