Shimshal
Sat 23/Mar 11:16 GMT
2ยบ 45.577 S 930 49.906 W
Wind:
16.9 kts, 109° true,
Course: 243° true,
8.6Kn
On Thursday morning Javier, our agent, and 5 officials arrived by water taxi to check us out. Lots of documents were signed within 20 minutes they left leaving us no further excuse to delay. At 13:30 the anchor came up and we waved good bye to some of the boats we have shared Galapagos with.
Once out of the bay the inevitable head wind appeared and we resigned ourselves to a long period of motoring to get clear of the the Galapagos and re-charge out batteries.
18 hours later, by which time our batteries and water tanks were full, the wind veered to the south and the sails came out. Soon Shimshal was sailing smoothly at 6 knots in winds of around 8 knots with a course of 240 to get us into the south easterly trade winds a and west going current. Just 3,000 miles to go!