Jocara Newsletter
May 27, 2005

After all the fine calm weather during the whole passage to Chagos we were 
a bit chagrined when it rained in squalls for days after our arrival. John 
turned the awning into a rain collector and our water tanks quickly 
filled. Whenever the rain eased we have been exploring the many reefs and 
low-lying islands in the western half of Peros Banhos atoll, wary as there 
seems to be an offset of almost a mile between our GPS Position and the 
Chart we are using.  Most of the cruising boats in these atolls have moved 
to the Salomon Atoll (about 30 n.m. to the east) to get better shelter 
from the SE trades that are expected to fill in any day now.  We are 
therefore pretty much on our own, apart from a few boats we come across 
scattered about the various islands of this atoll.  Still, we've had a 
chance to share some stories and info with boats 'going the other way' and 
for the kids to find playmates from time to time.  The coral seems badly 
impacted, presumably from the 1998 bleaching event, with some additional 
uprooting of large coral heads in the passes from the 2004 tsunami.  
Still, the fish life in Peros Banhos is good, with lots of groupers and 
other good-sized fish to catch.  Casper is keen to learn to spearfish!  
There are also many coconut crabs ashore, some with claws the size of my 
fist.  We've been bar-b-queing a lot recently, and had a shoreside 
bar-b-que over an open fire last night for the first time since Cocos.

Our website has just been updated with all the latest goodies from the 
Seychelles, including turtle hatchlings, chatty logs and lots of great 
pictures, so please do visit and let us know what you think by signing our 
guestbook.

Jocara is now lying to fore and stern anchors (to reduce the rolling from 
swell) in the lee of Moresby Island at the north of the atoll at 5 deg. 
14.6'S, 071 deg. 49.8'E

P.S. Don't forget to check out our website at http://www.jocara.net for 
updates, pics and short movies, also archived newsletters.  Anyone can 
join the list or unsubscribe by sending an email to mandar@arl.nus.edu.sg 
with the subject line 'subscribe jocara newsletter' or 'unsubscribe Jocara 
newsletter' as appropriate.