An Excerpt from "Sailing to Jessica"
Chapter 12: Storms, Pirates and the Galapagos
Once again, we were On-the-nose-Cherokee-Rose as the winds worked against us. It was dusk, halfway into our passage, and my watch. I was grimly sitting in the cockpit, surrounded by a turbulent, gray ocean and an equally turbulent, gray sky. I was monitoring a ship that was quickly overtaking us and had been looking behind us so intently that I had failed to notice what was happening in front of us.
As Rosie crested a wave, I happened to glance forward. Nestled among the waves was an aluminum dinghy with four hefty men in it. The shock of finding a boat 50 yards away was immediately replaced by deep misgivings. We were in an area noted for pirates; these men were in an open-air – not seaworthy -- dinghy over 150 miles from shore; and they were motoring directly toward us...
Our route as we sailed from Panama to the Galapagos Islands. We skirted an island known for its pirates, then caught the westwardly flowing Humbolt current for a little boost.
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Flamingos stand at attention on Isabelle Island as we walk by...
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A sea lion dozes in the sun off Isabelle Island, the Galapagos Islands
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To: Ron
From: cherokeerose@sea Date: Wed 5/29/2002 6:02 AM GalapagosEreWeCome!ETA10days-AnthrBoatLeftYest,OneLaterToday&OneIn 3DaysSoWeHaveCompnyAtSea.LUK&P To: Ron From: cherokeerose@sea Date: Fri 5/31/2002 1:51 PM Altn8rDied.2DaysBooks&Tinkering.New1 JustInstalledOK.HadNOSparePower. TelSuCantGuarnteMes/DayButWilTry. GrtSailSoFar.ItsSoDarkOutHere-P To: Suzanne From: cherokeerose@sea Date: Sun 6/2/2002 4:49 AM EnergizerBunnyHere-StillGoing.ETA6-7Days.Aaughh!CouldWeGoAnySlower?HopeURHavingAFastDay.MissUxox To: Ron From: cherokeerose@sea Date: Friday, June 07, 2002 9:49 AM LandHo!StillGot120mi/24hrUntilIsabellaIs. CantWait4Champagne!Hugs |
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