11/25/2005 - Captain's Log

Hello family and friends,

It has been a long time since I have made an entry. My crew has been doing a wonderful job describing our adventures. Since leaving for our second season we have had some unreal and also some trying times. For example our first day out of the estero in Bahia del Sol , El Salvador we encountered an amazing tormenta ( storm ) . We tried to out run it but we were soon engulfed in rain. The wind died but the rain came down in buckets. All you could see was a white wall. Then the lightning came. At this time the engine was on for we only had one working one. We had to turn off the refrigerator and any other electronical devices so if we got struck by lightning they wouldn’t get fried. This whole thing lasted for about 3 to 4 hours. Once it passed we sailed along watching the lightning as it moved out to sea. On the other spectrum of the board we have days where everything is great. The engines are working the sun is shining and we are catching fish for some fish tacos. Our last stretch down the coast was a mix of both good and bad. Our first stop was very cool at a bay called Brasalito. We fished off the coast among some small pinnacle islands called the Catalina’s. Very ironic since Dave came from Catalina Island in California. We caught a gorgeous Albacore. From there we headed farther south to a small and very rolly anchorage that went by the name of Carillos. I think it could have been a nice anchorage on another day but for us we had trouble getting our anchor to hold and all night long the girl (Woodduck ) just moaned in displeasure. On that leg of the trip our engine went out. Again….. The fuel we had was dirty. With much experience with this problem, it took no time at all to get it back on line. Bad fuel has been a constant battle.

Back in Playa del Coco we were very lucky to meet up with a boat that was selling their fuel for cheap. Their mast had broken on the catamaran they were sailing. They stopped in Playa del Coco as now their plan was revised to take the boat back to Punta Arenas. Since they were going to be towed by a fishing boat they sold us some fuel for half price. To give you an idea of prices….we paid 2 dollars a gallon. The prices we have been paying have been 3.80 to as high as 4.10 a gallon. So thanks to the crew on the cat, for there was no wind on our leg down the coast and we went through about 30 gallons of fuel. Ouch.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But alas we have made it to Tambor. Shortly before arriving here we pulled in another fish, this time a Dorado, a beautiful catch! Tambor is a sleepy town on the coast with a calm anchorage and a long sandy beach. Other than the usual hurdles everything has been working good. With our new battery charger we are able to supply us with enough electricity by only running the generator an hour or two each day. The Woodduck is getting a work out for sure. The need for some tender loving care for her is always on the list of things to do. That will never change, but she still looks and feels good.

Captains log, reply to jasonpruette@yahoo.com