Ilha das Couves and on..
Author: Shirlz
Friday, 17 December 2010
Left Ribeira at about 9:30 this morning. It had been a good stop. The winches are sounding much healthier. The rain had stopped at last and I thought it was a good chance to do the next little hop to Ilha das Couves. Only 15 miles but it would put me within an easy daysail of Parati. Unfortunately there was no wind and there was a big lazy swell running. So back to the engine. The batteries need charging anyway as there hasn’t been much sun lately.
There were about 10 small fishing boats in the anchorage when I arrived. My first attempt at anchoring had me drifting back rather too close to the one big fishing boat which had it’s enormous trawling booms stuck out on either side. I didn’t want to tangle with that lot so haul in the 40m of chain and find a better place. Settled in a good spot at last. Fed the cat. Snugged everything down to cope with the rolling and had a deliciously, messily juicy mango for a late lunch.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Left Couves at first light. The constant rolling had been a bit wearying. I hopefully hauled up the sail ready to catch any flirtatious passing whispers of wind. It hung there and flopped about a bit.
Away from the shelter of the island the big rolling swell put pay to any hope of using what moving air there was. Just as well I’d topped up the diesel. On we go. The batteries are happy.
For a while the sun broke through the clouds and it became so hot in my unshaded cockpit that I poured cool water over myself to stave off threatening heat-stroke. I don’t think my wet T-shirt look would have won any competitions. Put up my umbrella for a bit of shade. About an hour later it started to rain. Not too long and I was shivering. Had to dig out my big foul weather jacket. More for the warmth than protection from the rain.
No chance to get bored here. I also swopped my glasses for contact lenses which work much better in the rain.
By now we were threading our way through the little islands approaching Paratí. The rain had nearly stopped and it was beautiful. Colourful boats moored in each little rocky cove. I could just make out a forest of masts in the distance and hoped that they were all safely tucked away in the marinas and that there would be a place for me to anchor off the little beach at Canta Galo. And there was. Only four other boats there. What a lovely place.