Monday 24 August 2015

By most accounts Rocna anchors do not suck, however have found occasion to question that assertion. Take Saturday arrival for example. Finally got the thing hooked up on second attempt, however (have you noticed there's nearly always a however? (would have used 'an' however if from UK)) when current and wind shifted at 2200 it dragged opposite direction depositing us on a shoal just before low water (a high outgoing tide would have been sportier, but this was good enough, particularly since we had injudiciously celebrated arrival with an extra tot of grog). Said anchor was reeled in with little resistance on an upslope. Backup Delta (mostly rode) set well after being carried out in dink, but regrettably was angled to pull us into even shallower water (suspect ethanol induced brain death). Stern anchor was then set (correct direction) and #2 retrieved (it's waaaay heavy) with dinghy to be reset as well as was possible given that much of its line had been chewed through by gypsy underneath windlass capstan (see explanation above). Finally pulled us off around 0300. Re-anchored next morning with enough reverse power to dig into earth's magma (not as far away as one might suspect due our being surrounded by 3 smoking volcanos). After 2 nights awake, slept last night like a baby (you know, one of those babies that sleeps all night).

On a scale of 1 to 10, snorkeling here is not 11, but not bad: pipe fish (straight seahorses), stinkrays, eels and snakelike sea cucumbers, plus good visibility). Wouldn't mind staying another day, but Lewoleba's ATMs and fresh markets are calling. Also, we've eschewed last 2 organized festivities and feel obliged to suffer through another. Hope it's better than first, although one place in between bussed detainees to site and didn't release them until midnight (the real one at 0000) so remain trepidatious (real word). Must remain within escape-to-boat distance.

Jack