Diesel Duck

26 July 2013 | On board Diesel Duck
26 July 2013 | Leamington, Canada
25 April 2013 | Florida
26 March 2013 | Florida
27 February 2013 | Stuart, Florida
10 February 2013 | Beautiful Florida
24 January 2013 | Key West, Florida
26 December 2012 | Miami Beach
07 December 2012 | Miami Beach
27 November 2012 | Stuart, Florida
15 November 2012 | Wrightville Beach, NC
05 November 2012 | Chesapeake City, MD
01 November 2012 | New York, NY
30 October 2012 | Half Moon Bay Marina
29 October 2012 | Croton-on-Hudson, NY
23 October 2012 | The New York State Canal System
14 August 2012 | Leamington, Canada
20 June 2012 | Leamington, Ontario
20 June 2012 | Leamington, Ontario
13 May 2012 | In the Erie Canal System

1400 horsepowers, wow!

16 December 2010 | Santa Marta, Colombia
Marlene
On Monday night, Diesel Duck left Curacao to cruise to the San Blas Islands. Initially, the weather was good. Actually, very good for a Diesel Duck. Flat seas, light wind, a starry nightsky. Tuesday was almost the same while we traveled pass the rocks of Monjes. The largest rock houses the Venezuelan Costa Guarda (Coast Guard) post, who of course called us to identify ourselves. On Wednesday morning while we passed the town Rio Hacha on the Colombian coast where there are two oil rigs, a large swell started to develop from the west and the swell started to build during the day. Our weather forecast of light northeasterly winds of 5 to 10 knots materialized actually into a northwesterly wind of 20 to 25 knots and this combined with the 12 foot westerly swell turned the sea into a washing machine. Boy, we got clubbed!
There was no way for us to cross the mouth of the mighty Rio Magdalena in these conditions with the rainy season current, which would turn everything very very uncomfortable. At 3 a.m. we motored into the Rodadero Bay by Santa Marta, Colombia to drop the hook until it would turn daylight. As soon as Benno went to lower the anchor the sky opened up and the downpour that almost put the town under water washed off all the salt we had encrusted on Diesel Duck. Of course the swell came right into the bay which made it a rolly anchorage, but the motion was better than what we had been through all night long.
At breakfast time we relocated into the brand new Marina Santa Marta, which belongs to the IGY Group to wait out for the right condition. Not all facilities are finished, but the floating docks are superb. The marina has several agents to help the cruisers check into the country and our agent "Dino" was very nice and also spoke English. In the afternoon four officials visited us to complete the formalities. The inviting city of Santa Marta with all the Christmas decorations turned out to be a unexpected pleasant surprise, safe and with very friendly people. You could spend months here. Three boats over, the Colombian Armada (Navy) has one of their boats moored with 4 outboard motors of each 350 Hp on. They can catch the bad Narco Bandits on that! Look at the picture, you can see the Galil Assault Rifle Cal 223 standing on the front bench seat, the magazin was fully loaded, the sitting trooper indicated.
Weather permitting, we'll leave again in a couple of days to continue our journey.
Comments
Vessel Name: Diesel Duck
Vessel Make/Model: Diesel Duck 41' - Aluminum
Hailing Port: Toronto, Canada
Crew: Marlene and Benno Klopfer (Photo by Marcie Lynn, Puerto Montt, Chile)
About:
The kid, Dominik, is grown, married to Maryann and they have three kids Heidi + Annaliese + Hans, on their own. We are on the loose. Sold the condo and retired. Benno from an engineering profession and Marlene from a business administrator job. [...]
Extra:
SSCA Members Diesel Duck is designed by George Buehler and is a long range, sail assisted Troller Yacht. Main engine: Perkins M80T, 4 cyl. 78 hp Generator: 5 KW - 115/230Volt - 3 cyl. - Northern Lights diesel Fuel: 3000 liter diesel Water: 800 liter Additional equipments: 3 burner gas [...]
Home Page: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/dieselduck
Social:

Cruising on a Troller Yacht

Who: Marlene and Benno Klopfer (Photo by Marcie Lynn, Puerto Montt, Chile)
Port: Toronto, Canada