November 14

At 0800, after another sourdough hotcake feast, Bob tapped the starter with his little hammer, and we were off to Contadora, the northernmost of the Islas de las Perlas. Motorsailing under overcast skies, we passed several large fishing boats, but generally the traffic was light. As we approached the anchorage on the south side of Contadora, where we’ve anchored in the past, not a single boat was in this spot usually cluttered with tour boats. But we could see the reason as we came closer. The southwest winds and swells were roaring straight in. We went around to the east end of the island and anchored there for a generally comfortable evening, though the tide change headed us north for awhile, pushing the boat toward the beach. But the anchor held securely.