22,09,82N 75,43.27W We are anchored off this tiny flat island called Ragged Island. There is nothing here but a few houses and a salt harvesting plant. Very few yachts come here, its just a rest for us before we make our last sail for Varadero, Cuba! 48 hours away. Our trip here was amazing, the sea was so flat all the way. Rob lowered the rubber duck and went to visit Yacht Searenity for a few hours. Its still flat today so we are very happy.
20,57.39N 73,40.86W We arrived here yesterday, Great Inagua island. There is a lake in the middle of the Island with a huge Flamingo colony, we have seen them flying by the yacht. The island is small with 1600 inhabitants most of whom work at the salt plant. We can see the devastation of a hurricane that hit the island a few years ago, fishing boats beached,steel structures bent. We are anchored in 5m of glorious blue water and can see the bottom clearly. The sea is so flat its wonderful. Today we leave for Little Ragged island, a 24 hour trip. These islands are at the edge of the Bahama Islands, so we are getting a taste of whats to come later, after Cuba. Rob caught a Tuna yesterday, great for dinner tonight.
Past the 'Átol das Rocas' last night and the sea got shallow, to 53m. Dolphins swam with us at dusk, they are so wonderful to watch, Krazni and I went to the front of the boat to watch and 4 jumped at the same time, least 2m in the air! They came back again at 22h00 and we could see them just below the surface with the full moon. Wash day today, sheets and towels in the washing machine. Also washed down the bathroom at 7am before it gets too hot. Everything gets a layer of salt air on it and feels sticky. We wipe the wooden surfaces with a vinegar and water mix to remove the salt. Rob is making more water so we'll have full tanks in Fortaleza, should get there Sun morning. Doing 8.5 kts. Caught a small Marlin but cut the line off once we had got most of it back on the reel, lost lure. 3,45.22S 35,48.05W PS steak in F.de Noronha was not good.
Today Krasni caught a Black Marlin 2.1m long! A shame really as we did not want to kill a Marlin. The lure came out of its mouth and then got fouled on its tail. With all the excitement Rob started the other motor forgetting the bungy line that was out. It got wrapped around the prop. Thank heavens Johan, from Yacht Searenity, is a good diver and he went down to cut the cable off. Its not a great eating fish, but created a good diversion. It gets rather boring out here. 6,15.70S 21,56.20W
It was sad that we could not go ashore at Ascension isl, but we had a nice break. The huge swells were set to stay a few days and there is no protected landing jetty. Its a British isl with a USA airforce base. We had a fly past of 3 F16 as entertainment. The Canadian yachty next to us said the fresh produce market was closed anyway. He was a chatty fellow, he and his wife had been sailing for 7 yrs! Great excitement as we left we caught a 65cm long, black fish with a big flat head. It provided excellent meat which we made into pickled fish. Today Rob had the fun of fighting a Marlin till the line snapped. Between the two yachts we have now lost 6 lures and burnt out a reel. Searenity is ave 6 knotts so we are staying together. She looks pretty with the Spinaker flying. Today they got up to 7.5 knots. 6.47,79S 19.35,86W
Yepee caught a nice Yellowtail today, 3kg. Enough for 2 meals. Sea Wolff is powering along at 8 to 9 knotts and all crew are well. Rob is a bit green. Mince on rice with veg for supper just now. A few seagulls about, nothing else but sea. We are 20 miles off shore. Sea temp 20C. 31,42S 16,57E. Cant believe I can sleep soo much.Chat soon, Nadene and crew.