Aboard La Sirena
17 April 2012 | Roncador Cay
11 April 2012 | Cartagena, Colombia
25 August 2011 | Cross Plains, WI
27 January 2011 | Cartagena, Colombia
31 December 2009 | Cartagena, Colombia
01 December 2009
18 November 2009 | Shelter Bay Marina, Panama
20 April 2009 | Panama City
30 March 2009 | Chichime Cay, Islas San Blas, Panama
20 March 2009 | East Holandes Cays, Islas San Blas, Panama
02 March 2009 | Esnasdup Cays, Islas San Blas, Panama
18 February 2009 | East Holandes Cays, Islas San Blas, Panama
04 February 2009 | West Lemmon Cays, Islas San Blas, Panama
26 January 2009 | West Naguarandup Cays, Islas San Blas, Panama
21 January 2009 | San Blas Islands, Panama
15 January 2009 | San Blas Islands, Panama
12 January 2009 | Nargana, Islas San Blas, Panama
09 January 2009 | Snug Harbor, Islas San Blas, Panama
07 January 2009 | Achutupu, Islas San Blas, Panama
05 January 2009 | Isla Pinos, Panama
Free at Last
17 April 2012 | Roncador Cay
Michael Mirkes
We departed Marina Club de Pesca in Cartagena without much fanfare, just warm wishes from Judi, our good friend and neighbor of the yacht FIA, and of course, our loyal boat keeper, Estuardo. We had 330 NM ahead of us and had wanted higher winds than had been forecasted. We would need a boost from our engine in order to arrive at Roncador Cay with enough visibility to enter the shallow reef.
On the second night out, after a long period of motor sailing, I turned the engine off to see how much speed our sails along could deliver. Not enough, so I turned the engine key back on and...nothing happened. After a bit of thought, I "hot wired" the starter and we were motor sailing again. We arrived at Roncador Cay around 2 PM Friday, 52 hours from Cartagena.
Saturday was spent installing the wind turbine for battery recharging and doing other routine maintenance. The engine started normally during a trial so I'm more convinced that high temperature in the engine compartment caused some thermal problems in the starter/solenoid circuit. We'll proceed on that basis.
The Cay was enjoyable during our first two days but nasty weather was soon to come. Late Sunday it arrived with rain squalls and 30 knot winds. While the reef protected us from the 15-20 foot seas, the swells swung around it to make for a very uncomfortably rolling anchorage. It has been that way for the past two days and only now are we beginning to see a break in the weather.
We now have our ear to the weather forecasts, both from SSB broadcasts and e-mail service. Hoping to make the next two day passage to another reef system, Vivorillos, off the coast of Honduras. More later.
On the second night out, after a long period of motor sailing, I turned the engine off to see how much speed our sails along could deliver. Not enough, so I turned the engine key back on and...nothing happened. After a bit of thought, I "hot wired" the starter and we were motor sailing again. We arrived at Roncador Cay around 2 PM Friday, 52 hours from Cartagena.
Saturday was spent installing the wind turbine for battery recharging and doing other routine maintenance. The engine started normally during a trial so I'm more convinced that high temperature in the engine compartment caused some thermal problems in the starter/solenoid circuit. We'll proceed on that basis.
The Cay was enjoyable during our first two days but nasty weather was soon to come. Late Sunday it arrived with rain squalls and 30 knot winds. While the reef protected us from the 15-20 foot seas, the swells swung around it to make for a very uncomfortably rolling anchorage. It has been that way for the past two days and only now are we beginning to see a break in the weather.
We now have our ear to the weather forecasts, both from SSB broadcasts and e-mail service. Hoping to make the next two day passage to another reef system, Vivorillos, off the coast of Honduras. More later.
Comments
| Vessel Name: | La Sirena |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Island Packet 38/1990 |
| Hailing Port: | Bayfield, WI |
| Crew: | Mary and Mike Mirkes |
| About: | Sailing the Caribbean for 12 consecutive years...several of which were as liveaboards. We are now 'snow birds', escaping the upper midwest USA winters. This blog of our journey was only recently begun, but hopefully we will have much to add. |
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The Mariners
Who: Mary and Mike Mirkes
Port: Bayfield, WI
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Incidentally, you may view our current position in a couple of ways. First, click on the above Current Position map to get an enlarged view. You may also be asked to install the Google Earth Plugin. Do that, and when you see the 'Run or Save?' window, click on 'Run' and follow the instructions. If you also see an 'ActiveX' control bar, click 'OK' to run it.
Alternatively, click on the above Related Links "Ship Trak" title and insert my amateur radio call sign KB9UTD in the appropriate field. You'll see our current position as well as others reported since leaving Venezuela. Use the satellite image mode and zoom features.
Incidentally, you may view our current position in a couple of ways. First, click on the above Current Position map to get an enlarged view. You may also be asked to install the Google Earth Plugin. Do that, and when you see the 'Run or Save?' window, click on 'Run' and follow the instructions. If you also see an 'ActiveX' control bar, click 'OK' to run it.
Alternatively, click on the above Related Links "Ship Trak" title and insert my amateur radio call sign KB9UTD in the appropriate field. You'll see our current position as well as others reported since leaving Venezuela. Use the satellite image mode and zoom features.