Yesterday, 3/6, we'd planned an E-Z 10-mi. sail from Isla Linton to Green Turtle Bay. Weather was fine, NE winds12 kt., NE swell 4'-6'. Sadly, Green Turtle Bay = untenable due to NE swell so we sailed the extra 35 mi. to Porvenir in the San Blas islands. About 8 mi. out, rain squall reversed…
3/4: Arrived yesterday, 3/3, motorsailing easterly 12 mi. from Portobello. Forecast was for NE winds 10-15 kt., NE seas 4'-6'. We actually got NE winds 15-23 kt., seas 5'-8' on a 6-sec. period. Equals, rough water for traveling E like we are. Isla Linton anchorage looks like it might be nice — but it's hard…
3/1: anchored in Portobelo 5 days. Toured town & 2 of the17th-cen. Spanish forts. Also saw the famous Black Jesus of Nazareth upon marble side altar in town church. Sculpture is well dressed w/ very disturbing eyes. Weather: reinforced trades = E winds 15-24kt. w/ occas. lt. rain showers but bay has only low chop…
Left Shelter Bay Marina/Colon @ 0800 Fri., 2/25. No wind – motored 17mi. to Portobello (09deg.33.5'N/079deg.40'W), found by Columbus in 1502; later, the port from which the Spanish shipped much gold & silver from the New World. It is indeed a beautiful port. 40 boats here, most our size, most from Europe. Ruins of 500…
Long story short, it went fine – much more smoothly and incident-free than I ever expected. We had 2 professional line handlers who were terrific & helped out the rest of us (thanks, Mauricio and Ivan!), and one amateur line handler who was a real quick study (kudos to you, Anne!). GB rounded out our line…
Technically, January in Panama is well into Central America's "dry season" when the days are hot and sunny, and the nights near shore are usually cooled by light breezes. It doesn't rain often, or for very long; but when a rain squall does come: boy howdy. Here's what a typical dry-season squall looks like, as it engulfs the downtown Panama City high…
Casco Antiguo is a seaside district in what is now Panama City, located near the Panama Canal area. It was developed in about 1673, two years after pirate (and spiced rum spokesmodel) Henry Morgan laid waste to what had been Panama City and the surviving population were forced to relocate. Casco Antiguo perches upon a low rocky bluff surrounded by…
While GB and I scramble to get our act together for a Canal transit, here are some pics of the EASY way to see the Canal: come to Panama City, and take a day trip by taxi to the Miraflores Locks. They're the first set of locks that vessels go through when leaving the Pacific…
So, yeah. We've discussed various scenarios about where we sail next. "Plan A" was to cruise the anchorages in the Gulf of Panama, then return to Ecuador for another 6 months or so for more South American tourism, especially in Peru. "Plan A, v.1.0" involved direct travel from Panama to Ecuador. "Plan A, v.2.0" included…
Approaching Panama City from the water, you are first struck by the incredible number of freighters and cruise ships anchored for miles around the entrance to the Panama Canal, all waiting for their turn to either transit the Canal or proceed a short way into the Canal entrance to Panama City/Balboa's commercial docks. Everything you…