11-Apr-2005 -- We left Lagos (Nigeria) on April 4^th, and now we are heading towards Montevideo in Uruguay, where we will be refuelled and equipped for our voyage to the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas. The track from Lagos to the mouth of Río de La Plata, as usual, brings us to Ilha da Trindade, - Trinity Island.

Three years ago I visited 20S 29W, northeast of Ilha da Trindade. When passing near this point today, we could see the small neighbours of Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz. A closer look to Martin Vaz reveals it to be only a barren rock.

Then we decided to pass Ilha da Trindade in a close distance from southeast to northwest, in order to see whether something had changed meanwhile. And indeed something has changed: The small Brazilian garrison on the island is now equipped with a VHF and they are heavy users of it. Already from far away we heard them quacking between themselves. And then they must have seen us, and somebody, identifying himself proudly as "Ilha da Trindade Traffic Control", called us and wanted to know our ship's name, radio call sign, our last and next port, course, and speed. All these information is no secret and so we could satisfy the "Ilha da Trindade Traffic Controller" who has hardly more than five ships passing per year in his vicinity.

Trindade, what I did not know, is not only a rugged barren volcanic island, but its southern part is green and fertile. Visibility was even better than during our last visit, and so we could see its southeastern tip. Then a tropical rain shower came in the very inconvenient moment, - just when we rounded the northern tip of the island. Seen from West, the island is rugged and barren.

Now we headed to our target, 21S 30W. From there, Ilha da Trindade is of course already quite distant, but still well visible. It was still raining a little bit over there, and as a second picture from the Confluence I tried to get the rainbow.

I like Ilha da Trindade. No tourist has probably ever stepped ashore, and it offers everything a human being needs to live in peace and happiness.

Way out in the ocean, but with a view of land.