March 27

Enthusiastic current made cleaning bottom a challenge this morning, although, on horizontal strings of barnacles along the keel, it swept scraper along from bow to stern like a conveyor belt. Got big chunks and prop, but not the slime. Also filled exercise quota for a few days, but wasn't done yet.

Sail to Rio Cacique (ca-SEA-kay) allowed time to sort out drifter. Sheet leads were changed three times, finally, to non-optimum location due to interference with solar panels. Should be a huge help for downwind to beam reach in light winds. As wind increased to 18 knots boat made hull speed before discretion reasserted for furling it and sailing on yankee and staysail into anchorage.

Observed no Cayman in Rio. Nor boas, opossums or land critters of any kind. Could have been due noise of outboard although I drifted for awhile. There was something dead along the bank as buzzards were buzzing through shoreline trees, low over river and over dinghy. Initial concern was partially relieved after discovering personal life-signs, but aggressive behavior was feared to indicate a new preference for fresh kill. Those guys are more agile than one might expect.

Returned to boat through surf-sized standing wave, caused by 15 foot tide rushing off the island, prefatory to putting engine on transom and deflated dink on bow. Had thoughts of taking off for Galapagos this afternoon, but circumspection followed realization of deficiency in wanna. Too bad as wind is 12 to 15 from the north. Alarm will perform its function at 0 dark hundred after ibuprofen and a nice nap.

Jack