They are off, we are not.
24 August 2013 | Oceanview Marina
Cloudy with some rain
At just before 1000 yesterday, the boats in the rally dropped their dock lines and headed out. It's down to 9 boats. Customs and Immigration showed up about 0700 and slowly worked their way through the boats getting everyone settled and stamped. It was hardest for the young Philippino women that are accompanying the cruisers as they require more than just a passport(not easy for them to get) they also require special permission plus a letter from their employer that they are allowed to go. Sounds crazy, but that is one of the rules here.
We had strumming guitar players walking the docks with numerous officials and even the owner of the marina showed up and took most of the rest of us from the marina out on his boat for the parade of boats as they headed south between Samal Island and the mainland. There was just a bit of wind as they headed out and all put up their sails and slowly moved along mainly under engine power. Just after passing Davao City, a squall came through and drenched all the boats(and us) with lots of rain. It was so heavy that visibility was only a few hundred yards at best and many of the sailboats vanished into the rain.
There are bets being made that some of the cruisers will turn back as some haven't made an extended voyage in years. I guess we will see in the next few days. No one made arrangements to be emailed with what is happening during the rally. The last forecast I found said that there would be winds of 13-20 knots from the south and swell of 3-5 feet. Well, since they are headed primarily south, it's not going to be a fun ride. It's going to be hitting them smack in the face the entire way and that means having to run the engine. They will need the 200 liters that is being given to them when they reach Sangihe in three days. I'd hate running my engine for that long but that is what it may take to get there. One cruise boat--Lady Emma--took off and left the rest of the group behind. They apparently have a huge engine and used it. Others hoisted their sails and as the wind slowly changed, took off doing quite well as we left them.
Food and liquor was flowing quite well on the boat we were on and everyone was having a great time. The owner of the marina even had some food brought out to us on a separate chase boat that had come with us. He left a while later on that same boat leaving us to celebrate and have a great time. We returned to the marina about 1400 and reveled in the quietness of it. The push of getting the rally was over and life can settle back to a more normal status.
Today, it's cut and try and splice our chain so we have a good length. I may take the chain off the spare anchor rode we have and splice it to the existing chain. We will see what shape it is in. One of the other cruisers has offered to sell me some of his extra chain and I may take him up on that.
We got the bill of lading from the folks that sold us our new batteries. Strangely, it says I bought a golf cart that comes with a roof, fold down windscreen, one battery, two keys, and a sweater basket. Somehow, I think there may have been a mixup on the bill of lading. I'm not sure that the cart will fit on Zephyrs stern, plus, I'd need a crane to get it on board. I wrote her back asking her check and see if I got the wrong bill of lading. As Sunday and Monday are holidays here, it will be a while before I hear back I think.
So that's what happening here. Just more fun and games.
The picture for today is of the boats streaming out of the marina for the rally.