Losing It
24 April 2014 | Islas Galapagos
Thursday 24 April 2014
Going northward (016 degrees) Tuesday, current was moving south, on the bow, until stopping point where it flowed north. Overnight it picked up to nearly 2 knots drifting boat about 17 NM further away from Shipwreck Bay, creating adverse current during entire return and causing significant delay. This illustrates cruising rule #35 which needs no further explanation (same rule applies to flying with headwinds).
Following another hour and a half of scraping and wiping with red scrubby in rolling sea, got most of crud off hull. Wind had picked up enough by 0730 for heaving to with backed main for a bit of stabilization. Finally, after ingesting notable quantities of seawater and totally knackered, discovered another type of heaving and called it done. This two day exercise was much less fun than one might suppose. Cleaning the bottom in a calm anchorage wouldn't be as interesting nor build as much character, but, what the heck, may try that next time. On a more positive note, no one was eaten by an orca, hammerhead shark or giant squid, no tools were donated to Neptune and we have crossed the equator twice more. As previously done and contrary to general mariner practice, no expensive salutation was offered to the big guy. After all, dude's a god; he can get his own champagne.
Returned to Bay well after dark using plotter track and radar with complete confidence that risking reef and collision was better than another unprotected night. After failed attempt at sleeping in we await new and improved glad tidings of great joy.
Jack