After a rest in Puerto Del Sol we made our way to Coron town to stock up on food and other essentials of the cool refreshing type. We decided to anchor at the back of Canituan island and used the resorts small banka service to reach the town proper. The resort staff were great so we decided to make that our fivesies spot for a couple of days.
Coron has a great market which has now moved from the centre of town out further along the waterfront and is much bigger now than our visit here in 2012. Everything is fresh if you go first thing in the morning. Coron is a tourist town with mainly divers from all over the world that have come to dive the 17 or so wrecks from the second world war. There are gunboats, freighters, patrol boats and larger fighting ships all belonging to the Japanese navy. They were discovered hiding in the area towards the end of the war and sunk in several raids by the American forces.
With our provisioning done, we upped the anchor and headed for Sangat Island. I contacted JoJo the dive master at the resort to determine availability of a mooring and spaces for some dives. We had been there 2 years before and most of the staff are still the same and as friendly as ever. This is where we learnt to dive for the first time and is was great to come back and dive in some of the same places.
After 4 really relaxing days it was time to move on as we had decided to add Coron Island to the schedule. A short sail found us anchored on a beautiful inlet at the entrance to twin lakes in 20 meters of water. With all the chain out and the second anchor of the stern on rode, we were safe. It was busy with the tourist bankas during the day but from 4pm until 10am in the morning it was so quiet and calm. Some fantastic sunsets and sunrises were accompanied by cold beers and the occasional Tanduay rum (sorry sunsets only for the drinks )
The water was so clear and blue we were swimming any chance we got, James was never out of the water. It had come time to leave for restock in Coron and the stern anchor came up fine. Now the main one, mmm winch ok but chain jams, ok let a bit out to free it, oops all out and all of the safety line. How do we get the chain back onboard?? Easy. Connected a rope to the chain in the water and through a block back to the cockpit and onto the main winch, all good, chain back on the yacht, mmm winch deck switch dead. So with James at the bow, me down below in the chain locker, we bridge out the winch isolating the deck switch. It takes us 20 mins but we got all 80 mtrs of chain back on board. I love sailing, always a challenge somewhere.
Next stage Coron to Puerto Princesa, stay tuned.