FLEET UPDATE 2023-04-23

PANAMA POSSE 
 
FLEET UPDATE 

April 23, 2023

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

TOP NEWS  

• VISTA MAR SEASON 🎆 FINALE PARTY
• AWARD ENTRY: MOST UNINVITED VISITOR(S) 🇪🇨 ECUADOR
• 8 PANAMA POSSE BESSELS CROSS THE TEHUANTEPEC 🇲🇽  MEXICO
• NEW PANAMA POSSE SPONSOR: MARINA SOLARTE 🇵🇦 PANAMA
• GREAT ANCHORAGE: DRAKE BAY 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA
• CULTURE: FESTIVAL DE DIABLOS Y CONGOS MAY 6TH 🇵🇦 PANAMA
• THE COMMON BLACK HAWK
• LAND TRIPS FROM PUESTA DEL SOL 🇳🇮 NICARAGUA
• SAFETY ALERT: OFFSHORE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
• RIO CHAGRES 🇵🇦 PANAMA

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Cooling down in the Tehuantepec, 🇲🇽 Mexico

SY  🇺🇸 ROCHAMBEAU – Bev and Rolf – Lagoon 39′

Luis is a guide with boundless energy standing on top of a volcano, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua.

PHOTO by SY  🇺🇸  FIREFLY – Brenda and Ted – Catalina 47′

Sporting Panama Posse Swag in the Florida Keys, 🇺🇸

SY DA MMAD CAT 🇺🇸  Andrea & Danny – Lagoon 42′

Great Black Hawk: holding prey on top Jubel’s spreaders in Huatulco, 🇲🇽 Mexico

SY JUBEL 🇺🇸  Leah & Kyle – Gulfstar 44′

2) SEASON FINALE PARRRTY

PANAMA POSSE 🇵🇦 AWARDS PARTY

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023 16:00

VISTA MAR MARINA

End of season award celebrations will be held at Vista Mar Marina

our Panama Pacific Headquarters

on Sunday May 21st

AWARDS GO TO:

•     BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*
•     PICTURE OF THE YEAR
•     YODA OF THE YEAR
•     SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD
•     THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD
•     MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD
•     HIGHEST WIND RECORDED
•     SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION
•     2  X GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔  
•     GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR
•     BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR
•     COURAGE AWARD

*no bill-fish entries   ✔winner announced already

Vista Mar Marina hosts the “End of Season” Party.

 

3)  MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK 

Panga Ride in Drake Bay,  🇨🇷  Costa Rica 

MY SEEKER 🇺🇸 John & Tammy– Selene 62′

Panama Posse Sponsor Flor de Cana makes Premium Seltzers

…and the verdict is: very refreshing, well carbonated, not too sweet. 

SY MAISON DE SANTÉ 🇺🇸 Keenan and Nicole – Cal 46′

Dolphins on the bow as SV Whirlwind flies the spinnaker across the Tehuantepec

SY WHIRLWIND 🇺🇸  Maurisa, Mike, Russell & Josea – Alajuela 48′

4)  AWARD ENTRY:

MOST UNINVITED VISITORS

HITCHING A RIDE TO THE GALAPAGOS  🇪🇨 Ecuador

8 Boobie Birds on the Bow of Windsong en route to the Galapagos, 🇪🇨 Ecuador

While
crossing the equator and becoming shellbacks, there were uninvited
visitors aboard SY Windsong that made themselves very comfortable. 

 One stayed with us for over 350NM!  

Though we loved them their poo was MOST DEFINITELY UNINVITED.

Nonetheless, the journey was spectacular. 

Swimming across the equator in calm conditions

Glass conditions in the doldrums

Marine iguana watching the sunset in San Cristóbal Galapagos  🇪🇨 

Approximately 40 lb yellow fin tuna caught just outside of Isla Isabela Galapagos

Our
boat doesn’t have a stern entry so we never had any sea lions try to
get aboard. We put out a paddle board to have sea lions playing around
our boat, we had a solid group that stayed with us during our time in
San Cristóbal.  These visitors were close enough to enjoy their
company and they courteously had there own place to poop that was not
offensive in the least.

SY WINDSONG 🇺🇸   

5)  8 POSSE VESSELS CROSS THE TEHUANTEPEC  🇲🇽 

12+
boats took a four day weather window to cross the Tehuantepec last
week.  Some left Thursday, some left Friday.  Together this
mini fleet sent notes to one another about longline locations they
encountered (see red dot above).   “The longlines were Right on the
Rum Line” Rolf described it.    

Along
the different courses vessels took people saw schools of dolphin,
marlin jumping, sailfish, turtles, birds, and birds on turtles. 

The
wind was favorable for a pleasant downwind run if you had a light
spinnaker.  Conditions also favored swimming and napping for those
crossing the bay.  

All
in all a smooth and uneventful trip was had through the Golfo de
Tehuantepec to Marina Chiapas.  Spending time working on boats,
cooling off in the pool, and barbeque’ing are now high on the list for
this part of the Posse

Panama Posse vessels : 

SY KARUNA, SY FICKLE, SY VIA,  SY QUESO GRANDE, SY ROCHAMBEAU, SY SALACCIA, SY WHIRLWIND, & SY FIREFLY 

cruised across the Tehuantepac last weekend.

6) MARINA SOLARTE

🇵🇦 PANAMA 🇵🇦

NEW SPONSOR LOCATION in Bocos Del Toro

09° 18.5983′ N 082° 11.8233′ W

We
are excited to sponsor the Panama Posse with a 15 % discount for
visiting vessels and a special 4 days for the price of 3 discount.

CONTACT:

Dominik Hasala
CEO

+507 6565-1324

ahoy@marinasolarte.com

AMENITIES

NUMBER OF SLIPS  37

​LENGTH OVERALL   20′ – 80′

MAX BEAM   45′

MAX DRAFT   15′

Pet Friendly

Laundry

Showers

Toilets

Year-Round Wet Slip Storage

24/7 Security and Staff Available

Provisioning, US shipping address,

Vessel Maintenance

30 amp electrical services

Filtered Water

Complimentary Wi-Fi

Pump-out

7) GOOD ANCHORAGE 
 GOOD  NAUTICAL 

DRAKE BAY 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA

Anchorage @

08° 41.807 N 083° 39.959 W 

Bahía
Drake (Drake Bay) is a genrious bay on the north side of the Osa
Peninsula and Corcovado National Park on the coast of southwestern Costa
Rica.  This bay is believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake
during his raids on the Spanish Main in the 16th century and the
location of one of the British pirate’s fabled hidden treasures.

The
bay is off the beaten track and can be reached by plane, boat, and car
(ideally a 4×4 vehicle) during the dry season. Because of lack of
bridges, driving to Bahía Drake is challenging and not recommended for
visitors.  

This naturally restricted access makes being there that much more special.  

Drake Bay is especially very extremely totally tropical

MY SEEEKER .

8) CULTURE: FESTIVAL DE DIABLOS Y CONGOS

PANAMA 🇵🇦 MAY 6TH 🇵🇦

Saturday
May 6th  the port city of Portobelo, Colon, Panama holds the
“Festival de Diablos y Congos.” This annual festival is one of
celebration and rebellion.  It is a unique local take on the
widespread Carnival tradition, a five-day party with no shortage of
loudspeakers, dancing — and devils wielding whips.

The
Casa de la Cultura Congo is an open public space that hosts workshops
and the creation of arts and crafts. Focusing on Congo art, the mission
of the Casa de la Cultura Congo is to exalt and express the importance
of the colonial Latin and African legacy in Portobelo, by bringing those
traditions to life through different creative expressions.

9) THE COMMON BLACK HAWK 

The range of the Common Black Hawk is much like that of the Panama Posse. 

 They
are predominately a coastal bird ranging from the Pacific and Atlantic
Coasts of Mexico south along Central America extending along the coast
of western Ecuador and northern Columbia.  This hawk is entirely
black with a distinct white band running horizontally along its tail,
yellow beak, legs, and feet.  

10) LAND TRIPS FROM 

PUESTA DEL SOL  🇳🇮 NICARAGUA

Puesta
del Sol is a wonderful, safe harbor in northern Nicaragua.  The
location is a great springboard for land trips.  Multiple posse
boats, some going North and some going south managed to be in Puesta del
Sol at the same time.

Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negra Volcano, Nicaragua

Each went off exploring the country, came together to enjoy each others
company and swap stories; three great things that make the Posse so
fun.  

This was a long and arduous hike, gorgeous views, great fun.  

The volcano is considered one of the youngest volcanoes in the world and is still active. 

 There are hot spots with new ash, and vents that are actively being monitored by experts.

Tacos out and about among the locals.

  It is beautifully preserved and many famous Nicaraguan poets and bishops are entombed in this cathedral.

The
charming city of Leon, Nicaragua is home to the oldest basilica in the
Americas, called Basilica Catedral de la Ascuncion 1947.

North-bound
PP ( Robin and Tad on Bisou) meet south-bound PP (Ed and Kate on Wild
Blue, Ted and Brenda on Firefly) and non-PP Chris on Golden Odyssey and
John on Alexis. 

We
enjoyed some delicious mahi-mahi donated by Chris and cooked by Tad on
the grill as well as plenty of beverages and good cheer!

All this in beautiful Puesta del Sol Marina, Nicaragua on board Bisou!

SY BISOU 🇦🇺  Robin and Tad – Fountaine Pajot 44′

  

11) ADVENTURE MEDIA PARTNER 
LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

“Having
spent the last 11 years in the Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean
running charters aboard my Lagoon 410, Guiding Light, I have heard many
sailors talk about going to the Dominican Republic on their way to the
islands.

The
problem is that once you start talking to them about the DR, they tell
you they either spent the hurricane season in Luperon on the north coast
or they used the DR to get to the southern coast of Puerto Rico to
continue east to the islands. So few of them actually spent time
cruising the DR to get to know it and its people. This is a shame
because, while there are issues cruising the DR, there are also three
great cruising grounds to explore.”  MORE AT  

https://latsatts.com/2023/03/the-dominican-republic-is-more-than-just-luperon/

12) MEET FLEET 

DA MMAD CAT

Our two sunsets, moonrise and our Guardian Angels following us back to the USA! 

What a great trip around Central America.

When we signed up for the Posse we were Long time boaters but first time cruisers.

SY DA MMAD CAT 🇺🇸  Andrea & Danny – Lagoon 42′

DA MADD CAT’S   PANAMA POSSE ROUTE  part of 4 pods 

🥥 COCONUT RUN
🦜 ORIGINAL POSSE 
☠️ PIRATE RUNNERS 
🪸 CORAL POD 

13) PANAMA POSSE SWAG

Classic Panama Posse PINK Cap

100% cotton chino twill / Multicam is 98/2 cotton/spandex /
Unstructured,four panel, low-profile / Permacurv® visor/ Pink hatches
and PINK button / Brass Closure

PANAMA POSSE SWAG ON SALE NOW

 

 

14)  ⚠️ SAFETY ALERT: 

OFFSHORE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

What is your offshore communication system?  Do you have redundancy in case one fails?

Last week the ocean communication system aboard SV Saisorse went
down while offshore.  The Iridium GO unit got wet and stopped
working.  Suddenly this safety net was no longer available.
No communication out or in, No calls, no weather downloads, no
emails, etc.   

Similarly,
INMARSAT customers in the Western Pacific Ocean were down for 48 hours
this week due to software or hardware issues on the satellite itself.
A few weeks ago Starlink was down all over the world.  

No system is without faults however.   HF Single-Sideband:
a tried-and-true direct communication option that is integrated into
the global maritime distress system and many sailors and commercial
vessels rely on.  However, these radios are affected by the
activity of the sun and depending on the suns affect on the ionosphere
one may or may not be able to communicate over the Single Side Band.

Communication options and the reasons driving redundancy in this safety system aboard your vessel vary – Link to Sea tech Article below 

https://seatech.systems/2023/04/18/why-you-need-a-backup-communications-solution/?

15)  RIO CHAGRES 🇵🇦  PANAMA 

This
side trip up the Rio Chagres is definitely worth it!  You enter
from the Atlantic side about 6 miles northwest of Shelter Bay.
Getting into the river we saw nothing less than 14 feet.
Once we were in the depth was pretty consistent 35-50 feet up to
the third bend.  You can follow the Rio Chagres all the way to a
dam on the canal.  This last part should be done carefully and by
dinghy; as you get near the dam it gets very rocky and shallow.  

This is one of our favorite anchorages

At
the end of the Rio is the Dam for Lake Gatun – under certain conditions
the Panama Canal Authorities release a lot of water at once causing
yachts to hit the riverbanks or worst reefs down stream

SY DIVERGENT 🇺🇸 Gary & Ena – Lagoon 420F’

 

16)  70+ PANAMA POSSE MARINA SPONSORS 

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA

🇲🇽 Marina Coral, Ensenada – Mexico  

🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas  – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Puerto Escondido – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina el Cid – Mazatlan – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico  

🇲🇽 PANAMA POSSE HQ  – Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico 

🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Vicente’s Moorings, Acapulco – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas – Mexico  

🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela – Guatemala  

🇸🇻 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 

🇨🇷 Marina Bahia Golfito – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica  

🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador  

🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina – Panama  

🇵🇦 Bocas Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Marina Solarte – Panama 

🇨🇴 Club Nautico Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia

🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia 

🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica 

🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica  

🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club –Jamaica 

🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina –Cayman Islands 

🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras 

🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras  

🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort & Boatyard – Guatemala 

🇧🇿 Thunderbirds Marine – Placencia – Belize 

🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize 

🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina El Cid – Cancún – Riviera Maya – Mexico  

🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba 

🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos  

🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas  

🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas 

🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas  

🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic

🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic    

🇺🇸 Marathon Marina – Marathon Keys 

🇺🇸 Pier 66  Hotel & Marina – Ft. Lauderdale, USA

🇺🇸 IGY Marina at Ortega Landing – Jacksonville, FL , USA 

🇺🇸 Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor Marina – FL , USA  

🇺🇸 Morningstar Marinas Golden Isles St. Simons Isl. – Georgia, USA  

🇺🇸 Windmill Harbour Marina – Hilton Head South Carolina , USA  

🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , USA  

🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA  

🇺🇸 Holden Beach  – Town Dock, North Carolina , USA 

🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA  

🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina – Portsmouth,  USA  

🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, USA  

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA  

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA 

🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, Virginia USA 

GREAT HARBOUR CAY MARINA 🇧🇸 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

25°44.8216′ N 077°52.11′ W

We are excited to welcome the Panama Posse to The Great Harbour Cay Marina!

We
will celebrate your stay with an extra 10% over our low rates and look
forward to tucking you into one of our 65 slips which are nestled inside
a serene harbor. We have accommodated yachts up to 150 feet. Our
“Hurricane Hole” is one of the most protected marinas in The Bahamas.
Our service oriented, well-trained staff, is on hand 7 days a week to
accommodate all your yachting and personal needs.

Steven Johnson GM

17)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

• PREDICT WIND
• SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
• HOME DEPOT PRO MEXICO
• HERTZ RENTAL CARS  MEXICO
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS 
• FLOR DE CAÑA
• SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER  
• WESTMARINE PRO
• SAILMAIL 
• CHRIS PARKER – MARINE WEATHER CENTER
• SAN DIEGO MARINE EXCHANGE
• DOWNWIND MARINE
• BELIZE TOURISM
• PANAMA YACHT BROKER
• LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES  
• DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY PANAMA
• SHELTER ISLAND INFLATABLES 

18) PANAMA CANAL AGENT 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gálvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

19) STRATEGIC PARTNERS

 

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Vicente’s Moorings – Acapulco – Mexico

Park Avenue Villas – San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua

Coconutz – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica

Abernathy – Chandlery – Panama

Pacific Posse 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners – Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

  OFFSHORE : PANGEROS OFFER FISH FOR SALE 

VESSEL OFFERS SODA AND NUTS

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 @ 9811 W Charleston blvd 2262 Summerlin LV NV 89117  USA

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