S/V Papillon

Papillon left Aruba around 4:30 PM local time and sailed into a glorious sunset. Our course is direct to Panama with an ETA of Friday afternoon and Mojitos at the Shelter Bay Marina where we will tie up and await our instructions to transit the canal. We waited in Aruba most of the day to take on fuel, which after a long holiday weekend was dry of fuel. Here’s Angela filling the two tanks with cheap Venezuelan diesel. So far the wind has been mid 20 knots with peaks to 35 knots so we are under sail, making good speed with boat speeds surfing to 15 Knots. The stretch is known as the 5th most “bumpy” ride in terms of world cruising, and it is living up to its rating. John Porter who joined us in Aruba is a welcome addition and allows more sleep during the night hours. I brought in dawn at 5:30AM and John took over. I awoke two hours later to John stuffing a small (perfect size) tuna in the cooler. Dinner tonight! The lifestyles of Arubians and tourists, a typical beach, shared with Iguanas that almost outnumber the Mercedes Benz. Hilight for Lawrence was a visit to the new Papillon Restaurant…the decor was film sets from the Movie. Dinner was phenomenal…Carib and French. Service was extraordinary especially after I donated a Papillon hat to the owner. With a whitecapped ocean vista to the horizon all around, difficult to find pics. Moved our local clock back to Panama time, which I believe is 2 hours ahead of Victoria, BC? Well Angela is up and its happy hour, albeit 1:30PM. Tins of Aruba beer alaround. 180 Nm to Cartagena. Papillon is moving along the Colombian coast 75 Nm offshore. We were buzzed by an aeroplane yesterday at sunset, so we trust someone knows that we are silently moving along the coast. Lights out again tonight!