The flag at the stern is supposed to be from the boat’s homeport. So we put up a California flag, much to the delight of all the cruisers in the anchorage who have never seen it before.

“Vaaas is das thing ünder dis bear?” Asks the german couple.

“Well, you know, bear poop!” Sabrina responds.

Besides connecting us with our home state, flying the California flag is also informative because we are coming down from the West Coast – which so far has been a minority of the sailors – not coming from the East Coast via the Caribbean and Panama canal.

Of course, most West Coast sailors are heading straight to Marquesas from California or Mexico. We expect to run into them once we head back north to the Marquesas (it is an 8 day passage) when we leave in the next week or two. For now, it is wonderful to be in the calm sheltered anchorage of Gambier!