From the Log of the Sailing Yacht "ATLANTIS"

Sunday, 11 July 2004: We took dinghy tour along foreshore to Marina. Snorkeled off the reef next to the Marina; there was a strong current but we saw nice fish and coral. Tony played chess with Walter. Later we explored the rest of Kralendijk and did some provisioning.

Monday, 12 July, 2004: Sailed from Bonaire to Klein Curacao. Before departure checked weather reports via WINLINK. Departed at 10.30 hrs and arrived at 14.50 hrs. It was a nice sail with good wind and small seas. Picked up mooring at 11°59.05 N and 068°38.72W; trip was 25.70 miles; Wind East at 20-25 knots; Used mainsail only; average speed 6.5 knots. After arrival, first went snorkeling and thereafter just relaxed. Walter prepared gourmet dinner and served good wine bought in Venezuela.

Tuesday, 13 July, 2004: Stayed on mooring off Klein Curacao. Walked around the island to lighthouse, saw wrecked tanker and other stranded boats along the windward coast; found lot of plastics and collected children's toys from among the flotsam. Ran the water maker for an hour. Snorkeled in the afternoon on the reef and saw nice fish. Late afternoon collected driftwood and then had barbeque (and a few beers) on the beach.

Wednesday, 14 July, 2004: Checked weather forecast via WINLINK using Panama PMBO. Sailed from Klein Curacao to Curacao and entered Spaanse Water; departure was at 09.25 hrs and arrive at 12.45 hrs. Anchored at position 12°04.87N and 068°51.72W in 15 feet of water; Trip distance 15.40 miles; Wind East at 20 knots, used Genoa headsail only.

Thursday, 15 July, 2004 in Curacao/Spaanse Water: Took the bus into Willemstad. Took a free ferry across the entrance to Schotte Gat (the commercial harbor) as the Emma pontoon-bridge had been moved to let in a large container-ship. Walked through Otro Bunda and on the way back crossed the Emma pontoon bridge by foot to explore the Bunda (central business district) and local markets. Took the bus back to the boat and at 17.00 hrs raced with other cruisers with our dinghies to Sarifundies for "Happy Hour". Met a lot of sailors in two groups: Dutch speakers and English speakers; exchanged information; scrounged through the cruisers' library and stayed for dinner.

Friday, 16 July, 2004 at Curacao/Spaanse Water: Went shopping at the Vreugdehil Supermarket; played chess; did some photo archiving on the computer; and Gisela went to shore to do the laundry at Sarifundies.

Saturday, 17 July, 2004 at Curacao/Spaanse Water: Made a dinghy tour to Caracas Bay, saw a Song Contest at a small beach resort; visited the former Hospital for Lepers and an old fort. Dinghied to Santa Barbara Beach for a swim. At sunset had a visit from Dutch cruisers Ineke and Derek from the yacht DENEB (they were still recovering from having their ship hit by lightning and electronics destroyed a few months earlier.)

Sunday, 18 July, 2004 still at Curacao/Spaanse Water: We were picked up at Sarifundies by the supermarket bus for shopping; on return played chess and had Dutch delicacy snacks at Sarifundies. Where invited for a sundowner on the Danish yacht CARPE DIEM. A real international gathering with the following nationalities represented: Australian, Canadian, Danish, French and German.

Monday, 19 July, 2004 Checked local weather and Atlantic Hurricane reports via WINLINK using Florida PMBO, Sailed from Curacao Spaanse Waters to Knip Baai on northwest Curacao; Departure at 08.20 hrs. and arrival at 13.30 hrs. Anchored at position 12°21.13N and 069°09.21W in 15 feet of water; Trip was 29.5 miles. When, on departing Spaanse Water, weighing the anchor we got stuck in an old anchor chain and removed it. Two miles from the anchorage we exited Spaanse Waters through the narrow entrance at Santa Barbara Beach; Wind was E-SE at 20 knots; after passing Willemstad the wind increased to 25 knots with gusts of 30-35 knots. We used the mainsail and some headsail.

Tuesday, 20 July, 2004 We made midnight contact with WINLINK for weather info. Sailed from Curacao Knip Baai to Oranjestad on Aruba. Departure was at 02.40 hrs. It was a nice night-sail but not fast. At 11.45 hrs we arrived at the south point of Aruba at 12°23.80N and 069°53.08W. We arrived in Oranje Stad at 15.00 hrs. and tied up to a Cruise Ship wharf at position 12°31,25N and 070°02,63W in the Oranjestad commercial harbor. Trip was 56.90 miles, Wind E-SE 10-15 knots and later to 20 knots with waves 1.00-1.5m; Used mainsail.

Wednesday, 21 July, 2004 sailed from Oranjestad to high rise hotel row on northwest beach shore. Departed at 11.30 hrs. We sailed along east coast of Aruba to the offshore marker, than 90° towards the hotel beach. We arrived at 12.30 hrs. and anchored at position 12°34.709N and 070°03.16W; Because of the strong wind there was a lot of fetch. The trip was 5.10 miles; the wind all day was east at 28-35 knots; We used only some headsail and our average speed was 7 knots.

Thursday, 22 July, 2004 Anchored off Aruba High-rise Hotels: Gisela is not feeling well. Walter had some problems two days ago. Tony’s stomach gets unsettled later in the day. We talk about what and where we could have eaten something onshore that was no good. We all recover quickly. Walter and Tony went to town. In the middle of the day a strong tropical wave arrives. There is no swell but it is windy at 28-35 knots. For the rest of the day relaxing, sleeping and eating and drinking (The beer bought in Venezuela is cheap.)

Thursday, 23 July, 2004 Still anchored off Aruba High-rise Hotels: We went for a beach walk and a Timeshare presentation; were given a good lunch, free T-Shirts, a free rental car for 2 days and a $50 voucher to pay for dinner. We roamed the beach till sunset and when it was dark dinghied back to Atlantis.

Friday, 23 July, 2004 anchored off Aruba High-rise Hotels: Picked up the rental car and went sightseeing by car; saw lighthouse at north end, old chapel Alto Vista, Gold Smelter ruins; Natural Bridge on the west coast; and Baby Beach and Lighthouse at south end of the island. We finished the day with a farewell dinner at resort restaurant.

Saturday, 24 July, 2004: Tony packed his belongings; talked with Walter about the uses and limitations of electronic navigational software. We went to the airport to see Tony off at 12:00 noon. After Tony left we went to the Barcadera Marina on the other side of the airport, had a few beers and went to the supermarket to do our last provisioning before sailing for Cartagena, Colombia.

For Atlantis' last reported position, Click here: http://www.aprs.net/cgi-bin/winlink.cgi?DL7MEK