Santa Marta, Colombia

Curacao- Santa Marta, Colombia

On thursday the 28th we left spanish water in curacao. We were sad to leave some good friends there but looking forward to get to see this new continent in the same time.

We had waited for a window of nice weather, since we've been told to be weary of the 'Cabo de la Vela' where seas can get very rough.

In very fair conditions we left spanish water, this time with our engine, that we could fix in Curacao.

The first day was smooth 'butterfly'- sailing and we managed to get past Aruba during the night time. It was quite a maze of big tankers that were moored there, probably waiting for their turn to get to the huge raffinery on the island. A dutch coast-guard aircraft checked us out, they were circling us in very low altitude as if to intimidate us. Eventually they called us on the vhf and asked for our names and our destination. Then they left us alone.

Aruba in the sunset, a paradox island with it's windpark on one

side and massive raffinery on the other.

Robin, on his first bigger trip on a sailing boat, did very well, no signs of seasickness, neither homesickness! Only cooking brought him to his limits but we all know that. There's just one thing that's worse, Olly could tell stories about that...

On the second day we rounded the cape, turns out it was worth to wait; the sea's just a little confused and some north-easterly swells come in. We were fish but had no luck, one bait got taken by a big old fish, the brake of the reel squeeked- and the line snapped... One lure and about

60 metres of line gone.

Our third day out was a bit unfortunate. Right in the beginning and in very light winds the sails were banging around and one of our bamboo- spinnaker booms from dominica came off the holder on the mast and went over board. When I came outside after putting some tea it was gone and out of sight.

The rest of the day we all spent reading and playing card games.

In the evening the wind picked up again. We made good progress, hopes are high to arrive the next day 'round noon, when the sheet-holder on the main- boom broke with a bang. So we had to take down the main and went on on genoa only.

On our fourth day, 31st, we didn't get very far in light winds, the improvisated main-sheet couldn't help us there.

Since we didn't want to arrive during nighttime we had to wait another night.

So, this morning we arrived with the first light of day and pulled in to the marina. Having the boat in this safe harbour will allow us to have some trips inland.