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A day in the life of Derek.
Well at last I am about to write about one of my days. At 38 years of age I guess that’s a lot of unwritten days shit that’s
14,076 to be a bit more exact. Well after this days write up its one less to write about. The one important thing for you to
know is that when I tell about some of my adventures most couch potatoes don’t really believe me but then again who
gives a s*** what they believe.
Going back a bit
Day 13,871
Location San Blas Islands, Panama Caribbean side
Zory and I were at that stage about two months on this side of panama after crossing through the Panama Canal from the
Pacific. We were anchored in the absolutely pristine islands on the western side of San Blas near the main island El
Porvenir. There was an urgent request for aid on the VHF radio. Sadly a small boat carrying 12 illegal immigrants had been
swamped by large waves over night. The waves for the past few days were very large. The boat was overturned near the
fringing reef and in the dark windy night the people struggled in the water some managing to swim over the reef. One of
the passengers had been killed when hitting her head on the razor sharp reef. Luckily the local Kuna Indian fishermen are
fishing just before first light and saw the people struggling. The people were transported to the immigration station on the
main island about 5 miles away. The survivors were now in a new country without anything as their possessions were taken
in the accident. All they had left was the wet torn clothes that they had on their back. The officials had no real help
available as they are not really set up for situations like this.
The cruising fleet is always very caring and worked like a big family to help.
Celtic Dancer was to be the receiving boat for any aid and Kalinka would then drive us across the rough opening in the reef
to the survivors. The response from the 16 yachts in the anchorage was amazing. Everybody donated clothing and food. So
much so that Hans and I had our work cut out lifting it into his dingy. As soon as we loaded up we donned lifejackets and
headed out across the opening. Both Hans from Denmark and I have had lot of time on the sea. The sea was rough but we
had a good angle on them. When we arrived we carried the bags of aid up to the people, it was very humbling for me the
way we were thanked. We wished them well for the future and headed back to Kalinka first as this would shield us from the
open seas. Told Olga all was well and then Hans dropped me back to Celtic dancer to a happy to see me Zory.
Hans invited both of us to go fishing with him later in his dingy, an offer I could not refuse as he has made me jealous with
his catches. Well my fish was DAT size well I’ll tell ya be jazus mine was so bleedin big me dingy is too small, well that’s
my excuse anyway. Zory was to come with us and we headed off through the anchorage in the dingy. We had on board 3
fishing rods and aluminum box full of emergency stuff bolted to the floor. For the best fishing out the small break in the
reef we went as this is usually a good place as the fish use this pass to enter the calmer waters using the shelter of the
reefs. We began fishing, with Zory and I fishing from opposite sides so as not to tangle the lines. Before too long Zory had
hooked one and as luck would have it so did I almost straight away. Normally when a fish is hooked the other rods are
reeled in but the two catches were within a hen’s kick of each other. Of course the fish decided to play leap frog with each
other making an unmerciful mess with the lines. After several unsuccessful attempts to untangle the jumble Hans headed
back thought the reef to the calm waters to try help. It was now getting late and we then put the two jumbled rods on the
floor and headed out one last time with the remaining rod. The sea was quite rough but the swell though big was long and
we were able to dodge the random large breakers. Well one decided not to play ball. One monster wave I would estimate
about 15 ft started to crest and Hans hit it with the throttle to try get over it before it broke. No such luck the boat was
flipped over sideways as we were about 30 degrees off it. Upside down in the air I saw Zory fly past me into the depths
below and I let go and dove under after her. I was able to grab her arm and both of us swam towards the surface. When we
surfaced we saw Hans also nearby. There was a large roar as the next breaker was about to crash down on us. Grabbing as
much air as we could and holding onto each other like a vice grips clamp we were dumped under water again, then swam for
the surface only to hit by the next one. I was finding it difficult swimming and holding onto Zory and was strangely not
doing to well. We were hit by 4 large waves of about 15 ft and were now washed into the smoother water. Hans was AOK
yeehaa. My shorts were down around my knees but I was afraid of letting go of Zory. Then I spotted my trouble. Right
beside us popped one of the tangled rods. It had caught in my shorts and I was swimming with me, Zory, Two fishing rods
and 120 meters of fishing line. I cleared the mess and got my breath on the now shallower water. Some one was looking
after us because we had been washed through another small cut in the reef and not given the option of the reef face. The
current and wave action soon forced us off the 5 ft deep sandy patch and that’s when we spotted the overturned dingy
about 70 meters away going with the current. We swam for it. The other options was swim cross current about 1 km back to
the anchorage (no thanks)
We caught up with the dingy and pulled each other onto the upturned hull. I was too tried to be shy about my lack of
shorts. Hanns told me about the vhf radio and gear in the aluminum box. I jumped in again and swam under the dingy. The
air was not to good under there and dingy had been power washed of everything including the box. Hanns told me about the
four oars that were tightly strapped on and on another dip I found them yeeehaa.
Well picture this three of us paddling an upturned dingy wit the engine now acting as a brake. The progress was slow and
we tried to head to a small island about ¾ km away. Now when I say small it’s kinda like picture postcard desert island
beautiful. Circular about 35 feet wide with a single palm tree slap bang in the middle. We eventually made it singing silly
songs all the way to try keep moral and timing (Irish Naval Service Style) the next part was to try bring the boat through
the raser sharp coral. We righted the dingy and Hans said we should try starting the motor. Well no such luck this time. So
we dragged the boat up the beach a bit to use for shelter. We could see the anchorage from where we were but no one saw
us. We took the suncover off the dingy To Be Continued yeehaaa……………..
Well at last I am about to write about one of my days. At 38 years of age I guess that’s a lot of unwritten days shit that’s
14,076 to be a bit more exact. Well after this days write up its one less to write about. The one important thing for you to
know is that when I tell about some of my adventures most couch potatoes don’t really believe me but then again who
gives a s*** what they believe.
Going back a bit
Day 13,871
Location San Blas Islands, Panama Caribbean side
Zory and I were at that stage about two months on this side of panama after crossing through the Panama Canal from the
Pacific. We were anchored in the absolutely pristine islands on the western side of San Blas near the main island El
Porvenir. There was an urgent request for aid on the VHF radio. Sadly a small boat carrying 12 illegal immigrants had been
swamped by large waves over night. The waves for the past few days were very large. The boat was overturned near the
fringing reef and in the dark windy night the people struggled in the water some managing to swim over the reef. One of
the passengers had been killed when hitting her head on the razor sharp reef. Luckily the local Kuna Indian fishermen are
fishing just before first light and saw the people struggling. The people were transported to the immigration station on the
main island about 5 miles away. The survivors were now in a new country without anything as their possessions were taken
in the accident. All they had left was the wet torn clothes that they had on their back. The officials had no real help
available as they are not really set up for situations like this.
The cruising fleet is always very caring and worked like a big family to help.
Celtic Dancer was to be the receiving boat for any aid and Kalinka would then drive us across the rough opening in the reef
to the survivors. The response from the 16 yachts in the anchorage was amazing. Everybody donated clothing and food. So
much so that Hans and I had our work cut out lifting it into his dingy. As soon as we loaded up we donned lifejackets and
headed out across the opening. Both Hans from Denmark and I have had lot of time on the sea. The sea was rough but we
had a good angle on them. When we arrived we carried the bags of aid up to the people, it was very humbling for me the
way we were thanked. We wished them well for the future and headed back to Kalinka first as this would shield us from the
open seas. Told Olga all was well and then Hans dropped me back to Celtic dancer to a happy to see me Zory.
Hans invited both of us to go fishing with him later in his dingy, an offer I could not refuse as he has made me jealous with
his catches. Well my fish was DAT size well I’ll tell ya be jazus mine was so bleedin big me dingy is too small, well that’s
my excuse anyway. Zory was to come with us and we headed off through the anchorage in the dingy. We had on board 3
fishing rods and aluminum box full of emergency stuff bolted to the floor. For the best fishing out the small break in the
reef we went as this is usually a good place as the fish use this pass to enter the calmer waters using the shelter of the
reefs. We began fishing, with Zory and I fishing from opposite sides so as not to tangle the lines. Before too long Zory had
hooked one and as luck would have it so did I almost straight away. Normally when a fish is hooked the other rods are
reeled in but the two catches were within a hen’s kick of each other. Of course the fish decided to play leap frog with each
other making an unmerciful mess with the lines. After several unsuccessful attempts to untangle the jumble Hans headed
back thought the reef to the calm waters to try help. It was now getting late and we then put the two jumbled rods on the
floor and headed out one last time with the remaining rod. The sea was quite rough but the swell though big was long and
we were able to dodge the random large breakers. Well one decided not to play ball. One monster wave I would estimate
about 15 ft started to crest and Hans hit it with the throttle to try get over it before it broke. No such luck the boat was
flipped over sideways as we were about 30 degrees off it. Upside down in the air I saw Zory fly past me into the depths
below and I let go and dove under after her. I was able to grab her arm and both of us swam towards the surface. When we
surfaced we saw Hans also nearby. There was a large roar as the next breaker was about to crash down on us. Grabbing as
much air as we could and holding onto each other like a vice grips clamp we were dumped under water again, then swam for
the surface only to hit by the next one. I was finding it difficult swimming and holding onto Zory and was strangely not
doing to well. We were hit by 4 large waves of about 15 ft and were now washed into the smoother water. Hans was AOK
yeehaa. My shorts were down around my knees but I was afraid of letting go of Zory. Then I spotted my trouble. Right
beside us popped one of the tangled rods. It had caught in my shorts and I was swimming with me, Zory, Two fishing rods
and 120 meters of fishing line. I cleared the mess and got my breath on the now shallower water. Some one was looking
after us because we had been washed through another small cut in the reef and not given the option of the reef face. The
current and wave action soon forced us off the 5 ft deep sandy patch and that’s when we spotted the overturned dingy
about 70 meters away going with the current. We swam for it. The other options was swim cross current about 1 km back to
the anchorage (no thanks)
We caught up with the dingy and pulled each other onto the upturned hull. I was too tried to be shy about my lack of
shorts. Hanns told me about the vhf radio and gear in the aluminum box. I jumped in again and swam under the dingy. The
air was not to good under there and dingy had been power washed of everything including the box. Hanns told me about the
four oars that were tightly strapped on and on another dip I found them yeeehaa.
Well picture this three of us paddling an upturned dingy wit the engine now acting as a brake. The progress was slow and
we tried to head to a small island about ¾ km away. Now when I say small it’s kinda like picture postcard desert island
beautiful. Circular about 35 feet wide with a single palm tree slap bang in the middle. We eventually made it singing silly
songs all the way to try keep moral and timing (Irish Naval Service Style) the next part was to try bring the boat through
the raser sharp coral. We righted the dingy and Hans said we should try starting the motor. Well no such luck this time. So
we dragged the boat up the beach a bit to use for shelter. We could see the anchorage from where we were but no one saw
us. We took the suncover off the dingy To Be Continued yeehaaa……………..
Hans and i off to the Island with emergency rations........This was the island we made it to and shows one of the
local Kuna fishing boats
local Kuna fishing boats