Galapagos to Marquesas - Day 4
Boundless 1
Richard Clennett
Fri 22 Apr 2011 22:23
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3.46 S 94.29 W
We left Pueryo Ayora, Santa Cruz at 3.30pm local
time on tuesday April 19th.
Richard and I went to the local fruit and veg
market at 6am before we departed, but the produce was disappointing. Very hard
to find anything that might last three weeks in these temperatures! Anyway, we
left fully stocked, fridge and freezer overflowing. The fruit which was green
that was placed in the hanging cockpit net is already ripening, but we have
plenty of lemons (green skinned, orange flesh) so at least we won't get
scurvy!
The weather was not ideal on departure, in that the
SE trades were/ are forcast to be blowing at about 7-10 degrees south, so a lot
of motoring to get there, and that's exactly what we are doing. Some brief
periods of very variable wind to which we can sail, but until last night, mostly
motorsailing as we head south west.
We caught three Mahi Mahi (simultaneously on 3
out of 4 lines) yesterday afternoon which was very exciting and we
enjoyed sashimi and grilled fillets last night and will have ceviche today, Good
Friday. We also saw whales blowing off to port yesterday and the most
fascinating bright blue fish, pretending they were dolphins off our bows all
day! Swimming ahead, broaching, apparently just having fun - something we have
never seen before!
Several squalls passed through last night, just as
we finished dinner and again about 5am this morning. Another Australian yacht
"Sequel" is about 120 miles behind us, so we have arranged to chat regularly on
the HF radio. We also continue to check in to the Pacific Reef Runners Net - an
informal net run by some AUS and NZ boats who crossed the Atlantic last year
(the net was then called the Caribbean Rum Runners Net!). It's good to know we
are not alone out here, and the boys are thrilled we now have someone to race,
when and if we reach the trades!! Most people we have met to date doing this
crossing are still either becalmed en route to Galapagos, or waiting for a
weather window from Galapagos. 2 other Australian yachts are now close to the
Marquesas.
So, Happy Easter to everyone, enjoy many hot
cross buns and eggs for us!
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