Caught a sailfish and let it go. Does that count for biggest fish award? Answer YES !
SY JUBEL ๐จ๐ฆ KYLE & LEAH Gulfstar 44
OCEAN POSSE AWARD ENTRIES GALLEY GOD / GRILL MASTER ENTRY
Finally after 4 long, bumpy days the sea is calming down as we round the tip of Cuba. Paul barbecuing up some protein and the first real meal in 5 days. The sunset was stunning and the relative calm (and food!) a great reprieve! 3 more days underway to Florida from Panama via Colombia
MV GRATITUDE ๐บ๐ธ Heather & Paul - Nordhavn 43
OCEAN POSSE AWARD ENTRIES UNINVITED VISITOR
MV MUIRGEN Scot and Laura Beebe 50'
CAPTAIN RON AWARD ENTRY
Captain Ron? Pushing genoa a bit hard off Turtle Cay and blew out clew. "Ah, let's remove the reef and go for it!"
John, single handing on Quiet, (not a member of the Ocean Posse) a Tayana 37, lost his mast about 20 days ago. He has fashioned a jury rig and is making for Nuku Hiva. His progress is slow ( < 1 knot / hour ) due to the reduced sail area, and heโs in the light winds of the ITCZ now. Due to the extended nature of his trip, he would appreciate any assistance possible over the next part of his voyage. Pressing needs are for oil for his diesel engine (10-30 or 10-40 diesel rated), diesel fuel (any you can spare), canned tuna or chicken, crackers, any fresh produce at all. If you route north of the Galapagos, it is likely he will be more or less on your way as you pass by. His AIS is non functional, but his tracking link works at: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Quiet/?
5) FIESTA DE LA CANDELARIA ๐ฒ๐ฝ TUXTLA MX
Fiesta de la Candelaria
February 2nd, or Dรญa del Candelaria, also known as Candlemas, is significant as that is when 40 days after Christ was born the virgen Mary brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem.
Tuxtla Chico, located right on the border between Chiapas and Guatemala, is a municipality that stands out for the production of traditional chocolate and also for its colorful festival of the Virgin of Candelaria, which fills its streets with color with the making colorful carpets with all kinds of figures.
It is a vibrant Mexican celebration that blends indigenous, Hispanic, and Catholic traditions which is celebrated in only 2 towns in Mexico. In Tuxtla Chico, about an hour away from Marina Chiapas, the streets turn into a canvas with beautiful "carpets" made of colourful sawdust, flower pedals and other natural elements.
Each design tells a story, a mix of ancient tales and creativity! They are created by the families whose homes line the streets. It's a beautiful symbol of faith and community, a day filled with art, culture, Mexican heritage, and the heartwarming spirit of community. These murals, or โcarpetsโ can take hours to complete, in fact, we saw some people still working on their patch when we walked by and we walked over 2 miles, that is how many there are!
At the end of the evening, the approximately 180 year old porcelain statue of the Virgin Mary is brought out of the Lady of Candelaria church and carried along the streets walking over the carpets which were made to honor her. Fireworks would erupt at every corner while thousands of people from all over Mexico and Guatemala line the streets to view the procession.
The fiesta lasts several days and includes a fair, with carnival rides, food, live bands etc. Thank you to our guides Miguel and Tony for taking us to enjoy this wonderful celebration!
SY DAWN PATROL ๐บ๐ธ Laney and Mark - Outbound 46
7) TROUBLE IN PARADISE ? SAN BLAS PANAMA KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Ahoy Fleet,
This is all the information we have and we're posting this for those that are coming to San Blas in case there's some confusion about yesterday in the anchorage.
Bug Island, Banadup, San Blas Panama
Yesterday, Wednesday 3 unknown individuals came to the island from another island (Possibly Porvenir we were told). At approx 1500 multiple shots were fired. Law enforcement which somehow happened to be in the area persued and captured the three. The law enforcement Launcha got stuck on the reef while in persuit and this morning additional boats pulled the stranded boat to safety.
Everything is back to island normal. It's beautiful weather. All the cruisers in the anchorage are safe.
While all this happened in relative close proximity to our boat (maybe 500 yards) we didn't hear or see anything except the aftermath and confusion.
Laurie and I feel very safe where we are presently. And we look forward to our return sail next Monday back to Shelter Bay Marina.
The boat that "flies" from the Miami Vice series - Are Guna Yala in the smuggling path ?
SY EVER AFTER ๐บ๐ธ Andrew & Laurie - Jeanneau 44
8) BANANA BAY MARINA, GOLFITO ๐จ๐ท COSTA RICA SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE
08ยฐ 36.2433โฒ N 083ยฐ 11โ26.4333โฒ W
We are very happy to extend our Sponsorship and discount to the ocean Posse
The following are the discounted rates for the Panama Posse
9) MUST SEE BRIMSTONE HILL FORTRESS NATIONAL PARK ๐ฐ๐ณ SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
The Caribbean islands produced great wealth and were well worth defending. Fortifications had been the earliest colonial structures, and every island had its own network of coastal defenses. But the scale and magnificence of the Brimstone Hill Fortress signified the actual and symbolic importance of St. Christopher during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Fortress, constructed intermittently between the 1690s and 1790s, is of singular importance as being the remains of a large, complete military community of the 18th century. As such, it is a veritable time capsule of international significance.
The prominent Citadel is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of a new style of fortification known as the 'polygonal system'.
Brimstone Hill is nearly 800 feet high with steep and precipitous slopes which had to be tamed by the disciplines of engineering and architecture, and at the risk and probable loss of human lives. The walls of the structures are predominantly of stone, labouriously and skillfully fashioned from the hard volcanic rock of which the hill is composed. The mortar to cement the stones was produced on site from the limestone which covers much of the middle and lower slopes. The Fortress is virtually a man-made out growth of the natural hill.
The physical location of the Fortress presents attractive panoramic vistas of forested mountains, cultivated fields, the historical township of Sandy Point, and neighboring Dutch, English and French islands across the Caribbean Sea.
10) UNINVITED VISITORS SWALLOW-TAILED ๐ฆค GULL
The swallow-tailed gull is endemic to the Galapagos
They prefer areas with warmer water in the eastern islands. When they are not breeding, they travel long distances and feed out of the sea as far as south Peru and Chile.
They feed mainly on squid and fish found in the surface on nocturnal shifts. Nocturnal fishing is unusual among gulls.
Their nests are located on the rocks, bare lava and cliff areas in the shoreline of most islands. Females lay 1 egg that hatches 35 days later. Chicks spend about 3 months with their parents before they are independent.
They make several vocalizations, most of which are to communicate with others in the colony. They can warn others individuals when intruders are near the nesting sites and by several aggressive postures towards intruders.
Places where you may see the swallow-tailed gull on passage
Caye Chapel, a private island in Belize, is located approximately 16 miles north-northeast of Belize City and 3 miles south of Caye Caulker. The island is currently undergoing significant development, with a Four Seasons Resort and Residences scheduled to open in late 2025.
The west side of Caye Chapel offers a marina, providing a calm anchorage area. This marina is about 16 miles from both San Pedro on Ambergris Caye and Belize City, making it a convenient location for visitors traveling by boat.
The Four Seasons development plans include a 104-key luxury hotel featuring 18 overwater bungalows, a first for the brand in the Western Hemisphere. Amenities will encompass a beach club with multiple pools, dining and bar options with ocean views, spa and wellness facilities, and tennis courts.
12) WITH FRENCH POLYNESIA VISA LIMITS HERE IS A 30 DAY LEISURE ROUTE THROUGH THE TUAMOTUS MAKING LANDFALL IN HISTORIC RAROIA
2 nearby tidal Locations to interpolate tidal flow for the entrance to the RAROIA motu
Interpolating tide times for a specific location requires tidal harmonics and local influences like bathymetry and coastal geometry. The best approach is to estimate based on the two nearest tide stations you provided (Rangiroa and Hao), considering their time and height differences.
Find the relative position ...
RAROIA path location ~ (16ยฐ 00.9630' S, 142ยฐ 27.5954' W) is between Rangiroa and Hao tidal stations - slightly westward of HAO.
Rangiroa (14ยฐ 57.0' S, 147ยฐ 44.0' W) is further west. ( TIDAL STATION )
Hao (18ยฐ 4.0' S, 140ยฐ 59.0' W) is further east. ( TIDAL STATION )
Here is how to estimate time offset
The tidal wave generally moves westward in the Pacific.
Haoโs high tide occurs earlier than Rangiroa's, meaning your location may experience tides slightly later than Hao but earlier than Rangiroa.
Approximate longitude-based adjustment:
Hao to Rangiroa: ~6ยฐ longitude difference โ ~24 min delay per degree
Your location is ~4.5ยฐ west of Hao, so tides could be
~1 hour 50 min later than Hao ~50 min earlier than Rangiroa
Estimate tide heights
Rangiroa has slightly lower high tides (~2.4 ft) than Hao (~2.5 ft), suggesting a gradual height reduction westward. This location may have high tides around 2.45 ft and low tides around 0.35 ft.
Estimated Tides calculaed for 16ยฐ 00.9630' S, 142ยฐ 27.5954' W for Feb 15, 2025 LST
Tidal time difference ~1 hour 50 min later than Hao but ~50 min earlier than Rangiroa ( unless you have high winds then there is mostly always and outflow of water )
Raroi and the The Kon-Tiki Expedition
After more than 100 days at sea, the Kon-Tiki raft, constructed of balsa wood and similar to ancient South American rafts, was blown off course by prevailing trade winds. Despite navigating roughly toward the Marquesas Islands, Heyerdahl and his crew made landfall on Raroia, part of the Tuamotu Archipelago, instead. This was an unexpected location, but it highlighted an important point in Heyerdahl's theory that ancient South American peoples might have traveled to the Pacific Islands using similar rafts, aided by natural ocean currents and winds.
Raroia is situated in the eastern Tuamotu atoll chain and was not known to the general public as a point of landfall for South American or Polynesian voyagers. The fact that the Kon-Tiki raft ended up at this atoll, despite being off-course, was seen by Heyerdahl as support for his hypothesis. He believed that the ancient people of South America could have reached Polynesia by floating on rafts and that the current between South America and the Pacific Islands could carry them across long distances.
Historical Significance of the Raroia
Testing Heyerdahl's Theory: The landing at Raroia was pivotal to Heyerdahlโs argument. He had postulated that the Pre-Columbian South Americans might have reached the Pacific Islands long before the Polynesians. This theory was controversial, as many believed that Polynesians were primarily the voyagers across the Pacific. The Kon-Tiki expedition, by directly demonstrating the feasibility of sailing across the Pacific on a raft, provided practical evidence for Heyerdahlโs theory, even though it was met with skepticism by many in the scientific community.
Ocean Currents and Navigation: Raroia's role in the journey was also tied to the powerful ocean currents of the Pacific. The raftโs arrival at this remote atoll showcased the force and reliability of these natural currents, which could have guided ancient sailors across vast distances. Heyerdahl's raft was carried by the South Equatorial Current, which helped move it westward across the Pacific from Peru.
Indigenous Navigation Knowledge: While Heyerdahlโs theory about South Americans voyaging to Polynesia was contentious, the landing at Raroia also indirectly highlighted the remarkable navigational skills of Pacific Island cultures. Polynesians are known for their sophisticated wayfinding techniques, using the stars, winds, and ocean swells. This knowledge has been passed down through generations and was key to their long-distance voyages.
The Aftermath and ongoing Debate
After arriving on Raroia, the Kon-Tiki crew continued their journey across the Pacific, though they never reached the Marquesas. The significance of their accidental landfall, though, continued to fuel discussions about trans-oceanic voyages. Despite the controversy around his theories, Heyerdahlโs work sparked a broader interest in the history of ancient navigation, and in the 1970s, he continued to study and theorize on ancient seafaring in the Pacific, including his later expeditions on the Ra and Ra II reed boats.
The wrecked raft - Kon-Tiki Expedition 1950 by Thor Heyerdahl 1950.
13) BENEFITS OF JOINING THE OCEAN POSSE DON'T BELIEVE THE VECTOR CHARTS !
14) DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY ๐ต๐ฆ PANAMA SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE โ๏ธ
Authorized Dealer, we offer engines, support and original products with factory warranty.
Delta Mike Marine Supply is a company founded in Jan 2020 with a management that have over 15 years experience in maritime business.
As Yanmar Authorized Dealer, we offer engines, engine services, spare parts, lubrication oils and all types of Marine products for you all necessities.
Our work site is in Colรณn, in the Atlantic side close to The Panama Canal but covering all the Country.
THE FIESTA DE LOS DIABLITOS ๐ FESTIVAL OF THE LITTLE DEVILS ๐จ๐ท COSTA RICA
This celebration takes place in Boruca and Rey Curre, two villages home to the Brunka tribe.
The Fiesta de los Diablitosโor Festival of the Little Devilsโis more than just a name. It honors the ancestral spirits of the Brunka people and their triumph over Spanish conquerors. The festival is held twice a year: once in Boruca at the end of December or early January, and again in Rey Curre during the first week of February.
Much like sailors battling the unpredictable sea, the Brunka fought against the tides of conquest. During the festival, village men don elaborate carved masks and take on the role of diablitosโthe spirits of their ancestors. One representative plays the part of the bull, symbolizing the Spanish invaders. Together, they engage in a dramatic, three-day ritual known as the Dance of the Diablitos. Just as an experienced sailor reads the waves and waits for the right moment, the diablitos endure the bullโs charge before finally prevailing on the third dayโjust as they did in history.
The people of Boruca are master carvers, much like shipwrights shaping wood for the open sea. Their iconic masks, made from lightweight balsa wood, depict animal spirits that once guided their people in battle. Dancers cloak themselves in gangoche sacksโakin to rough sailclothโand layer their bodies with banana leaves, evoking the rugged resilience of those who stand against the storm.
No festival is complete without a hearty drink. Just as sailors prize their rum, the Brunka rely on chichaโa traditional fermented corn beverage. Women of the village prepare it eight days in advance, ensuring itโs ready to fuel the celebrations. The sight of a guacal gourd brimming with chicha is as familiar to the Fiesta de los Diablitos as a full flask on a long voyage.
This festival is a tribute to endurance, history, and the unwavering spirit of a people who, like sailors facing an unrelenting sea, refused to be conquered.
LOCATION: Borucas masks and the dance of the little devils
18) MUST SEE AGUA CLARA VISTOR CENTER ๐ต๐ฆ PANAMA
Aqua Clara visitor center. 336 meter container ship going through the locks.
Officially called the Neo-Panamax Locks, these are larger, more efficient locks that allow bigger ships, known as Neo-Panamax vessels, to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The expansion project introduced two new sets of locks: Agua Clara Locks on the Atlantic side and Cocolรญ Locks on the Pacific side.
Unlike the original canal locks, which use steel gates and gravity-fed chambers, the X-Locks feature rolling gates and a water-saving basin system, reducing water consumption by 60%. Each lock chamber measures 427 meters ( 1400 feet ) long, 55 meters (180 feet ) wide, and 18.3 meters deep ( 60 feet ) , allowing ships up to 366 meters long and 49 meters wide to pass through.
These locks have significantly increased global trade efficiency, accommodating much larger cargo ships and reducing maritime traffic congestion. The expansion also boosted Panamaโs economy, increasing toll revenue and strengthening its position as a major shipping hub. Small and private yachts do not go through these locks.
ONE OF THE MANY MUST SEE'S ALONG THE OCEAN POSSE ROUTES
MV KOSMOS ๐บ๐ธ Eric, Christi Grab Nordhavn 43
19) PANAMA POSSE CANAL AGENT
To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact our dedicated Panama Canal agents and sponsors of the Panama Posse and the Pacific Posse
A pygmy three-toed sloth swims between mangroves on the island of Escudo on the hunt for a mate.
Sloths are iconic tree-dwelling mammals found throughout Central America, particularly in countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras. These slow-moving creatures are well adapted to life in the rainforest, spending nearly their entire lives hanging upside down from tree branches.
There are two main types of sloths: two-toed and three-toed. Three-toed sloths, such as the brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus), are more commonly found in Central American forests. They have a distinctive round face and a permanent โsmile,โ which makes them popular among wildlife enthusiasts.
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