A herd of cruisers at 10.59.41N 65.22.89W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Thu 12 May 2011 13:04
Cayo Herradura is one of Venezuelas small offshore Islets. It's an 8 to 10
hour sail from Puerto La Cruz. Cayo Herradura is one mile long and maybe a
couple of hundred metres wide. Other than a few fisherman that inhabit the
island at certain times of the year there are no other occupants apart from
the sea birds and lizards.
We arrived in the anchorage mid afternoon, there were no other boats, the
sea was calm and the water crystal clear, blue and inviting. After a long
day sail however, we just tidied the sails, put on the covers and checked
the anchor before relaxing in the cockpit prior to preparing our evening
meal, which unfortunately wasn't going to be fish!
At anchor here, the tradewinds blow continually, normally calming a little
at night, but still enough to cool the boat below decks. After a good sleep,
we woke to a beautiful day, after breakfast, we lowered our dinghy into the
water, moved it to the stern of chaser and lower the outboard on to it. The
outboard weighs about 40 kilos, the dinghy to is heavy, and although we have
winches to help us, by the time we're finished in 35 degrees of sun we're a
little knackered! Time for a swim to cool off, we jump in.
Later in the day we take a ride ashore to explore the landscape and
lighthouse.
Saturday and Sunday can get a little busy here with motor boats from the
mainland. We met the owner of one of the largest boats, a beautiful trawler
type yacht, Venezuelan owned but like many they have crew to help them. He
asked where we were from etc and told us that if we ever need anything, he
would be there for us. A kind gesture and one typical of Venezuelans and
Venezuela.
After the weekend when the motor boats left, 2 sailing boats arrive, the
first being 'Songerie' friends of ours we had met earlier in the year in
Medregal Village. They were accompanied by a French boat called 'Yapa'they
met in Isla Blanquilla. Our friends on'Songerie' Jaco and Christelle are
from Namibia, not many Namibians sailing around! So, the following evening
we arranged a Barbeque on the beach, Jaco and Christelle brought their
smoking drum, homemade bread, drinks etc, Hicham and Clarisa from 'Yapa'
brought fish and drinks, and we brought along some fresh Red Snapper, that
we had traded for with the fisherman, cornbread and a potatoe salad, wine of
course. One cannot sit and feast on a desert island without a cold bottle of
Sauvignon!
Earlier that day, another sailboat arrived, we recognised it a long way
away, being a 'Nonsuch' design, a sailboat with a windsurf type rig, called
'Sunglasses' and Skippered by Robert and his son Robert from Canada, so we
invited them along for the evening too.
We all had an enjoyable time, unbelievable to be in such a deserted area and
meet 3 other sailboats, 2 of whom we have met before, then have such a
culinary feast of smoked fish fillets, fresh bread, salads, broccoli,
tomatoes, wine and rum! With ice!
Our next trip is back to Spain, by plane to see our family, before returning
again in August to continue touring and sailing in and around South America.
These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google.
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