ABOUT

 

The  Ocean Posse Rally is a group of over 300+ yachts  which travel the coastal waters of Mexico and Central America south to the Panama Canal, and east through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to California and the East Coast of the USA . In addition we have a route to and from Europe and already have 60+ vessels underway in the South Pacific all the way to New Zealand and Australia with a special focus on Fiji .

The goal of the Ocean Posse is to support the seasonal movement of vessels with up to date local information, per-established contacts and relationships with local marinas and agents, weather reporting and forecasting, and enable ‘buddy boating’ through introductions between vessels.

The Ocean Posse vessels do not travel in a single convoy, they are distributed along the route and travel at their own pace. The rally operates a 24/7 chatroom, hosts a weekly all-hands conference call, and disseminates information via weekly emails and emergency bulletins.
In the last four years, over 1,600 vessels with approximately 4200 crew have participated. The average size is 48 feet. Most vessels are well equipped ocean going pleasure craft with depth sounders, GPS, Radar, AIS, EPIRB and/or PLB beacons, VHF radios, safety equipment, Starlink / Satphones.

With hundreds of yachts from 27 different countries, the Ocean Posse is one of the largest sailing rallies in the world, navigating through destinations like The Yucatan peninsula and Barrier Reefs of Belize, Pacific Mexico, Rio Dulce Guatemala, the San Blas Archipelago in Panama, the Bay of Islands Honduras, the jungle lined coast of Costa Rica, Fiji, the Bahamas, Jamaica and many more. It’s an opportunity to create lasting friendships, explore diverse cultures, and experience one of the most memorable adventures at sea.”

OUR MISSION

• Make traveling in REMOTE LOCATIONS  easier, transparent and better informed.
• Generate group buying power with discounts in marinas and with service providers
• Document and pass on relevant information to help  fellow participants in a timely manner
  
• Reduce risk, identify risks, document risks
• Allow for flexibility and reduce pressures due to schedules

OUR HISTORY

The Panama (OCEAN) Posse was founded in May of 2017 at the Marina and Isla Navidad Resort in Barra de Navidad, MX.
15 cruising couples and a motor vessel  milling about the lush resort and pool had their hands up interested in heading south towards Panama. AIYA, RAVEN, BULA, LIQUID, XENIA, RESPITE, MAGIC, AVANT ( chimed in from Chiapas) , GEORGIA, CROSSROADS, SHEARWATER, DAD’S DREAM SANS FRONTIERES and EASY are just a few vessels who helped shape the camaraderie and voice of the Ocean Posse.

 

Captain Dietmar and his wife Suzanne who had just returned from an 7 ^1/2 year excursion to the the South Pacific decided to organize their desire into what is now known as the OCEAN POSSE. Later on Chris, Monica on SEA GLUB, Walt & Jeariene on Knot Right and Rob and Debra on Avant helped focus the activities and feedback to the  Posse Organization and with the help of many volunteers and participants season one grew to 83 vessels. Season two grew to 123 vessels and the Panama Posse created a partnership with over 15 supporting marinas and the 501(c)3 non-profit group GoodNautical. The rest is history

 

 

OUR RULES

 YOUR VESSEL – YOUR CREW – YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW
 FOLLOW EACH Country’s OFFICIAL RULES

 

 

 

OUR VALUES

• SHARING OF FACTS AND VALIDATED INFORMATION

• QUALITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

• SEEK DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL DEALS

• TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY

• AUTHENTICITY

• ADAPTABILITY

• LIFE LONG LEARNING

• BUILDING TRUSTED FRIENDSHIPS

• adventures and explorers welcome

• FOLLOW THE GESTALT THEORY – SHARE EXPERIENCES NOT OPINIONS

• BE PART OF THE PANAMA POSSE AND MAKE US PROUD

• PAY IT FORWARD

 

LEAD FROM THE FRONT

Captain Dietmar Petutschnig is a life long proponent of the
gestalt theory for transferring nautical knowledge >>
provide experiences, mistakes and first hand account to
participants and allow fellow mariners to arrive at their own conclusion to plan and
execute their own expeditions with better information and decision making tools.

                               
>> Founder and leader of the Ocean Posse  fleet (sized 27’ – 225’)
>> Proven explorer with both personal and business experience across 55 nations
>> 55,000 nm
>> Fellow Yacht owner
>> RYA Yachtmaster Ocean 200t
>> US Coast Guard 100t Captain licenses
>> 6 Seasons of Panama Posse successful concluded with over 1,300 unique vessels in the fleet

 

THE OCEAN POSSE COUNCIL

This is the board that steers the Ocean Posse in the right direction striking a careful balance between all stakeholders

 

 

Suzanne SV CARINTHIA

 

Stan MV CROSSROADS

 

Rob AVANT

 

Chris   SEAGLUB

 

Brent Advertising Partners

Don  Enjoy

Jacques Captain

 

Threats, RISKS and Vessel Safety

Van  – Resident Knuckledragger

With the  aparent demise of Covid 19 we continue to monitor  quarantine
guidelines and best practices for vessels, marinas and service providers – please review them here.

WILDERNESS SELF RESCUE AND HEALTH

Lucky Chucky – MV HO’OKIPA
Nicole – MAISON DE SANTE

 

 

THE PANAMA POSSE SEASONS IN BURGEES

The First Burgee – designed with the slogan “We sail where the coconuts grow” in mind

 FLUFFY DESCRIPTION FOR ARTICLES

Why join the Ocean Posse ?

The reason to join are as varied as a sailor’s dreams to navigate from California via the coast of Mexico to the Caribbean. Traveling along central America’s favorite anchorages in Costa Rica and the Islas Perlas in Panama.

Witness an astonishing bio diversity from your own yacht. See sunsets and awe-inspiring vistas which will take your breath away.

Make lifelong friendships with fellow seafarers who have discovered the kinship of fellow journeymen on this route which provides unlimited adventure.

Underway in coastal waters the Ocean Posse creates a new sailing experience where you enjoy countless dolphins pods, whales and mobula rays jumping. This Route features over 2,000 island to explore for a new generation of sailors and cruisers. Discover magical yacht anchorages under the tropical stars. Consider this a most unique sailing adventure culminating in the the amazing canal crossing itself one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

Ocean Posse Sponsorship marinas are plentiful reasonable priced and offer a special discount to the Fleet and offer service to aid a yacht’s maintenance, fuel, water, laundry services or provide a well needed break for shore excursions. Vetted local tour operators have these a planned out and will include provisioning runs to stock up your vessel at the end of these excursions.

 

ON THE SUBJECT OF FAITH
HEAR,

Neptune, ruler of the sea profound,Whose liquid grasp begirts the solid ground;Who, at the bottom of the stormy main,Dark and deep-bosom’d, hold’st thy wat’ry reign;Thy fist the brazen trident bears,And ocean’s utmost bound, thy will reveres:Thee I invoke, whose steeds the foam divide,From whose dark locks thesalty waters glide;Whose voice loud founding thro’ the roaring deep,Drives all its billows, in a raging heap;When fiercely riding thro’ the boiling sea,Thy hoarse command the trembling waves obey.’Tis thine, cærulian dæmon, to survey Well pleas’d the monsters of the ocean play,Confirm earth’s basis, and with prosp’rous galesWaft ships along, and swell the spacious sails;Add gentle Peace, and fair-hair’d Health beside,And pour abundance with a rising tide.

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES >>

• Share valuable information with the fleet
• Understand Right of Way Rules
• Maintain a Safe Speed and Distance
• Don’t be an Ass
• Your Wake is your responsibility
• Respect Privacy and Quiet Hours
• Minimize Waste and Pollution
• Respect Wildlife and Sensitive Areas
• Choose an Appropriate Anchoring Spot
• Practice Good Docking Etiquette
• Help a vessel out when docking
• Welcome newbies
• Welcome strangers
• Follow the golden rule