FLEET UPDATE 2020-04-05

• Ready to sign up for next season ?
• Pictures of the Week
• Thank you to our Sponsors
• Here is where each country stands
• FOR LONG TERM PLANNING
• Puerto Penasco / Rocky Point MX
• 4th Extraordinary Fleet Call 50+ Vessel Reports
• NEW PANAMA CANAL CROSSING REQUIREMENTS
• Summary of live talk from the US ambassador to Mexico
• SECRETARY OF THE MARINA – MEXICO # 13
• Line calls Mondays and Saturdays @ 16:00 UTC
• Reply to this email
• opt-out

“The good seaman weathers the storm he cannot avoid,
and avoids the storm he cannot weather.”

– unknown

1) Ready to sign up for next season 2020-2021 Panama Posse ?

Simply reply to this email with “SIGN ME UP AGAIN“

We are at 32 vessels for next season  https://panamaposse.com/2020-2021-vessels

2) Pictures of the Week

Still BAR Life

Lisa & Lucky Chucky

HO’OKIPA



Yesterday while sailing from Huatulco yo Puerto Angel

Jim & Zyanya

LILY ROWAN

Sunset

Steve & Chelsea

JEAN ANNE

This morning at Puesta del Sol, Nicaragua

Laurin

SECOND WIND

Baja Ferries Mazatlan

Chris

Bob & Margie

BLESSED LIFE

3) Thank you to our Sponsors

Official Panama Posse  Sponsors, Partners and Ambassadors

• Marina Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico 
• Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Barra de Navidad – Mexico 
• Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico 
• La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico 
• Marina Chiapas – Mexico 
• Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador 
• La Palma Moorings – Bahia del Sol, El Salvador 
• Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua 
• Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica 
• Marina Pez Vela – Costa Rica 
• Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica 
• Vista Mar Marina – Panama 
• Shelter Bay Marina – Panama 
• Red Frog Marina – Panama 
• Bocas Marina – Panama 

• NOVAMAR INSURANCE  
• ULLMAN SAILS PUERTO VALLARTA 
• PREDICT WIND 
• SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT 

Official Panama Canal Agent

• Centenario & Co.S.A. Eric Galvez – Panama

Official Panama Posse Ambassadors

• Jaime Figueroa Navarro – Panama
• Bill & Jean – El Salvador Rally, El Salvador
• Ralph Hewitt – Nicaragua

Panama Posse Partners

• Vicente’s Moorings – Acapulco – Mexico
• Discover Tours Chiapas – Mexico
• Park Avenue Villas – San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua
• Coconutz – Annual Papagayo Victory Party – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica
• Abernathy – Chandlery – Panama
• Advertising Partners – Las Vegas
• Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

4) Here is where each country stands (cases / deaths)

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html


Mexico    1,890        † 202   

Mexico has implemented temperature-screening measures at some of its airports.  Passengers with abnormal temperatures and travel to high-risk areas might be subject to additional health screening.


Guatemala – full lock down – no entry permitted  – Curfew extended to April 28th 


Mexico – border closings between USA and Mexico but commercial entry permitted – USA inbound vessels US flagged only
Ports with Hotels are closing


Guatemala    61   † 2           
The U.S. Embassy has now individually notified all confirmed travelers for the State Department charter flights departing from Guatemala City to Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) airport on Saturday, March 28th and Monday, March 30th.  These flights are now fully booked.
There are two additional State Department charter flights scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st. The U.S. Embassy will notify confirmed passengers by Monday, March 30th if they are confirmed for the Tuesday, March 31st flights. 


El Salvador    62     †  3   
El Salvador – full lock down – no entry permitted 


Honduras    268    †  22  


Honduras – full lock down – no entry permitted 

 

Nicaragua    5           †  1  


Nicaragua – Check in with Marina Puesta del sol ahead of time – they will coordinate to send a health inspector out – after which customs, immigration will clear you in 

 

Costa Rica    435     †  2    
Costa Rica – no change but upon entry you may be asked about prior countries / health issues – crew flying in from overseas will be subject to questioning at airport(s) 
April 13th 






Panama    1,801          †   46
Panama –  no entry permitted   14 day quarantine between ports has been obtained by some in internal movements – curfew w 1 hour movement x day for  with 30 minutes based on ID number sex and day – no alcohol sales
No vessels under 65 allowed to transit




French Polynesia   40            1 critical case

Colombia    1,406        † 32   
Colombia orders 19-day nationwide quarantine


Ecuador    3,646        †  181   
Lock down


Belize    5        †  1

Lock down

Cayman Islands    35        †  1


Cuba    320        † 8



Bahamas    28        †  1

Lock down

Puerto Rico 475   †  20

Lock down

if you have specific additions to this please reply




Hazards to Navigation

5) FOR LONG TERM PLANNING

From a long term planning standpoint you now have 8 -12 weeks before the beginning of the North Pacific Hurricane season
– which typically does not have mayor storms starting until the end of July – and runs through early November.







The Marina in Barra de Navidad has discounts available to all vessels seeking shelter and typically has greatly discounted  summer rates
– many posse boats will spend the summer here and a much discounted summer rate –

contact  Secundino harbormaster@islaresort.com.mx

Harbormaster Secundino Alvarez

For those of you in or near Barra you are able to get the Super Hawaiian store from
Melaque to deliver to you our vessels as you shelter in place




and said store is also doing weekly runs to Costco in Guadalajara.



Delivery is about 100-120 pesos above the regular bill and done within 2 hours
usually

To contact the store and place your order send a
WhatsApp message in English with your information to Alex Key +52 314 141 9457 
delivery comes on Panga and takes credit cards via a wireless terminal.

Make sure you mention that you are part of the Panama Posse

6) Puerto Penasco / Rocky Point MX
Post by Cabrales boatyard Puerto Peñasco, MX

Cabrales boatyard will be closed like all years on easter week and is currently scheduled to reopen on Monday April 13th, but there are lots of rumors on government enforcing strict quarantine and business closures. So as of 12:43pm there are no guarantees we will finish out the work week or reopen until the quarantine is over. Also, as of this message there are no reported cases of coronavirus in Puerto Peñasco.

I also just spoke again with the port master in Puerto Peñasco. As you have heard, the new 24 hour lockdown applies to everyone nationwide, it appears that there will be a sanitation barrier or checkpoints located strategically to limit non-essential movements around town.
 
Cruisers are still welcome to arrive from any destination (national or international). The update is that they are required to report to the portmaster directly upon arrival and will not be allowed to disembark until a medical team has cleared them to do so. If you wish to depart puerto peñasco by car it is allowed as long as you’re returning to your home country, and then the port master will supply the crew with special documentation allowing such transport.

Needless to say that this situation is unprecedented, and will likely be more updates in the future.

Stay safe,
Salvador

7) 4th Extraordinary Fleet Call 50+ Vessel Reports April 4th 2020 16:00 UTC

#	NAME	LOCATION	STAY IN PLACE	MOVE ON TO	LOGISTICAL ISSUES
1	BAJA FOG	Barra	shelter inplace		flying back to us this week
John & Monique
3	TALIESIN ROSE	Puesta del sol			no restrictions – 2 day notification
Victoria & Rowan
4	THISLDU	Puesta del sol
Garrett & Audrey
10	SEAGLUB	San Jose del Cabo		met with harbormaster	email in Mexico – port Vallarta is shutting down – logistical issues – paid for 7 months
Chris
11	BONZER	Barra
Michael & Vicki
12	JEAN ANNE	Zihuatanejo			going north as soon as we can Barra –
Steve & Chelsea
13	SINGULARITY	vista mar	shelter in place inde
Robert & Carol
19  ©	KNOT RIGHT	vista mar	stay in place		limited available beer
Walt & Jeariene
20 ©	COMPROMISE	chiapas	move south		worried about  port clusures
Ronald & Karen
22	DUE WEST	Barra
Kirk & Heidi
23	TOP CIDER	en route ti zihuat
Chuck & Sharon
25	HALF MOON	Puesta del sol
Brain & Elizabeth
26	MADELEINE	vessel in El Salvador in need for all repairs Netherlands	in Amsterdam	health wise – treatment and healthy – huib – he is doing fine	bored –
Huibert & Maaike
27	ANGELIQUE	Vessel in Florida key west			clamp down to get into a marina  Jamaica
Dan & Angela
28	JO	Barra		drove across the border now in san antonio tx
Phillip Jay & Kelley
29	DELTA SWIZZLER	Barra	stay in the area
Mark & Cindy
32 ©	MORNING STAR	Shelter bay marina		haul out an’t thank JuanJo, Eddie, Frank, Carol and all the team in Shelter Bay enough for everything they are doing for the cruisers.  Dave and I are back in the UK,  having caught the last flight out of Panama to Europe, thanks to the British Embassy giving us a link to the necessary KLM web page.  Hope to be back in January. Thanks to Panama Posse giving us all information and a sense of community in difficult times.
David, Stella & …
34	ONE LIFE	barra	Shelter in Place	self isolating
Doug & Mary
37	WISHLIST	las hadas			came to hotel – vessel at anchor
Chris
40	AVANT	shelter bay to be hauled out	in canada – vancouver		keep an eye out – – possible to exit colon if you need a zarpe – 14 day quarantines –
Rob & Debra
43	RHAPSODY	Shelter Bay	shelter place		doing well –
Sarah & Bob
47	WIND SWEPT	LA PAZ
Scott & Jan
51	GREEN FLASH	vessel in Vista Mar – san clemente	sheltering in place		embassy list unplanned flight – jumped on that vista
Bob & Joan
52	BONZAI	Isla Mujeres Cancun, MX	sheltering in place		changed a bit tightend the bit – at anchor – restrictions to go shopping – vessle 2 week quarantine – first case on the island – long term – standing by until july
Don
53	GARGOYLE	pueste del sol nicarga	Shelter in Place		waiting to hear costa rica
Kevin & Carla
54	STAND DOWN	Vista Mar	sheltering in place
Richard & Nancy
55	SONAMARA	Red frog marina	shelter in place
Louis & Patrice
61  ©	WILDEST DREAMS	Anchored in Golfito –			last week to banana bay – allowed to leave – extend immigration – to stay – until they opne the border – take through the marina – looking to exit –
Grant & Michelle
63	SECOND WIND	puesta del sol		waiting for development to  get to costa rica
Laurin
69	ALIZANN	bocas del toro red frog maina	staying in place staying in the Caribbean	conditions is ready to go ready	2 case sof corona v aearol naval – any boats moving – unless you are in a a panga or dinghy for purchases
Martin & Suzanne
70	FLOATING STONES	Bahamas
Bryan & Cheryl
74	MAISON DE SANTE	barra	sheltering in place		everythign fine
Keenan & Nicole
88  ©	SEA LARKS	banana bay marina golfito CR			hoping to travel north – us embassy
Jeffrey & Paula
92	BAIT ‘N SWITCH III	papagayo marina costa rica –	tips 90 day import permit are extend
John & Laurie
94  ©	MARIAH	West end Ruatan. Honduras		all fine staying waiting for pandemic to blow over – waiting to go up to key west  –	hello all doing fine in west bay of island roatan island have beem locked down for 20 days – can provision 20 vessels on suzy II rally – close to – important – french boats left
Trish & John
95	WAVE DANCER	Florida left the boat in golfito last plane fishhook			cost rica – boat will be 1/2 have to bond –
Vladimir & Galinda
96	MALOLO	isla grande	novamar	heading to barra	heading north –
Matt & Britt
99	HO’OKIPA	Barra de Navidad	stay in place		nothing
	Lisa & Lucky
100	VOLARE	zihuatenaje	heading north
	Jessica & Adam
104 ©	MIDNIGHT BREEZE	vista mar marina	UK
Richard & Caroline
109	JOY	barra	sheltering in place	ready to move	sheltering  in place
Jeff & Roxanne
111	SEAQUEL	Belize sheltering in place		heading up via isla mujeres	moving out to the cav – yesterday – could leave the country – could get a stamp getting  – getting fuel – hide – 14 day quarantine in isla mujeres
Michael
117	PILIALOHA	vessel in marina chahue	hawaiii		spoke with the marina – marina is closed – doing watches –
Rick & Maria
121	ANKYRIOS	Barra
Dennis, Brandy & Crew
124  ©	INDEPENDENCE	barefoot key ruatan honduras get zarpe to leave hang around there great stores plenty of supplies		florida	captain looked around – boats moving around
	Larry & Jamie
125	LILY ROWAN	Puerto Angeles tried to get in chahue			port answer – closed – Ezequiel – did not want anywhere in the jurisdiction – not here right now – tourist – message –
Jim & Zyanya
128 ©	AMANDLA	Marina Palmaira Baja / La Paz			visas
Lisa & Captain Fabio
130	SIMPLIFY	marina chahue	staying here	decide to leave from hawaii	town is closed down – rent bicycles – grocery stores are open –
Randy & Marina
138	BLESSED LIFE	costa rica quepos pez vela	shelter in place		solid intel – not due to may –
Bob and Margie
147	GRASSHOPPER			en route to chiapas
Jeffrey & Cheri
148 ©	ELEVEN 11	Chahue		We are staying put here in Marina Chahue where we learned this week that movement in or out is not permitted.  The Navy and National guard are here in town and patrolling the waters, and the beaches and resorts are closed.  There are a few restaurants open for takeout and the grocery stores are allowing one person per party to go into the grocery store.  There is a limit on sugar, eggs, rice, and a few other things.  rumor has it, that they are going to shut down alcohol sales here soon, so naturally, we did a huge alcohol provision today!  There is absolutely no room for another item on our boat.  Every nook and cranny accounted for!  We were told that there are roadblocks going into and out of the city and at night, the policia are patrolling the streets playing an announcement.  I’m assuming it’s a curfew at night?  Not sure about that.  We are taking advantage of being quarantined, by addressing our engine issues. We took out our injection fuel lines to be replaced, we are working on our starter, and various other cosmetic projects and otherwise!  We hope everyone is doing okay out there.  If you’re not where you want to be, hang in there!  We feel for everyone out there who may feel stuck.  We will get through this!  Take care everyone! Stay safe!	engine issues boat pulle din the middle of the night – as  looking for paperwork zarpe – needed paperwork – marina office – sad to see – small vessel – navy patrolling everything – playing a recording –
Tim, Kim &
149 ©	MOIRA	Bahia Ballena CR		It’s quiet here and we are managing to get ashore to get supplies at the local fruit and veggie market and the buses still run to Cobano for supermarket shopping. Our plans for the near term are to stay put but we are thinking ahead to hurricane season. Our original plans for French Polynesia are of course on hold. Possibilities currently are to make for the north of the Sea of Cortez or more likely, Hawaii. A lot depends on how things develop in Mexico. All the best to you and our fellow cruisers, Nick, Gema, Oliver and Sofia
Nick, Gema & crew
150	MILAGRO
Robert & crew
152 ©	SUSIMI	barra lagoon		Puerto penasaco	opportunity to move north
Paul & Hazel
161 ©	SPREZZATURA	received permit bocas del toro			no movement on yachts Sunday is closed wear masks all the time limited movement kind appeal port
Eric
171	GenM	la cruz, mx		head north	boat is in good conditions – heading – mexico has closed all ports with hotels –
Marvin and Laurie
172 ©	AMEKAYA	sorry missed this info
Maris and Linda
173 ©	BISOU	Bocas del Toro at anchor – bocas town	stay in place		fine
Robin and Tad
174	ARROW	north in chamela		stay near to barra
Maurisa & Mike
175	VAGABUNDO DOS	acapulco bay – beaches are closed		heading south  chiappas	heading towards chahue – nicaragua –
Grant & Donna
176	REEF DANCER	Barra	shelter in place
Jerry & Debra
177	HAPPY DANCE	boca chica Boca Chica			trying to get to Mexico
	Sue & Marty

8) PANAMA CANAL CROSSING REQUIREMENTS ( currently only vessels over 65 feet are allowed )

Issued today by the Panama Canal Authority

April 3, 2020
TO : All Shipping Agents, Owners, and Operators
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Vessel Precautions

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP), concerned with the threat of transmission of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to ACP employees, respectfully requests vessel operators to take precautionary measures before and during the transit of their vessels through the Panama Canal and when making local port calls. These measures are necessary and imperative to prevent any further spread of this virus in the Republic of Panama.

Please note that some of these measures must be implemented before ACP employees board these vessels, and include, but are not limited to the following:

– One hour prior to the boarding of the ACP inspector and pilot, wipe down the boarding facilities, pilot cabin, elevator/stairway, as well as the entire bridge, to include the chart table, navigational equipment, chairs, helm, entire console, handrails, windows, door handles and toilets, with a 5% solution of bleach water or equivalent disinfecting solution.

– Minimize the number of crew members standing by at the pilot boarding station.

– Periodically disinfect any surfaces that the pilot or crew members have come into contact with, such as binoculars, radar control panels, ECDIS control panels and VHF radios.

– Periodically wipe down toilets designated to be used by ACP linehandlers, as well as working area.

– Allow only essential personnel inside the navigation bridge while an ACP pilot is on board.

– Any crew members intending to enter the bridge must wash their hands and face prior to entering the bridge, and once inside the bridge, must immediately wash their hands again.

– A supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer must be maintained on the bridge.

– Close contact should be avoided at all times, maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters or more, whenever possible.

– All coffee cups and utensils must be washed thoroughly immediately prior to being used by the ACP pilot.

9) Summary of live talk from the US ambassador to Mexico

Hi all,

We have been asked to summarize the facebook live talk from the US ambassador to Mexico. The video coverage was very spotty, but we got most of it. Here are the major points:

• If you are here on 180-day tourist visa or you are planning to return to the US sometime soon, it is strongly advised to GO HOME to the US NOW, while there are still some flights available. This may change in the near future, if airlines stop flying and airports close.
• It is strongly advised to sign up for the STEP program, this will supply you with daily updates on the status of airlines and airports and other things pertinent to US citizens in Mexico
• https://step.state.gov/STEPMobile/Default.aspx
• If you are US Citizen with a Mexican residente permanente or residente temporal, you need to weigh the pros and cons of staying in Mexico long-term versus returning home. Each person’s circumstances will be different and require a different answer.
• US policy is to allow citizens to return to the US whether by car or boat or plane, but they may be asked to quarantine for 14-days, and there may soon be a time when airports close and/or airlines stop flying in the near future which would limit your options to being able to return home easily.
• If you decide to stay in Mexico, please abide by the Mexican government rules surrounding stay at home, wash your hands, make the best of things. Be safe and stay healthy.
• Please check your health insurance policies carefully, most health insurance policies are not covering COVID-19 because it is a named world pandemic, (similar to a named hurricane.) Most medevac flights will also not cover COVID-19 situations.

If you have specific questions you may email the US Embassy in CDMX directly to this email address:
acsmexicocity@state.gov

Or call: 55 852 62 561

Hope that is helpful, The Facebook video should be up on the Facebook page for viewing, Facebook.com/Mexico.USEmbassy


Heidi & Kirk

DUE WEST

10) SECRETARY OF THE MARINA – MEXICO # 13

MARINA f, 2020 Unit of Port Captaincies and Maritime Affairs,
Deputy General Directorate of Port Captains.


“Instructions are issued to deny dispatches and departures to dedicated vessels
to the provision of nautical tourism services to third parties, with boats smaller than
Mexican and foreign recreation and sports. “
l. BACKGROUND.
All the Capitanias of Puerto del País.
M. BACKGROUND.
My Various Circulars issued with Instructions regarding Prevention, Care and Control
of the COVID-19 “.
ML. INFORMATION.

On March 24, 2020, the AGREEMENT issued was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

by the Secretary of Health, which establishes the preventive measures that must be
implement to mitigate and control the health risks of the disease
by the SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19). This Agreement mentions in its third paragraph of

ARTICLE ONE that the civil, military and private authorities, as well as
dependencies and entities of the three levels of government, will be obliged to
Instrumentation of preventive measures against the disease for the SARS-CoV2 virus

(COVID-19), referred to in the first paragraph of this article.
Likewise, subsection €) of SECOND ARTICLE, mentions that the dependencies and entities
of the Federal Public Administration and organizations from the social and private sectors, such as

preventive measure must temporarily suspend the activities of the sectors
public, social and private that involve physical concentration, transit or displacement
of people from the entry into force of this.

Finally, in consideration of the recommendations issued by the Secretary of Health in the

press conference “Report on COVID-19” on Saturday 28 of the current

take actions to prevent the rapid spread of SAR-GpV-2.

IV. INSTRUCTIONS.

This Deputy General Directorate of Port Captaincies in my charge, following the

recommendations issued in the aforementioned AGREEMENT; and based on what

established in articles 37 and 49 fraction IV of the Maritime Navigation and Commerce Law
they are instructed to perform the following action:

1, From the date and until further notice, you must deny dispatches and departures at
boats dedicated to the provision of nautical tourism services to third parties, with
minor Mexican and foreign recreational and sports boats, the above with the
In order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19).

Log leaders of the Port Captaincy are held responsible for the dissemination and compliance of the
This Circular, with the fact that said measure does not apply to cabotage navigation of
boats and transport of people and supplies, reminding them that they should
observe in all to recommendations regarding the healthy distance,


Mexico City, March 29, 2020.
SECRETARIAT Of Ina Contralmi CG. DEM.

11) We will continue our LINE CALLS
Monday’s @ 16:00 UTC and extraordinary Line calls on
Saturdays @ 16:00 UTC 

Everyone please mute your mikes ( green line through the mic )

12) Please reply to this email with any updates – your vessel location –
contenders for picture of the week –

Dietmar & Suzanne
SV Carinthia

13) opt-out from the Fleet Updates simply reply with “REMOVE“