A quiet and sunny day at sea today; that is what everybody needed after hopping 4 ports in a row. The weather was true to form and we had a perfect cruise day to enjoy. Also the bridge team were happy as the expected current along the coast came through and pushed us along with… read more of “20 November 2017;…”
19 November 2017; Huatalco de Santa Cruz. To sail from Puerto Chiapas to Huatalco means crossing the Golfo de Tehuantepec. And there you can have this very nasty funnel wind. It seems as if it starts out of nowhere, it does not go anywhere, and it stops as abruptly as it starts but it can… read more of “19 November 2017;…”
It is always nice when King Neptune cooperates with our wishes and desires. And he did today by directing the ocean swell to run along the shore and not into the breakwater and entrance to the port. Not too long ago this area had a heavy earthquake and although Chiapas on the coast itself was… read more of “18 November 2017;…”
Remember our visit with the Nieuw Amsterdam about a month ago? We were supposed to dock at the passenger terminal but a day before a Tanker had taken the turn too wide and had damaged one of the dolphins. The Port Authority said that repairs were needed and would be accomplished in about 14 days’… read more of “17 November 2017;…”
It is a high speed run from Punta Arenas (or Puntarenas) to Corinto and even with the pedal to the metal we can only just make the 09.00 pilot station time required for a 10 am docking. This is another port where a ship’s captain really sits down and has a deep think about. And… read more of “16 November 2017;…”
Slack tide for docking in Punta Arenas was calculated for around 05.30 hrs. and thus the Westerdam was there at the precise moment making sure that as soon as the current fell away, she could go alongside. And then the current did not fall away, it diminished somewhat and thus a safe docking could be… read more of “15 November 2017;…”
Today was a peaceful day at sea in the Pacific Ocean, which was also peaceful to a certain extent. Meaning that we did not have a storm. Whoever decided to call this big ocean Pacific probably did not sail it very much because it not always quiet here. Today we were in a medium state… read more of “14 November 2017:…”
In accordance with the scheduling of the Panama Canal Authority we arrived early at the Sea buoy to take up our place in the convoy and go through the canal. We were ready for the Canal at 05.00 hrs……….., it was just that the Canal was not ready for us. Overnight fog had developed on… read more of “13 November 2017;…”
