Passage to Galapagos, Ecuador

03/28/2007

10 nm east of Isla San Cristobal

Watching the nearly full moon set beyond the first island since departing the mainland 4 days ago I am tempted to ring the ship’s bell and shout ‘LAND HO!!’. Then remembering my first mate upon completing her 10pm-2am shift is probably deep in REM sleep I decide against it and relish the moment with my strong, tall Bailey’s laced coffee and leftover moussaka.

The 560nm passage has been easy with a mixed bag of running, reaching, close-hualed, motor-sailing, spinniker runs and just shutting down and letting the 2knot current sweep us directly to our desired destination. Occasional dolphins and whales as well as a contant variety of crazy shaped jellyfish have been our non-sailing escorts.

This leg has been unique for Guava by having another boat in sight at all times. Not only have we never buddy-boated since Courtney has been aboard(10 months), only on a couple of occasions have we even seen another sailing vessel away from an anchorage. The companionship has been nice and we are looking forward to it on the following 3000nm (25-??day) trek to the Marquesas.

Our fleet is made up of Morning Star, Rick and Terrie, on a Tatoosh 42 and our new best buddies Sora, father Terry and daughter Cassie, on the mothership Tayana 55. We met in Bahia de Caraquez and have been causing trouble since. They have roughly the same sail plan as Guava, departing the Galapagos and looking for the next landfall, island hopping across the pacific to New Zealand and Australia.

Sailing with Sora is nice. Watching her fly 2 multi-colored drifters from the main and mizzen masts is a sight as she blows by Guava with her lone genniker pulling her along. That day it piped up and we wisely doused the big chute before she had another blow-out. Amazingly we motor faster than Sora with our over-sized 75HP Volvo. Yesterday in a flat calm we snuggled up close enough for me to serenade her for cold beers with my new song, ‘Chasing Sora’. They gladly paid up by tossing cans toward Guava and I caught them in our fishing net….which is too small for some of the fish we land but a perfect target for a pitcher, 15ft away, throwing from a rolling mound. They threw 6 strikes and I couldn’t handle the last wild pitch that splashed. They thought it was lost at sea but we promptly turned Guava around and made a “beer overboard” rescue. Were happy to report the can was safely back aboard in 2 minutes and immediately settled nicely in my stomach. Thanks Sora!!

Landing the only fish of the fleet on the first evening out, our 2ft dorado was good for fat dinner fillets (served with a pineapple-veggie fried rice) and while still holding ice a nice lunch (served with mango, red onion, cucumber salad) the following day. Morning star hooked a marlin but it was the oft named ‘one that got away’.

Galapagos