Preparing
19 June 2015 | Swimming Pool, Eastern Holandes
Mark
This morning was windy and overcast. Not good diving weather. The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday is worse. Basically, a strange tropical wave has gone overland across Venezuela and Columbia and should get to us tomorrow. This is unusual as tropical waves are usually much further N. Anyway, we are supposed to get lots of squalls and probably lightening. When that happens, the safest place to be is as far from the mainland as possible. You also need to be anchored where the wind can clock 360* without endangering you. We decided to spend the day moving to the Swimming pool in the Eastern Holandes. It is on the outermost reef (away from mainland) and has good holding over a sandy bottom in only 12'. Best of all, as it turned out there are only a handful of boats here so there is plenty of room for everyone. First I had to fix the prop. I sanded the new prop lightly (it, too, was coated with Coppercoat and needed to be sanded to expose some of the copper antifoulant.) then I filled it with grease and removed the access screw to let the extra squirt out. Using the hookah, I took the blade and a hammer down to the prop. It took some wiggling to get it started, but then it slid on nicely, squirting a long snake of grease as it went on. When it was firmly in place, I tapped in the retaining pin, hoping it will stay. (I checked the pin on all of the other five blades and they are all tight.) I went back and got the screw and a screwdriver and capped the access hole. It all went very smoothly. I was amazed (but pleased.) That fixed, we weighed anchor and were off. AND SAILING. With full main and gennie on a broad reach. With only 10 kts apparent, we were sailing at 5. As we exited the protection of the Coco Bandera reef (nearly 5 miles long), we got the full ocean swell until we were back inside the protection of the Holandes reef. Swells were 6-8' but a fair number were a lot bigger. Always handled it easily. The female part of her crew handled it a little less well, but did OK. We came about and sailed close hauled for a while, then rolled up gennie and motor sailed closer to the wind to get to the Holandes. Finally we dropped the main and motored in to the Swimming Pool and hunted for a place to anchor. We found a spot that looked tentatively good, but the slope was too steep and if we dragged, it would be hard to reset. Finally we ended up at the head of the pack in the shallow sandy area of the Swimming Pool that gave it its name. The anchor set immediately, the kellet is doing its thing, and we have plenty of room to swing. But OMG what a current!I guess all the water coming over the reef has to go somewhere. I did my usual dive off the bow and was immediately swept back to the bridle. I grabbed on there and hung straight back like a flag in the wind, the water actually churning around me. I slid down the side of the boat and grabbed the swim ladder, again stretching it straight out. There is no way I could swim against this. Maybe with fins I could manage not to go backwards too quickly! Bryan & I rigged a safety line behind the boat just in case someone wants to get wet and slips. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but we certainly will have to take dink somewhere with less current if we want to snorkel or dive.