Bahia Samara 30eth March 2012

We left Bahia Brasilito before six o'clock and before sunrise yesterday, as we had 54 Miles to sail and the cruising guide book said that you should not approach the next anchorage after dark as the anchorage is surrounded by reefs. I am glad it was still light when we arrived!!
We did very well in the morning as we did 30 miles in 3-4 hours with gusts up to 28 knots per hour. In the afternoon the wind died and we struggled to reach the anchorage before dark.
But we made it! Looking around it was quite dramatic with all the breaking water over the reefs.

This morning we went ashore to this beautiful wide beach. Two white horses roomed!
It was really hot, but we ventured up into this small village.
We found 'an oasis' in the hot jungle and had lunch and cool drinks.

Hibiscus flower.












The explorer was happy when he saw his ship again.

Towards Bahia Basilito. 23. March 2012

We left Coco Beach two days ago and Races with our Swiss friends in s/v Wingggis 20 Miles to the next anchorage, Bahia Basilito. The race was 'Neck and Neck'. We were first, as we have a bigger boat, but they won on handicap.
Sailing past these scarries we saw a yacht at anchor. Can you spot it?

David and the Hooka. Coco Bay . 24. March 2012

David wanted to see the bottom of the boat and clean off barnacles, so he jumped into the soup with the hooka!
A hooka is a kind of snorkel which has a long tube to a pump, which sends air down the tube. This was a 'First' for him and he was delighted using it with the right amount of weights in his belt. It is my turn next time.

In the dry jungle in Costa Rica . 22 . March 2012

Coco Beach. Yachts on anchorage.

Gitte on the beach.
Hermit crab on small tree. David exploring in the jungle.

Sailing to Costa Rica

Leaving Marina Barillas up the river in El Salvador we needed a pilot again to take us out passed the two mile long reef. And then we were off to Costa Rica 200 Miles passing Nicaragua and anchoing in sheltered bay just inside the border.

Young boys waved us out of El Salvador way out to sea.

Oiltanker in close proximity.

David at the helm in force 4-5, having a great time.

Mountains in the distance near the bay where we anchored.

Pelicans fishing.

Ragged rocks being passed on our way into the bay.

Local fishermen fishing in the evening.

The good ship Winggis with the Swiss couple Martin and Alexandra on board in the anchorage.

Gitte, Martin and Alexandra.

Local fishermen

Leaving Marina Barillas, El Salvador. 17.-3-2012

This pretty lady, Marita, was the secretaty to the harbourmaster in Marina Barillas. She spoke good English and was a great help together with the harbourmaster himself.Going through immigration and costums and harbour office was done in a very short time, comparing to must places where it takes you all day doing these procedures.

Leaving Barillas.

A frog in the Shower!

Volcano lake in El Salvador

We went in minibus with a driver and two armed guardsto see a lake in a vulcano, a crater lake high up in the mountains.

David is tasting the sulphor water bubling out of the ground in the crater.

We had lunch in a nice restaurant with beautiful flowers and parrots in cages.

We visited a small village with this lovely artisan shop.

Repair at Barillas.El Salvador. 15th March 2012.

Thirty fishing boats are anchored at Barillos. Some of them are beyond repair.

We discovered a leak on our way to Barillos, El Salvador and realised where it came from.

When under way here the fore-hatch was left open, the wind started up and a big splash of salt water soaked our beautiful floor-rugs. ( you do that mistake once) . Here they are drying on the fore- deck after a wash in fresh water.

View over the anchorage in the river.