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SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER 201 3
By Sarah H. Clark
In the Footsteps of Darwin
The Galapagos Islands are a
beautiful and historic stop
for sailors traveling through
the South Pacific. ’ÄúThe
Galapagos Islands are also
an essential stop for folks
like us who are making
their way across the vast
ocean,’Äù says Trey. ’ÄúOur
next passage will be the
longest of the entire trip.
We simply must re-provi-
sion and refuel before the month-
long sail.’Äù
More than a convenience, how-
ever, the Galapagos are also an
ecological treasure, with the whole
chain constituting a national park
and biological marine reserve
belonging to the nation of Ecuador.
They are also known as the home of
the thousands of unique bird and
animal species (including the Gala-
pagos tortoise and the Blue-footed
booby) that led Charles Darwin
to his theories on evolution and
natural selection after his legend-
ary voyage on the
Beagle
.
Now well on the south side of the
Equator, therefore, the
Blue Moon
,
the Benefield’Äôs 43-foot sailboat,
duly made a stop at the island of
Santa Cruz. ’ÄúRightfully so, the
Galapagos Islands have become
the Holy Grail of eco-tourism,’Äù
says Trey. Customs and immigra-
tion for this delicate ecosystem
is understandably strict, and all
on the south side of the
Equator, the Benefields have sailed
with fair and foul winds on their
continuing journey to explore what
the South Pacific has to offer.
T E 201 3