Panama to French Polynesia – Panama Basin – Day 15 boats

Position: We are about 120nm South West of Coco Island (Isla del Coco) and about 220nm North East of the Galapagos Island in the part of the Pacific Ocean called the Panama Basin. Our position is:

3 45.75N 88 11.29W

*Note: I am told you can copy and paste these coordinates into google earth and it will show you where we are.

Mileage:3241 – 3143nm= 98nm We have been sailing mostly South West, on our track, since we last updated you. Good news!

Number of miles to go: 3143nm to go of approx. 3850nm

Fish count: The count remains at 3 Mahi Mahi, 2 Cero and 6 tuna. One Marlin that we were happy got away! No fishing today.

SAILING IS IMPROVING
It was still a bit cloudy last night, but we did get to see the stars occasionally. I get the end of the sea berth at night, and do not participate in the night watches, but the humans tell me the winds were a lot more consistent. At least in direction if not strength. Up to now the winds kept swinging around with each squall, and as the human were trying to pinch hard to wind, someone always had to be on the helm. But last night they said they could relax for a change and watch a movie on the tablet or read a book. A nice change.

TODAY
Has been a mixed bag. We started off with brisk winds this morning and they eased off this afternoon. The winds had stayed from the South so we were able to stay on a South Westerly heading, but this afternoon they have gone fickle. I assume they are about to change direction again. They go light and swing around and then blow strong again is surges. Hopefully it will settle down before night fall. What wind direction we get now is any ones guess. So far we have not been getting much of the forecast weather or winds.

NOT VERY EXCITING
Most of the time I have to amuse myself by torturing the humans. I shove tuggy toys, tennis balls and the plastic bone at them. If they do not play with me I bark them into submission. But today I had lots of do. I had blue faced, red footed brown boobies to see off. These guys try to take up residence on the pulpit (front of boat). They are persistent, but they will never get away with it while I am on watch. Then there is the pods of dolphins. Another intruder I must bark away at and chase up and down the boat. No false killer whales today, but I have had to bark at some very handsome gulls. White with black heads. And the flying fish were especially entertaining today. Imagine a fish evolving the ability to shot himself out of the water and glide through the air clear of any predators. YOU THINK. Until you witness and boobie drop down and catch one mid air. So much for evolutionary advantages!

Speaking of evolution, I guess it is the Galapogos Islands next. But do not get your hopes up too high, we are not stopping there. More on that next time. END