Las Perlas Islands -28 March 2024.

It was a lovely morning and there was just us and two other boats in the anchorage. The rock with the Pelicans was very visible and there was lots of activity going on. We had breakfast and decided we would move on to either Isla Bayoneta or Isla Viveros.

We upper anchor and headed out of the way retracing our steps going west and once the water was deep enough, we then headed south. The Island Mongo Mongo had lots of sandy bays and trees and no sign of habitation. The issue was that we had to go round it and from west to east to access the other islands and this meant navigating through reefs, rocks and shallow patches. We had worked out a passage and we started it and within a short period of time we were into very shallow water – it as going as low as 3.5- and we draw 2.5 so we were very close. We not only have our normal depth transducer – which is under the hull toward the front but also my forward-looking sonar which gives me the depth but also looks about 90m ahead so I can see the shape of the bottom and whether it is changing.

Whilst we have the Bauhaus book our electronic charts on the chart plotter are not very accurate as this area had not been surveyed well. We reversed out of our first attempt and went toward deeper water and then headed for a waypoint I had put in from the Bauhaus book which I trusted. We therefore crept forward with the depth between 11m and the lowest 6m and we took our time and slowly moved forward. Visually we could see rocks around and the different colours of the water. However, we managed to go through this shallow passage into the deeper water the other side. We then followed the 10m contour round toward the anchorage we wated to go to on Isla Bayoneta.  Like a land map where you have contours for hills the chart plotter has the same for the bottom of the sea. You can therefore follow the contour lines on the seabed.  

There was quite a bit of debris in the water, logs, actual large tree trunks and small bits of wood so we had to be on our guard. We saw the odd passenger ferry but little else. We carried on round the Island and then came toward our anchorage but had to be careful as there were rocks shown in the Bauhaus, but which were not on my chart plotter. We crept slowly forward and then headed toward the Island and anchored in about 5m of water. There was no wind and it was very hot. We got the steps down at the back and went for a swim to coll off.  However we had to be careful as there was quite a current so we had a fender out  of the back on a rope so we could hold on to it and not be swept away.

We had a salad and cheese lunch and decided we could not stay here with the tidal current and so we upped anchor and headed on to an anchorage on the south side of Isla Viveros which was close to the Island which should mean little current and hopefully little tidal flow. We crept up to the Island and anchored in 6m of water and we had to take into account the tidal rise and drop. There was very little current or tidal flow which as good. We all had a swim to cool down and Charlie and Mark swam ashore. Although there was not tidal flow there was quite a lot of silt in the water and so snorkelling was not good. Mark and Charlie said they saw little.

We relaxed and enjoyed the sunset and the array of birdlife, particularly the Pelicans who dived into the water around us. I tried to get a picture of this but it was difficult and so the picture is of the sunset and a Pelican flying past.

Mark cooked a beef/stew curry with sweet potato and broccoli which was delicious He also baked some bread for tomorrow. We had seen a number of Islands today and they are coming more remote and wild but beautiful. We still have not cleaned the hull yet, so we need to find a place to do it soon. We just need the water to be clear and not have too much current.

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.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk