Makara of Exe - Makara of Exe

So here we are in the Galapagos Archipelago. Warm seas and a warm welcome from the local population both aquatic andland based. The Sea Lions have been amusing us all day and all evening in thereattempts to join the crews of many of the fleet on deck for sundowner drinks. The boat protection systems being more and more sophisticated daily.The wildlife is absolutely amazing with marine iguanas, turtles, tortoises, sharks, rays, boobies (both red and blue foot)and a wonderful array of fish and birds. Darwin must have been overwhelmed when he set foot on these shores back in the mid 1800's.The crew have managed to stay on the passage from Las Perlas with a celebration as we passed over the equator into the southern hemisphere toasted with a glassof champagne or two, or maybe three! The. read more...

Makara of Exe - Las Perlas Islands Feb 9th 08.28N 078.52W

Another day and yet more highlights. We arrived in The Las Perlas Islands on Feb 7th and anchored to the south of Isla Chapera and went ashore later afternoon. The islands is deserted except for wildlife. In the water we saw fishing jumping, massive shoals of fish on the surface making the water look like a jacuzzi, rays basking in the shallows and flocks of pelicans feeding. On the beach we spotted humming birds and very small birds that looked like green finches. We cannot believe here islands are so unspoiled when they are only 40 miles from Panama City.The sunset was glorious and in the morning we were surrounded by hundreds of frigates, pelicans and egrets feeding on small fish in the shallows. It was difficult to leave but we headed south to an anchorage on Isla Del Rey just by. read more...

Makara of Exe - Makara of Exe Panama Canal transit - February 6th 2019

We have been a bit tardy with our logs recently, in fact more than recently, but we have had so much to see and do that it hardly leaves time for tapping on a keyboard.The San Blas Islands were terrific. A bit like Pacific islands but with the indigenous Indians still living on the islands, some the size of a suburban garden, So first blog entry for PvR. Joined Makara at Shelter Bay ready to transit the Panama canal. Great experience climbing 26 meters up through 3 massive locks rafted together in three's. Our on board advisor for the transit a font of knowledge on Panama and its canal. If you want to sail your container ship from the Caribbean to the Pacific then you will need $1,000,00 in your wallet. Back down three more locks and into the Pacific Now in Panama City, which has a great. read more...

Makara of Exe - SAILS STARS SKY AND SEA

A rather late 2nd blog entry-but rather late than never!Being surrounded by sea,without any land or any other boats in sight is a surreal experience.It's just you, your fellow sailors and your boat; it makes you feel quite insignificant, floating on this massive stretch of water.This is how we flow and will be flowing for days.Sails,stars,sky,and sea.It is a strange analogy,but preparing the boat for a night sail, cast my mind back, to a hospital night shift! By this I mean, preparing your ward and getting your patients ready for a comfortable, restful and hopefully uneventful night, thinking ahead of any eventualities that may occur. How strange that this should spring to mind!And then was darkness. Stars shining through the endless black sky, stars, that by the end of a solitary Night. read more...

Makara of Exe - Start of the World Arc

At 12.00 noon on Saturday 12th January, we set our sails and crossed the Start Line for the beginning of the World Arc 2018. Under the watchful eye of the majestic Pitons, we left beautiful St. Lucia,alongside 28 other yachts,whose captains and crew we have got to know over the past week.There had been an escalating build up to the start of this huge adventure and our two captains, Mike and Ian and our crew, David and Gail Leeder and me, all felt so exhilarated and relieved,to be sailing, particularly bearing in mind that Makara had been lifted out of the water two days previously to have her Stern Gland repaired. I didn't even know a boat had a Stern Gland but it certainly sounds very painful,poor Makara.Anyway,away from the Caribbean we sail, next stop St Marta Columbia......Joylene. read more...