Ayama - SSB Love and Hate

Every day at 11:00 we all look forward to the World ARC fleet“roll call” using our SSB Radios transmitting on the 4, 6 or 8 MHz band. We use the ITU channels 4B, 6B and 8BIt is quite lonely on the ocean and we rarely see other boats in the fleet so it is great to hear each other’s voices and realizing that we are not alone out here and to know everything is OK!We have designated net controller that have volunteered to manage the communications.It goes like this: Aretha, Juno! Juno, Aretha!Aretha, You are breaking up, but can you please tell us your position, wind speed and direction and how many engine hours you have, over!Juno, our position is 10 degrees south, 129 degrees West, Wind 18 knots from the east, zero engine hoursMakena Makena, Juno!Juno Makena.Makena, if you could here. read more...

Ayama - Is this the Pacific Ocean?

We left Galapagos on the 4th of March. We are now “double handed” which means it is only Anna and Stefan on this passage. Chrissy and Per went to another yacht in our fleet; Karma Wins where Berry was in a need for extra crew or he wouldn’t have made the start of this leg.Anna and I are looking forward to sail only the two of us for a while. We have done shorter trips, up to five days, before so we know we will be fine.There are four other boats in the fleet with only one couple onboard and they all say it’s a great way to sail.The first two days we motored a lot (31 hours) to get down to the trade winds, which normally are below 5 degrees south.Since then we have had good wind around 10 m/s (20 Knots) from the southeast, and make 150-170 nm per 24 hrs.We have now sailed 4 days towards. read more...

Ayama - San Cristobal & arriving at Isla Isabella, Galapagos

ThursdayWe had to wait for the various officials to come aboard and give us clearance, immigration, checking various food items, rubbish handling system and the waste water tanks.The divers arrived first to check we hadn’t any growth on the hull; then 6 officials arrived by water taxi.They were very pleasant and polite and there were no complications so we were free to go ashore.The water taxi system is great as we can come and go independently rather than planning with one dinghy.There are sea lions everywhere trying to get onto the back of boats or (if they get on one) just sunbathingand relaxing. The town is quite small and compact so we found the laundry and left all the pile of washing there. It will be bliss to have a clean sheet.Per and I found the local lunchtime cervicheria and. read more...

Ayama - GALAPAGOS PUERTO BAQUERIZO

Ayama sailed really well with the main and the genoa, flatter seas and southerly winds doing 6-8 knots in 8-12 knot winds.There have been some clouds so it hasn’t been scorching hot; all in all a very pleasant few days.Yesterday we saw a few pilot whales and a booby did a spectacular dive into the water just beside Ayama.They are truly amazing to watch as they suddenly turn, fold their wings and shoot into the water.Exody sailed past us so we took some good photos and hopefully they will have some of Ayama.Exody is a 39ft fibreglass yacht whereas Ayama is a 42ft steel yacht. We sighted land and a large anchored cruise ship.Stefan didn’t want to come into the anchorage until dawn so we slowed down and motored once the wind died just before 3 am.We are now anchored next to Makena, a 62 ft. read more...

Ayama - MISSING THE BUTTERFLIES

We have had good sailing and then hours of motoring.We headed south with the winds and the current but had to motor across the notorious Doldrums.We kept heading south as Stefan hoped to pick up the southerly winds to sail back to the Galapagos.We are now sailing at 8 knots in 12 knot winds, calm seas and lovely weather …and we have just had a rum/Panama cheap liquor/coke with ice (Stefan is very proud of his ice-making) drink to celebrate crossing the Equator. There has been very little wildlife, a few birds and 1 gull that seemed to be determined to try and land on Ayama.I think she was lonely as she would settle on the sea, get left behind so fly to catch us up.I miss the colourful butterflies that fluttered by us in Las Perlas, going goodness knows where!Last night Per and I rescued. read more...