I’m in the Swimming pool with Andrea & Peggy. We’re eating lots of fresh Lobster & fish, doing lots of snorkeling, and generally having a good time.
Andrea has wanted to experience a storm on the boat, and she got her wish yesterday.
Some friends of mine set sail (On Melody) for Cartagena yesterday morning. They were about 3 hours out, radioed back, and informed us a particularly violent Choko Sano just passed and that we should prepare for 60+ knot winds, as that is what they just experienced.
About 20 minutes later it was blowing just over 40. I had time to pull the outboard off the dingy this time, clear he decks, start the motor, and when it came, I was fully prepared.
About an hour later a Swedish boat I know (Tyrona) limped into the anchorage. Her mast was lashed to the deck in two halves and there were four very gloomy faces onboard.
The Captain told me “it was like sailing into a brick wall”. They had 8-10 knots of wind, and were sailing along peacefully. Within a few seconds it was blowing a consistent 60, gusting higher, and snapped the rig like a popsicle stick. Luckily nobody was hurt, and they were at the end of the passage from Cartagena.
After Andrea & Peggy leave on Monday Morning, I’m going to take some back packers to Cartagena. I can make a grand each way and really need the money. It can be a particularly nasty stretch of ocean, but as always, I’ll be hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst.
I’ll only be back in Cartagena for a few weeks. I need to galvanize my chain, have some wood work done, and have gaskets made for my port holes. After that I’ll take 4 more backpackers back to Panama and order some solar panels.
I hope everyone is well.
Peace, Love, and keep your rig!!!!!
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
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