Sperm Whale breaches in front of Aldebaran
100 miles east of Galapagos we spotted whale spouts. We steered towards them, but I was also apprehensive because of the history in this area: there’s a lot of stories of whales damaging yachts around here. Coincidence or not..? We were about to have an intense encounter with the cetaceans.
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Our last days in Bahia Caraquez, Ecuador. Aldebaran is at the end of the rainbow (on the far right)!
The engine alarm on our sailboat Aldebaran went off as we went around the rivermouth of Bahia Caraquez, in just 7 feet of water: Brrrreeeehhhhh!!!!! One glance at the engine gauges showed me it was overheating. What?!?
I shut down the engine. It was a terrible spot to be adrift: downwind just 200 yards was the beach with little waves, and to boot, the tide would start dropping soon.
Ahh the tropics. So wonderful with their crystal clear warm waters. But there’s also lots rain and terrible heat. And ironically, it is hard to fill your water tank when there are no docks to drive your boat to. Here’s how we are trying to solve all these problems on our sailboat Aldebaran, with one new item: the bimini hard top (aka our new roof).
And we’re departing today! Follow our 5 day passage to Galapagos on Facebook
(If you’re here later, see our sat messenger)
Hillside view: mooring area in Bahia Caraquez
After our visit to the Galapagos, we were faced with the same decision as last year: where to park the boat for 4 months, while we went to California for work and family time?
We chose a small town in Ecuador’s coast called Bahia Caraquez, and we were very glad for it!
A few of the solar light recipients at Albuergue “Fuerza Sucre” – thanks to Unite-to-light.org
From our sailboat, the city looked bombed, as if gone through a war. Seven story buildings are cracked in half. Concrete is fractured like massive stitches in wounded white elephants. We sailed into this dystopian landscape – resort beach town meets mayhem – which is the entrance to Bahia Caraquez, mainland Ecuador. Our trimaran Aldebaran was armed with a shipment of solar lights to give away to people living in tent camps, homeless from the massive earthquake of April 16, 2016. Continue reading
Is the ocean rough or mellow around the Equator? We pulled up weather charts for our five day passage from Galapagos to the South American continent, to see what’s in store for the six crew aboard Aldebaran. Mind you, our four visiting crew members are all green-hands – it’ll be the first time they are making an overnight passage. Continue reading
Ecuador Earthquake, April 2016. Photo: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/23/ecuador-earthquake-death-toll-rises-rafael-correa
Four months after the earthquake in Bahia Caraquez, where we plan to moor Aldebaran from September-January, hundreds of inhabitants are still homeless and have to live in the emergency structures called “albergues”. The coastal town was 60% destroyed by the April earthquake (see NBC videos or BBC pictures). Continue reading
Green Coconut Run 
