Montebello Islands, Aug 13 - 20
Main Bay, Trimouille Island, July 13 - 18 57nm, 10.5hr sail
We make a break for the Montebello Islands, knowing the winds won’t be dying down until Friday but figuring we might as well be there when they do. We have 15 - 20kn winds reaching 25kns, and 1-2m seas on a 1-2m swell, which means the waves are so high they reach above the solar panels on the targa bar, or for the uninitiated, HUGE! Geoff finds the conditions “delightful” and calls it “champagne sailing”, whereas I call it “martini sailing, shaken AND stirred, requiring consumption from a sippy cup!”.
Even the unshakable Captain Colin has some highly nervous moments entering the ‘Montes’ through the Eastern passage, where not only is he having to negotiate a very narrow, reef strewn passage that goes from a depth of 30m to 5m sandbar within approximately 1nm (creating massive turbulence and waves), but he’s having to dodge whales into the bargain! They’re everywhere, and seem rather unconcerned by our presence or Colin’s sphincter-clenching experience at the helm. I’m shouting “There's one straight ahead. Go around it” and Colin’s shouting “How?”. The whales seemed to stay out of the way though, either diving under or in front of the boat just when you think you’re gonna hit ‘em. What an incredible experience! Our nearest miss was a whale that came up alongside the bow and dived in front of us with a spectacular tail display. I was in awe!
Although it was too rough for pictures then, we had several whales visit the boat over the next couple of days. The best was when we had one milling around the boat for ages, diving under, coming up in front and behind and beside, like ‘hide and seek’, and he was later joined by 3 others who came for a stickybeak. Curious creatures. We’re ready with snorkels for next time they come.
Chianti Bay, Alpha Island, July 18 - 20 5nm, 1.75hrs
We finally get a break in the weather and weave our way very carefully through the uncharted islands of the Montebellos to get to Chianti Bay. Like Trimouille Island, Alpha Island is radioactive, so Colin has advised against eating the plentiful oysters. He’s so conservative!
After seeing six turtles whilst SUPping, I return to the boat with Geoff asking if I can see a big cod under the boat. I wasn't prepared for just how big he was, 1.5m!!
Click images to enlarge
We make a break for the Montebello Islands, knowing the winds won’t be dying down until Friday but figuring we might as well be there when they do. We have 15 - 20kn winds reaching 25kns, and 1-2m seas on a 1-2m swell, which means the waves are so high they reach above the solar panels on the targa bar, or for the uninitiated, HUGE! Geoff finds the conditions “delightful” and calls it “champagne sailing”, whereas I call it “martini sailing, shaken AND stirred, requiring consumption from a sippy cup!”.
Even the unshakable Captain Colin has some highly nervous moments entering the ‘Montes’ through the Eastern passage, where not only is he having to negotiate a very narrow, reef strewn passage that goes from a depth of 30m to 5m sandbar within approximately 1nm (creating massive turbulence and waves), but he’s having to dodge whales into the bargain! They’re everywhere, and seem rather unconcerned by our presence or Colin’s sphincter-clenching experience at the helm. I’m shouting “There's one straight ahead. Go around it” and Colin’s shouting “How?”. The whales seemed to stay out of the way though, either diving under or in front of the boat just when you think you’re gonna hit ‘em. What an incredible experience! Our nearest miss was a whale that came up alongside the bow and dived in front of us with a spectacular tail display. I was in awe!
Although it was too rough for pictures then, we had several whales visit the boat over the next couple of days. The best was when we had one milling around the boat for ages, diving under, coming up in front and behind and beside, like ‘hide and seek’, and he was later joined by 3 others who came for a stickybeak. Curious creatures. We’re ready with snorkels for next time they come.
Chianti Bay, Alpha Island, July 18 - 20 5nm, 1.75hrs
We finally get a break in the weather and weave our way very carefully through the uncharted islands of the Montebellos to get to Chianti Bay. Like Trimouille Island, Alpha Island is radioactive, so Colin has advised against eating the plentiful oysters. He’s so conservative!
After seeing six turtles whilst SUPping, I return to the boat with Geoff asking if I can see a big cod under the boat. I wasn't prepared for just how big he was, 1.5m!!
Click images to enlarge