Racing through the San Blas Islands to Eastern Holandes Cays

Susie goes searching for coconuts!

A day off in the Coco Bandero Cays of the San Blas islands. After a dinghy ride around the various little islands and a hike around one of them (that’s a 20 minute circumnavigation), we were a little at loose ends on what to do next. These are uninhabited little islands and there is only so long you can look at palm trees and white sand – they’re still there one hour later. Susie took the opportunity to tackle being boat accountant and reported some very rude figures on last year’s spending. A management meeting will be held to do some analysis on the figures and come up with ideas on how cost savings can be made in the new fiscal year of Yacht Adina. You wouldn’t want to be paying subscription fees for these blogs.

Talking of cost savings, Tom tackled the remainder of what was left of his Iberico leg of ham which had crossed the Atlantic with us. It was to be the last slicing of the beautiful leg which has delighted us ever since Almeria in Spain. And this year’s fiscal budget is highly unlikely to include a replacement shipped all the way from Spain. Although anyone wanting to send one out, we’ll supply a marina address and you get a VIP pass on Adina!

Tom then had a haircut on the back of the boat. Where else do you get a haircut when the instructions are ‘If you could just turn to face that little island to the right over there, I can trim this side.” Special.

Evenings often involve games and our favourite is Monopoly Deal, the very addictive card version of Monopoly (thanks again Charlotte!). Taking a 7-5 lead, Tom should have taken the bed time call, instead he offered one more opportunity to Susie, who promptly took three games in a row to become Champion for the day and wear the half pineapple that is temporarily the crown!

White sand, turquoise seas…

The next morning we raised anchor and weaved our way past the reefs. It always sharpens the mind as you stare either side of you trying to work out where the reef to the left ends and where the reef to the right ends. Squeeze through the gap, squeeze, depth dropping, heartbeat a little higher, eyes a little more wide open, hold your nerve, no time for praying. Then much to our relief depth increasing and relax. Phew.

In front of us was a catamaran around 5 minutes ahead. It’s very simple – two boats means a race. Catamarans have one big advantage (over and above their luxurious living space), they have shallower drafts so can go where we can’t go. Navigational advantage, catamaran cuts the corner and takes the lead. Single hulls have their advantages too – they can point closer to the wind, and as we’ve mentioned before Adina loves a bit of upwind sailing. We hauled the Catamaran in, indeed Adina galloped ahead and blew her away! Eat that you big luxurious piece of living space Catamaran – see you later. Some say cruising teaches you to slow down, appreciate life at a more sedate pace. Some just don’t take time to read the rules.

Our destination was East Holandes Cays, rumoured to be another beautiful and favourite spot of yachties. We had already decided if it was another case of staring at islands we’d stay the night and move on. More reefs to navigate, and a yacht lying on its side on one of the outer reefs providing a very uncomfortable reminder that if you get it wrong you pay dearly. There would be no more accounting or management meetings, just one big bad debt! We zig-zagged our way in. Timed it spot on as there was really only one good spot left. Saying that some German is bound to squeeze in (nothing against them, it’s just they are more fearless, cough, splutter).

East Hollandes Cays

Anchoring, we immediately knew we’d be staying another day. It’s really beautiful. Very well protected so we are nice and flat, the waters are wonderfully crystal clear, the islands look gorgeous with their white sands and tall palm trees stretching their necks like giraffes into the sky. A snorkel confirmed we’re going to stay put and enjoy this. Got to be conducive to the management accounting meeting!

Valentine’s Day we head on to Porvenir, our last stop in these very special San Blas islands.