Sometimes we get a break from long sails, boat repair and crew floggings. Today we bobbed at anchor and enjoyed doing very little. Gail paddled me to the nearby island. We looked for a trail that would lead inland but none were to be found. Instead, we walked the varied coast line which is comprised of hard sand, large boulders, and mud flats. Each surface required a different technique since I was wearing flip flops. I must remember to wash my flip flops or the smell of the sea will become permanently bonded to them.
While strolling down the beach I pondered what I would be doing back in the "real" world. Market volatility would have created a busy work week. A winter Saturday in NYC might include skipping over slush puddles on the way to the gym. This day beats the old life hands down.
We have become lazy about tidal flows since entering the Caribbean. In New England and the ICW knowing the tides is as important as knowing the weather. We arrived at Isla Bayonetta in the earl afternoon yesterday. The chartplotter showed that we were in 6 meters of water and this would rise to 10 meters as the tide returned. Visual inspection of the nearby rocks also indicated low water. So we let out 50 meters of chain to have a scope of 5 to 1 at high tide. By supper time the water had dropped, not raised. The chartplotter was wrong so Two Fish was super-securely anchored with a 9 to 1 scope. Once again, indications that we are outside the usual cruising grounds.
The tides made our walk possible since the far side of the island is thick with mangroves. Only when the tide is out can the island be circumnavigated. After the circum-island navigation we took the paddle board downwind to enjoy an idyllic bay with white sand. The cost was a tough upwind paddle home.
We do have a few chores sitting on the to do list. Deck wash and laundry are dependant on making some more water. The pipe that connects the two watermaker pre-filters needs some extra sealant. This is not an urgent job since the leak is very tiny. I want to do my homework before accidentally disabling such an important machine. Black fish, the screecher, was stowed improperly and the bottom fitting might still need some adjustment. Unlike real work we can postpone these jobs until we reach the next harbor.
Tonight Gail will produce another galley miracle, this one is named chicken-tofu stir fry. I will then screen a short movie on Hugo Chavez, the former leader of Venezuela. Tomorrow we have planned a nice 4 hour downwind sail to the southern end of the largest island in Las Perlas.
Jason
www.twofishcat.com
rocks beach