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Overseas Express - LOG 4 Galapagos



LOG 4 Galapagos

We arrived at Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal  the 17th Feb when Gudrun had her 30th birthday, at 1640 local time. We made 120 Nm miles that day. But we had a stop at the equator, took a bottle of sparkling wine, fished a yellow finned Tuna and went on motoring with no wind.

We had to wait in the boat until the inspection team had made their control, they arrived at 1800. The hull was inspected by two divers, and we passed, thanks to Eric, who had scraped the hull free for barnacles, especially under the keel. The dive team got four cold beers. Afterwards we were inspected by five inspectors, immigration, engine, medicine, environment and one boss. They took away our aspirin because it was outdated, but after they had gone, we found the aspirin in the cockpit, and they just had forgotten to take the expired medicine with them. They came back the day after, but not to collect the medicine. Everything went fine and the boat was cleared in to Galapagos. The day after we went to the beach snorkeling together with sea lions and turtles, we did not see any sharks. We had plenty of time, because we had only took five days on the transit to Galapagos. The year before most boats took seven days. On the 21st we went by local bus to Puerto Chino, that had a beautiful beach, after swimming and snorkeling we went to a local restaurant. I was dehydrated, but a couple of beers fixed that. The food was excellent as well.

On 22nd Feb we went to Kicker Rock after visiting two beaches with snorkeling. See picture of Kicker Rock. Kicker Rock is giant volcanic rocks, separated with cracks. Eric and I snorkeled the biggest crack. There were a fantastic life under the surface with all kinds of fishes, turtles and sea lions. We did not see any sharks, but Eric saw a hammerhead shark when diving there a couple of days before.

Same day at 1730 we took the anchor up and left San Cristobal going to Isabel and Puerto Villamil 80 nm on a night sail. The weather here at Galapagos has been hot and humid with little or no wind. So also tonight with motoring all the way. We adjusted the speed so we arrived at 0800 hrs AM.

On Isabel everything is forbidden, no fishing no spearfishing. But you can swim around the boat. This is the biggest Island with only 4000 inhabitants, very little to buy except for guided tours. We took off for the third and last Island on Galapagos for us on the 25th February to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. This is the biggest town and the capital of Galapagos. We arrived 8.30 PM after 45 nm, we had a little bit of rain, the first since Rodney Bay. The boat was washed of salt water for the first time since then.

The wear on the boat with salt and more than 30 degrees Celsius in the air and sea is high. Even with coppercoat the hull is growing with seaweed and barnacles. Stainless steel is not as stainless as in Norway.

Now we are waiting for fuel  and weather briefing before we leave for the Marquesas Islands on 2nd March (that will take four weeks app 3000 nm). There is almost no wind around the equator, we have to get down to 6 degrees south to have trade wind back.

Alex

Skipper on Overseas Express



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