Wanderlust 3 Sailing Adventure: Galapagos

After a 5 night cruise from the Las Perlas Islands in Panama to the 900 mile distant Galapagos, we dropped anchor an hour after sunset on the main island and principal city of Santa Cruz. The anchorage is facing South so the predominantly southern swell with SE winds needs to be countered with a stern anchor keeping the nose of the sailboat into the swell. If you do not do this the boat rolls, sometimes so much so that sleep is deprived. Right: Las Perlas - Galapagos half way

The first was night was terrible and for the first time in over 4 years of sailing, I couldn't sleep a minute. I got up grumpy and 'angry-at-the-world.' It wasn't until daylight when I had the chance to see the complete anchorage that I decided to anchor exactly where, 4 years ago, I wanted to, but didn't because it looked like a locals-only area: "Angermeyer Point". Left: Santa Cruz Island - Galapagos

I pulled the boat up near the cliffs tucked in behind the breaking reef and dropped the anchor in 22 feet of clear water. I didn't want to risk another 'grounding' as in the Las Perlas but the difference in tide height here was only about 8 feet, not the 20 feet in Panama. This spot is right below the most famous "Angermeyer Point" restaurant, Inn and exclusive rental house in all the Galapagos. It was founded 75 years ago by 2 brothers who made their life's work here. Right: My anchorage with Teppy in front of his INN

Sons and daughters of the original Angermeyers have made the Galapagos famous with their books, films and stories. The most original of the young Angermeyers is now 'Teppy', named after the doctor than born him here. His Father was German, his mother Danish and he maintains 3 houses here and an apartment in Copenhagen. The beautiful, white inn on the point belongs to him as well as the big yellow 8 bedroom house that he rents out for $2400 a night. LEFT: The girls go ashore

Tom and I tied our dingy up to his stairs into the water and went in for breakfast while the girls slept the long night out. Teppy came out to great us and was so friendly and informative, we had an instant connection. When I told him we should go back to my boat, literally parked under his doorstep, to pick up the 2 Danish girls, he got inquisitive - Danish? He hadn't spoken Danish in a long while and was anxious to meet Louise and Mia. I thought that Teppy would be a good "uncle" to take over the safety of the 2 girls while I continued alone on to French Polynesia and Samoa.

It was a perfect match and Teppy became our friend over the past 5 days. He gave us tips on the best dive shop and underwater world, good restaurants and even the night spots for the 'younger' crew.

Tom got his flight out to Quito then Panama - Miami so my crew was down to Mia & Louise.
Tom took one last dive with the girls on nearby Santa Fe island and a motor bike ride up into the hills with me before leaving. I'll miss him, he was a big help. Tom vows to return to Samoa with his surfboard and then again in the Great Barrier Reef of NE Australia later this summer.

We three continued exploring and enjoying this fantastic place trying to make the most of the short time I have left here. I want to move on to Samoa and Australia soon. Teppy has offered to let the girls have one of his VERY nice rooms for a backpacker price when they return from Isla Isabella next week. My plan is to leave here by first light tomorrow for the neighbor island, feign a motor problem in order to anchor there without permission and

continue on to Nuka Hive alone leaving the girls there in a small hotel room recommended by Teppy. Right: Teppy Angermeyer's Manager Christian

My next e-mails will be from Isla Isabella and then only SailMail aboard Wanderlust on the high seas.