November 6

Another sailboat had anchored in the cove during the night and was getting under way as we took an extra half hour or so retrieving then cleaning the stern anchor that had been firmly lodged in gray clay. Three hours later, at 0930, we anchored in 11 feet behind Punto Ballena, off the village of Puerto Matal, leaving the mizzen up to keep the bow of the boat into the 16-20-knot winds.

The traffic of pangas and canoes, these latter powered either by paddles or black sails, was steady as the winds steadily increased in the afternoon. The heavy surf on the beach eliminated a safe landing in Abby, the sport boat, and we were content to remain aboard, watching the fishermen passing by, often close enough to wave and greet us, and the pelicans, cormorants, and terns fishing around us.

We were both experiencing symptoms of what we thought was an allergic reaction to something blowing off the hills at Pasado—scratchy throats first then sinus infections and coughs. So we welcomed another restful day.