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Ayama - A Slower Day



      After  three record days -170 miles yesterday – and great expectations (we jumped the gun) of a midday arrival at Santa Marta, the wind dropped during the night and we have been lolling along at 3 to 5 knots.  The wind has picked up a little but Ayama has a one and a half knot current against her which is also driving her towards land so we are having to head offshore so  we don’t to cut it too close to the headland.  Stefan usually puts the engine on below 4 knots but we can’t with the damaged bearing.

     I woke up to go on watch and was a bit horrified to see the saloon bunk open to access tools but when I went to the cockpit Stefan and Anna were happily sitting sewing bracelets….what a relief! We are about 10 miles off the Colombian coast and it looks very mountainous but sadly it is hazy so we don’t have a clear view. Sofia was sat near Stefan in the cockpit and started singing to herself and Stefan was a bit concerned he was beginning to hear things…mermaids! I think he is still dreaming of winning the rum tot. Nobody has won it yet.

     Poor Sofia had a freak wave come through her porthole and drench her in the middle of the night. She dreamt she was drowning. It also threw Ayama well off course but Stefan was on watch and said the autopilot eventually put her back on course.

    We have been joined by a very beautiful velvety green and brown moth who is hitching a ride back to dry land.  Two more flew past but didn’t land on Ayama.  We are hoping to arrive at the Marina before sunset but it will be close.’

We took in the genoa as we reached the way point on the headland  and the spinnaker pole and then partially took out the genoa again. Suddenly there was a big bang and Anna jumped into action to rescue the solar panels which the wind had flipped  over, luckily nobody was hit by the loose pole and Sophia grabbed it.  Having had about 12 knot winds all day the wind picked up to 26 – 30 knots.  We took in the jib/fock and Ayama was flying towards Santa Marta. 

The coastguard boat came and escorted us so Anna had to talk to them on the radio. She then had to cope with the coastguard, Rally Control and the  Marina staff all trying to communicate at the same time. The final comment from someone was “we wish you a too good time in Santa Marta”.

Ayama is now safely tied up in a very pleasant marina and we are enjoying Santa Marta which is a vibrant, friendly and relaxing city.


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