We're off for the Galapagos!

It was ALOT of motoring - 100 hours total - in our 7 days 20 hours trip. For some boats, they didn't even have that much fuel on board for the trip. Everyone had to calculate their motoring time and fuel on board. We carried 93 gallons in our 2 engines, 40 gallons in the spare fuel bladder, and 55 gallons in 11 jerry cans. We've requested for 100 gallons of diesel when we arrive in the Galapagos.

Details on the trip:
February 12
Clark and John cleaned the decks and checked the hulls another time. Dinghy up and secured. Guys set up Code D. Left anchorage at 11:30am for 12pm start. All motor, no wind. Decided to anchor at Isla Chapera along with several WARC boats hoping the winds will get better in a few hours. Left by 3pm and headed west. Strong winds – going 10 knots at times. Caught a fish but we didn’t reel it in time as we were going so fast. Dinner was mushroom truffle risotto. Reefed main around 8-9pm. Went to bed but woke up at 1am as main was unreefed. Tried to put up Code D but too difficult. Rolled it back in. Back to bed. Oh - our watch schedule for the 4 of us is every 3 hours.

February 13
Everyone getting use to being on watches. Nice sunrise. Pretty much motored all day. Clark did a drone shot and shows how flat the seas were. Dinner was rice with egg roll filling and roasted acorn squash with side of pineapple.

February 14
More motoring. Squalls forming around 5am, avoided them by 6am. Found some wind around 8am and was able to go 7-9 knots until it died again at 9am. More motoring. Todd really getting more tired and crabby – needs more sleep. Breakfast burritos and oatmeal for Joy. Dinner was farro with shrimp and zucchini.

February 15
More motoring. Same as yesterday. Breakfast was frittata and ham and cheese croissant. Dinner was cheeseburgers and mac ‘n cheese.

February 16
More motoring. Dinner was lasagna casserole, garlic bread and salad.

February 17
Greek yogurt and muesli for breakfast. Lunch was sandwiches. Sunny most of the day. Dinner was beef tacos with mango salsa and elote. Sailed and motor sailed. Joy started getting the boat ready for the authorities as there would be up to 11 people coming on board to check the boat (check medications; proper signage for garbage, recycling, and organics; check life jackets and flares; check fridge and freezer for fresh and frozen food; check for eco-friendly cleaning products). She was also planning our tours for when we arrive (most places can only be reached by joining a tour). Lots to prepare! Oh, you'll see in the pictures all these birds - red footed boobies, we think. They just sat on the bow of the boat overnight! We had 18 of them...and they were pooping everywhere! Other boats were also experiencing it and one even had as much as 30! Kind of a nuisance!

February 18
Bacon and eggs (the last 3) and toast for breakfast. Lunch was cheese and crackers with meat. Cloudy. Dinner was pot roast and mashed potatoes; I had leftover taco and rice. Oh, we crossed the equator at 6:33pm and we are now shellbacks! We celebrated by opening a bottle of prosecco (we do not drink during passages but had to celebrate the milestone!). Bumpy ride, sailed some at night until wind died.

February 19
Arrived in San Cristobal’s Puerto Baquerizo’s Wreck Bay at 8:51am. Anchored. Cleaned up boat and blew up all fenders. This is for the sea lions to deter them from coming up the boat. More to come...

Photos of the passage...