`Aqualuna' was the last Blue Water Rally yacht to leave Puerto Ayora yesterday and sadly as he did so, two yachts that had left 4 days earlier were returning to port with engine problems. Both `Moonshiner' and `Scot Free' have been forced to return; Moonshiner with no engine power at all and `Scot Free' with only a very limited amount of power to get back against light headwinds. Our agent in the Galapagos, Ricardo Arenas, is standing by to help them out when they arrive.

Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet are reaching 5 degrees South and are beginning to feel the South East Trades that will hopefully carry them to the Marquesas. Peter Pan (Halberg Rassy 46), one of the earlier departures on 23rd March, is already reporting steady South Easterly winds of 15 kts and is making 8kts.

Whoosh...