Cocos Log - Zac

Latest Position: 10/25/08 0555Z 13 24.912 S 92 32.561E

Cocos Log - Part I
I approached the entrance to Cocos around 10am. As I turned into the bay I had a 12' swell on the beam which made it a real event getting the anchor out. I managed to sail into the entrance but once I was in, the wind shifted around to the nose. I started up the engine which I had spent most of the previous day working on and motored into the bay. It was pretty hard even with the motor battling the 4 knot current that was pulling towards a big reef. Once I got out of the main path of the current I was able to follow the nav markers to the anchorage at Direction Island. I dropped anchor in 17 feet of water. I put up the quarantine flag and waited for customs. They came by and I got cleared in with no problems.
The people on the boat next to me lent me some 2 stroke engine oil that I had forgotten to get in Darwin for my outboard motor. I got the dinghy all set up and I finished taking the lines off of the broken boom. That evening I had dinner over at the the Swiss cruisers boat (forgot their name). It was great to have a home cooked meal (cooked by someone else). The next morning I took my broken tiller arm over to Home Island in my dinghy. Home Island is about 1.5 miles south of Direction Island and is where most people who live at CK live. They are all traditional Muslims and wear the traditional Muslim clothing of head coverings and robes. Home Island is also where you can catch a ferry across the atoll to the main commercial area of CK at West Island. I hopped on the ferry over to West Island hoping to find a bank and a carpenter for the tiller arm. When I got there I found neither. I went to the store next to the bank which was closed and asked when it would be open. The guy said Wednesday which was a pain because it was only Thursday. I got some provisions and headed back to the boat. On the ferry ride back to Home Island I met a nurse who had just transferred to Home Island from Australia and said she would help me find a carpenter. When we got to Home Island she took me to the house of the local carpenter, Parson. He said that he could make me a new tiller and repair the old one and have them ready in a couple of days. When I got back to the anchorage the other 2 boats had left and Intrepid was all alone in the anchorage.
End of Cocos Log - Part I

Right now I am 300 miles from Cocos with 25 knots on the aft quarter and a 10 foot swell on the beam which is making it really hard to type. I've been getting slammed by squalls since I left and the swell on the beam makes the ride comparable to the inside of a washing machine. But anyway, just getting back into the groove of being at sea. I'll get the rest of the Cocos blog out tomorrow.

Cheers,
Zac

UPDATE ON THE LA GATHERING THIS SUNDAY

FUN ON THE WATER--TAKE A HARBOR CRUISE!!
The owner of the private yacht "Odyssey", a 58ft Hatteras Tri-Deck Motor Yacht that is also a US Coast Guard Inspected Vessel, has kindly made this yacht available to any "Zac Supporters" who would like to go on a 1-hr harbor cruise after the event. There will be up to 3 cruises depending on demand, boarding at 6,7 & 8pm at the docks directly behind the restaurant and returning on the following hour. The vessel will be operated by a Licensed USCG Captain and Certified Crew. Donations: $15 for Adults, $10 for Children & Teenagers 18 and under. Tickets will be available at the door.