Mercury Rising arrived in Puerto Ayora this morning with Adrian Pinnegar, Deane Harper and Phyllis Macay aboard. Two yachts are still to arrive : Lorrigray (delayed in Panama with steering problems) and Fugue. Many crews are already well into discovering the island of Santa Cruz, while others are attending to refueling, essential maintenance and trips to the market ahead of their 5 –day trips that start next week.

The social scene has been steadily building with daily gatherings in the Rock Pub, Sunday luncheon at the Angermeyer Point Restaurant and a trip into the Highlands on Monday for the rally briefing and dinner. The weather is particularly hot with temperatures on Tuesday (10th) into the 100s F (40deg C) with 80% humidity and although now back into the high 80s and low 90s everyone is finding this the hottest place so far on the circumnavigation.

With the Galapagos right on the equator it is significant that 21st March will mark the time when the sun here is directly overhead. Regular updates will now continue with more photos, so keep checking for updates…