21 May 2011

An early start to the day so I could go up the mast before it got too hot to check out our AIS aerial as ever since I went up the mast in Grenada it hasn't been working properly. I re-connected the socket at the top as it had come loose, but I think it will need some more work when in Colon. We are on our way there now, leaving Porvinir at 6pm as planned (for a change!) We decided to go back the way we came from Isla Elsa, so as to face our demons and show we COULD navigate through tricky reefs. It made a big difference that the light was directly above us (highly recommended!!) Oh, also that Whit was up the spreaders (half way up the mast) being spotter. His directions agreed with mine that I was giving using the computer charts (thanks Pete!) and we successfully navigated our way out. Once anchored in Porvinir, we were delighted that A) the water was clean enough to swim (the first time we arrived, I think they had just emptied their sewage into the sea. Nice.) and B) there were four dolphins that came and joined the kids whilst they were snorkelling. For about an hour, the kids were watching the dolphins in the water and at one point one of the dolphins stuck his head out of the water as if to see where they were, and then started to swim over to them again. Amazing. Mark treated the kids to a whizz around the bay, towing them behind the dinghy on the boogey board so as to get some energy out of them before going on the boat again. There was just some time for Mia and Whit to find some gigantic sand dollars before heading off into a beautiful sunset. Now I've got to start reading up on the Panama Canal....