No fish caught other than a wayward flying fish landing on deck, we also saw another one impressively jump over the boat and under the The water generator is now back on so our attempts at fishing are suspended for a while. Over the last few days we have been accompanied by thousands (no exaggeration) of the flying variety who fly out of the waves as we sail through them, they appear to fly up wind in shoals just above the surface then dive back into the next wave.
When not on watch, eating or asleep (our three main activities) we have been reading the pilot guide for the San Blas islands- we are in for unique experience. The islands, a total of 378, many uninhabited are part of Panama but independently run by the indigenous and deeply proud Kuna Indians, fortunately with minimal interference from the national government. The population of some 55,000 is the largest group of native American Indians anywhere in the World. We will be able to visit a community that has maintained it's own form of economy, customs, language and culture with little outside interference. All land is community owned, but curiously all coconut palms are privately owned, we have been advised not to pick up any coconuts; this would be a huge offence to our hosts. The islands are almost crime free and we would not want to start a crime wave (by picking up a windfall coconut) and abuse the privilege we have been granted to visit one of the most unspoiled places in the world.
We are hoping to make landfall on Holandes Island by Friday afternoon. We can't enter at night as the charting is unreliable so we are trying to keep up a good speed. If we are too late we will have to stand off and hove too for the night - not as good as prospect as dropping the anchor behind the reef for a quiet night! We need to average 170 miles a day during Wednesday and Thursday, which, currently is not a problem as we have have a 25 to 30 knot Easterly moving us along very well. We also have a bit of Company with 2 other World Arc boats nearby. In sight is Ghost and able 6 miles off is the large catamaran Nexus. As we near San Blas and Panama we are expecting the trade winds to disappear - the are being on the edge of the ITCZ or doldrumd as its often known.
Paul, Susie, Peter and Grateful (missed the flying fish)