We spent a shade longer in Las Perlas than planned. Firstly, we had to kill some tome to let the ARC fleet get ahead of us and secondly, David, our friend from back home took a tumble in the surf straining his neck in the process. He therefore checked into the hotel for a few days to recuperate and we enjoyed some air con and half decent wifi.

David and Gitte are also New Zealand bound so hopefully they will be in our wake before long.

Back on board, we up'd and off'd yesterday, 858 miles to David Attenburgh's paradise, the Galapagos. A good breeze blew us out of Panama and we had one of our best 24 hour mileages making nearly 180 miles. Today is slower but still making a steady 5 knots albeit 5 knots headed into a complete Harry Flatter where my patience will be tested as there's hee haw wind forecast for quite a number of days. It might be El Nino or it might not. The ARC fleet had a great run most of the fleet getting in two days early.

The Pacific here is quite different from what we're used to. Firstly, its brown, not the translucent blues you get mid Atlantic. I'm assuming its run-off from the Central American highlands....but then its dry season. Who knows.

One major improvement is that having trolled our fishing line back and furrit across the Atlantic and caught I think just two fish (a Baby Wipe and an unfortunate bird), the Pacific seems to have oodles of fish. Yesterday I said, "do we want to put some fish in the feezer?". Almost before tghe line was out I had a bite and after a wee tussle landed a nice fish with spots. (Must buy a recognition chart).

17:00 now and we are into the last 90 minutes of daylight. It gets very damp at nights so we batten down the hatches to keep the moisture out....pointlessly.

So, what's for dinner..........fish!