Las Perlas - 31 March 2024
Happy Easter all again! When we woke it was a little cloudy and cooler which was quite welcome. We had nice breakfast of papaya and cereal and we decided we would clean the bottom of the hull today in preparation for the Galapagos.
This meant getting out our diving equipment which we have on board and we have two BCD’s (buoyancy control device) and two scuba tanks which we connect to the BCD’s and tanks what are called octopuses. We attach the tank to the BCD and we connect it to the tank so we can inflate the BCD to act as a life vest. The idea being once we are on the water we deflate the BCD which enables us to go under the water and we place weights in our BCD’s to help ensure we can go underwater. The octopus attaches to the tank and we have two breathing devices from it, one a main and the other a backup. Mark and I got all this equipment on and checked it was all working and then put them on us and our marks and flippers. We had put on gloves and attached our scrubbing brushes to our BCD.s. We stepped off the side of the boat and into the water. The BCD brought us back to the surface and we then moved to the front of the boat to start. We needed some lines under boat to hold on to. I was very surprised that bearing in mind that I had cleaned about the first few feet with a snorkel in the San Blas that the green had come back on to the hull in these areas as well as below this area.
Mark and I started at the front and there was quite a current pushing us back and we struggled a bit and although we were making some progress we decided to stop and wait for low water (about 1.33pm) which should mean there should be little current. It felt a bit odd diving again and the current, despite the flippers meant that it was hard work swimming against the current. We waited until about 12.45 and then tried again. This time there was little current and we made good progress. Mark did the lower parts of the hull and I did the upper parts. We had various ropes which we strung under boat so we could hang on and scrub at the same time. This was quite hard work and meant we were breathing far more than normal and every now and then I came up for a breather and to catch my breath. The growth was a green/brown layer and came off quite easily with a bit of elbow grease. It was not long before our air started to run out and we came in. We needed to fill our tanks and got out from the bottom of the boat the dive compressor which meant that we needed to run the generator.
The dive compressor attaches to an electric socket under the deck floor and we attach the tank to fill and build up the pressure and then open the valves to fill the tank. It takes probably about 25-30 minutes to fill each tank. Once done we set out again to continue the cleaning process. We made good progress and gradually moved down the boat with additional lines as we went. After about an hour we were done and felt quite pleased and relieved. There is quite a lot of hull to clean in a 62 foor boat I can assure you. We filled the tanks again and then put all the equipment away again under the corridor floor. A job well done.
In between our diving Mark made some chocolate brownies which Joyce was dying to try. After our dive we had tea and chocolate brownie which was delicious and satisfying.
Charlie, Keith, Angus and Joyce had helped with the ropes, some cleaning with snorkels and interior cleaning to ensure we were ship shape. As result we had a rewarding beer on deck and enjoyed the sun going down.
Otherwise, when we had time, we chilled and read books. We also saw 11 cows on the beach and we had noticed some before. They seem to leave the beach and go up through the forest to some grazing areas which seem to have been prepared. We assume the owner of the island brought them here. The boobies, frigate birds and pelicians went about their usual ritual of fishing, flying and souring in the shy. The tide and slight roll in the bay continued giving us this constant background of sea roar.
Joyce prepared supper, which was potato and sweet potato mash, broccoli and the leftovers from previous suppers. We then had the rest of Keith’s banana cake. This was warming and satisfying as well as what we achieved with a good cleaning of the boat both internally and externally including the hull. I think we will move on tomorrow as I do not want any further growth on the hull.
I hope you all have had a good Easter Sunday and ours will be a memorable one.
Opportunity for any Readers/Sailors.
In late May 2024 we shall be in the Marquesas in French Polynesia, and we will then move through to the Tuamotu’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world. If there is any interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
The blog will continue as we head off to Panama and beyond.
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