Coco Bandero Day 3 09:30.71'N 78:37.08'W

Five Islands
John & Sue
Mon 26 Sep 2011 21:57
We're back at Coco Bandero after moving from Miria on Friday. There were 3 mono's here when we arrived, so we were able to anchor closer to Dupwala & a bit more protection from the wind. We jump off the back and swim to the Island for a walk or over to the reef for some snorkelling. Powerboats started arriving on Friday night as did 2 back packer boats including a big (approx 100ft) steel twin mast sailing ship called 'Stahlratte', which we have been told means 'Steel Pig'. It had about 14 back packers on board and was carrying about 8 motor bikes. Because there is no way of travelling from Panama to Columbia by road, the trial bike riders had piled their bikes and themselves onto this large vessel to get themselves to Cartagena. Guido (our Mr Fixit from Linton) told us that a German mate of his bought 'Stahlratte' a few years ago and is now running her as a back packer. The vessel is around 100 years old and had a very slow revving engine fitted approx 40 to 50 years ago. On Saturday 2 power boats anchored off the sand spit on one of the islands, right in front of Stahlratte. They were warned that they were in the swing range of the big steel girl but choose to ignore the Captains warning & guess what, the wind changed and Stahlratte proceeded to swing around to within a foot or 2 of these luxury power boats. It not only captured the attention of the backpackers on board and the crew of the involved power boats, but several of us on boats in the vicinity. I really wish that we had a better grasp of Spanish to hear what was said. This place was party central on Saturday with 5 yachts, Stahlratte and 13 power boats. There were kids on knee boards & monster tubes being pulled by 12 foot dinghies in between the boats dodging snorkelling and swimming back packers everywhere. The music from the power boats was blaring and we were kept well and truly entertained all day. We were the only yacht here today which was special but it looks as if we are just about to have another one join us. With the wet season well & truly here we are finding it hard to get enough power from the solar panels. We are having to run the generator or the engines to top it up. My orchid is still alive and amazingly has produced 2 flowers. We heard on the morning radio net that the President of Panama was at Chichime on Saturday in his baby blue Bertrim. Susan & Bob, Americans from S/V Sunrise, were out snorkelling around a small island & happened to run into him and had a chat. We have picked up a new resident beside the bait fish and the darts, a Remora attached itself to the starboard hull but decided to abandon ship when we went to investigate. John & Sue

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