Jamaica seems like ancient history. Two nights at sea from Santa Marta to the San Blas islands group which I understand are owned by a guy call Archie Pelago.

These reef strewn islands claim victoms regularly. Tho most recent just a couple of weeks ago when a couple arrived too early and in poor light drove their boat onto the reef. Kuna Indian "law" says that what's on their reefs is theirs and it doesn't take them long to strip the carcass. What's left of it is still there, lying like a bleached whale as a reminder to all to enter in good light and using eyeball navigation, preferably aided by Polarized sunglasses.

Coming in early or late you can' see the shallows. The Navionics chart plotter is way out. On Navionics, recently surveyed waypoints in the latest Pilot shows you going straight over the reefs. It's therefore best to enter with the sun high, behind you and with someone up the mast spotting.

So, we came in just after dawn, the sun ahead and Anne refusing to go up the mast. Fortunately, cruising buddies went in an hour ahead just at dawn and while we waited offshore I cheated by dropping waypoints on their AIS track. We then simply followed their "breadcrumbs" and got parked off the golden sands and swaying palm trees, albeit in 16 metres.

Two hours kip and woken by a "Hola" as the first of the vendors arrived.

Now, we survived ten days in Morocco being dragged through the souks, bazaars and countless carpet emporia without spending a bean. Ten minutes here and we were cleaned out for $120 for some "han' knitted" cushion covers.

Spreading the wealth, one dugout at a time!