The Doldrums

Night on the calm water!

Feb 22, 2015

The Doldrums

After 3 good days of sailing the wind has dropped to between 3 and 5 knots. This afternoon we got the spinnaker up and have been playing around trying to get the most out of it. Right now it is giving us 4 knots, about 1.5 of which is a favourable current. It is also a pleasant treat that we are going in the right direction.

We are using the quiet time to do some of the preparations for Galapagos. The restrictions for entering have been becoming more onerous with time. It seems like they are discouraging private yachts from stopping there. Jimmy Cornell was saying that he will not organize another rally to stop there. There is a thorough inspection of the boat and hull with a point system. Boats have been turned away for not measuring up. There can't be any barnacles on the hull which will attach on this passage. One of these days Rob and/or Bob will have to go under and do some scraping using the scuba gear. The holding tanks need to be closed but there are no pumpouts. The boat needs a fumigation certificate but no company does that work. Signs about dumping need to be made and attached and labels put on containers for compost and cycling. Only biodegradable products stored. We are all pleased that there is an effort to protect such a wonderful area. The logistics of it just need to be worked out better. Recently there has been both a commercial oil spill and a cruise ships' dragging across a coral bed that have done more damage than all the sailboats. We will relax once that inspection has been done.


I meant to mention some of the other people and boats we have seen along the way. The couple on Trillium Wind on our dock are from Oakville. Two boats were from near Saskatoon, one from Vancouver, one from Gaspe. Eye Candy, who we met in the Caribbean, were in the boatyard. The owner of the convenience store and engine mechanic, Carol (Friesen) and Greg Van Wyck, are from Morden area and learned to sail in Yellowknife. They know Sean and Janice, Rob's cousins. Bob's sister and husband are also from Yellowknife. Small world!

We enjoyed a sat phone call to Ottawa today to wish Jack a happy birthday. It was fun to hear all their voices. It is very cold up there compared to the 28C here.