PASSAGE REPORT SV GARGOYLE GREECE TO SICILY

SV GARGOYLE BIDS FAREWELL TO GREECE & HELLO TO SICILY

SV GARGOYLE looks back and says farewell to the Ionian Islands, beautiful morning to start our 30 hour passage.

 

SV GARGOYLE is moving towards her winter home and in the meantime is working in a few more adventures along the way.  Below SV GARGOYLE shares their report of their recent adventures:
Looking ahead towards Sicily beyond the sunset

 

We said farewell to Greece and decided to sail directly to Sicily to visit the Aeolian Islands before we move to Gargoyle’s winter home. The forecast indicated light to moderate winds, so the crew had their hopes up for the last passage of the season to be a quiet one with the wind in Gargoyle’s sails. The passage was uneventful, but the motor did all the work moving us to our next destination.
Seaside village of Naxos with Taormina on the mountain side.
With our arrival in Sicily at midnight, Gargoyle tucked into the small anchorage of Naxos and then we made the hop into the Tyrrhenian Sea to our first stop at Vulcano. We had our Canadian buddy boat Hrafn along for the ride and they joined in the fun of climbing volcanos, venturing through small seaside towns, eating too much pizza and of course getting our fill of Italian wine. These islands are truly special and should be on everyone’s list to visit!
Mount Edna steaming above Taormina
GARGOYLE relaxing in the bay
The island of Vulcano is known for its volcanic activity and contains several volcanic calderas, including one of the four active volcanoes in Italy. In 2021 the island was evacutated due to the volcanic activity on the island.
From Vulcano, we jumped to Lipira, Panarea and then finally did a midnight cruise by Stromboli as we headed back to Sicily. Our calm weather was about to end, with one quick stop to see the mountain village of Taormina, now it is time to head to Malta.
Cofin shaped sarcophagus are found in the Lipira Castle some dating back to 5th century BC
Island of Malfa in the background
Gargoyle and Hrafn relaxing in the bay with Stromboli on the horizon.
If you look really close, one of the dots in the bay is Gargoyle relaxing with we visit the mountain village.

SV GARGOYLE 🇨🇦 Kevin & Carla – Beneteau 50’

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS SPECIAL PLACE!

 


FLEET UPDATE 2024-11-10


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FLEET UPDATE 2024-11-10

 

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BIRTHPLACE OF THE POSSE

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LOCATION

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7) HURRICANE MILTON 🌀 CREATED
A NEW NAVIGABLE PASS

27°12.5533' N 82°30'44.0"W

MIDNIGHT PASS

Dominica waves

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DONKEYS

9) FRENCH POLYNESIA 🇵🇫
LONG STAY VISA APPLICATION:

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It’s a Process not Rocket Science

The best place to start getting familiar with the procedure is on the French governments visa wizard landing page: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-wizard On the visa-wizard page you enter in your nationality, your destination, and plans in said destination. In short you will find that with the exception of: Citizens of the European Union, Monaco and Andorra, for all territories. Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, except French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) all citizens wishing to stay in French Polynesia for more than 90 days must apply for a long-stay visa BEFORE arriving in French Polynesia.

Anywhere there is a French Embassy one may apply for a long-stay visa for French Polynesia. We were planning to set sail from Panama so we had our application appointment in Panama City and said as much on the application. As a US citizen with plans to cruise in French Polynesia for more than 90 days the wizard determined that I needed to apply for a long-stay visa and then directed me to the online application link. In this link you create an account with a username and password. You may then access, fill out, and submit your application. Once the application is submitted you can book an appointment to go in person to the embassy to present yourself, your application and all required supporting documents. ... more >>>

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HAULOUT MAP

11) DIFFERENT WAYS OF EATING RAW FISH
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14) IXIMCHÉ 🇬🇹 GUATEMALA

The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great Maya kingdoms

The Kaqchikel Maya were a prominent Maya group whose main city, Iximché, thrived during the Postclassic period, around the 15th and 16th centuries. Located in the highlands of present-day Guatemala, near the modern town of Tecpán, Iximché served as a major political and cultural center for the Kaqchikel Maya and held strategic importance as a fortified city atop a steep plateau.

Iximché's Role and Structure Iximché was one of the last Maya cities to develop before the arrival of the Spanish, characterized by impressive defensive structures, plazas, pyramids, and ball courts. The city was both a capital and a ceremonial center, where the Kaqchikel nobility conducted governance and religious practices. Unlike earlier Maya cities known for grand temples and large urban complexes, Iximché was smaller and more militaristic, reflecting a shift toward defensive urban planning during the late Maya period. This change was likely a response to regional conflicts with other Maya groups, such as the K'iche' Maya.

Today, Iximché is remembered not only as an archaeological site but as a cultural heritage site for the Kaqchikel people. It’s a place where contemporary Kaqchikel Maya still perform traditional rituals, maintaining a living connection to their ancestors.

Iximché is located about 34 miles northwest of Antigua, Guatemala. By car, it typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to reach Iximché from Antigua, depending on traffic and road conditions. The route to Iximché is straightforward, with well-paved roads that make it a popular day trip for those staying in Antigua who wish to explore the highlands and visit this historic Maya site.

The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great kingdoms of Guatemala.
The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great kingdoms of Guatemala.
The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great kingdoms of Guatemala.
The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great kingdoms of Guatemala.
The ancient capital of the Kaqchikel, one of the great kingdoms of Guatemala.

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19) VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Hurricane Beryl (/ˈbɛr.əl/) was a deadly and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June and early July 2024. It was the earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane on record and the second such storm in the month of July, the other being 2005's Hurricane Emily. Beryl was also the strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic before the month of July. The second named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane[nb 1] of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl broke many meteorological records for the months of June and July, primarily for its unusual location, intensity, and longevity.

San Blas in the wrong season ?

RAIN RAIN RAIN ON ME

20) THE PANAMA CANAL

PANAMA CANAL

The French attempt to construct the Panama Canal in the late 19th century was an ambitious and ultimately tragic endeavor led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the mastermind behind the successful Suez Canal. Driven by the vision of creating a maritime shortcut that would bridge the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the French project began in 1881. However, they faced immense challenges, from the dense, disease-ridden tropical rainforest to the formidable engineering obstacles presented by Panama's terrain.

The endeavor was plagued by outbreaks of yellow fever and malaria, which decimated the workforce. Approximately 22,000 workers died during the French construction efforts from 1881 to 1889. Most of these deaths were caused by diseases like yellow fever and malaria, as well as accidents related to the challenging working conditions.and the challenging mountainous terrain made excavation far more complex than anticipated.

The combination of high mortality rates, financial mismanagement, and severe underestimation of the technical demands led to the project's failure by 1889, resulting in a scandal that shook France and bankrupted the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interocéanique.

The abandoned French infrastructure later served as the foundation for the successful completion of the canal in the early 20th century, making the French attempt a costly but critical precursor in realizing this major feat of engineering.

 1880 PANAMA CANAL BOND SIGNED BY FRENCH BUILDER (LESSEPS)

1880 French Panama Canal Bond

 

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CARIBBEAN LAP REPORT SV JUBEL

SV JUBEL'S CARIBBEAN LAP

Leah and Kyle aboard SV JUBEL 

SV JUBEL just finished their 1 year lap around the Caribbean.  BRAVO ZULU!  Here they share their story:

We are currently in progress building an HH44 Catamaran in Cebu, Philippines, which will be completed in January 2026.  It's our plan to cross the Pacific to meet the boat so we can move aboard directly from JUBEL. But we didn’t come all this way from Vancouver island to skip the Caribbean.  Having crossed the (Panama) Canal in September 2023, we spent some time in Bocas del Toro, the San Blas, Panama, and Cartagena, Columbia.  Knowing we wanted to see the Caribbean, we decided to do a speed loop of the Windward and Leeward Islands. 

The trip started from Cartagena, Colombia and we set off for Puerto Rico, or maybe the DR, on March 26th, 2024. We didn’t know where we would end up.  We had heard this passage was notoriously bad, and that we may have to divert westward. So loaded with 8 extra jerry cans of diesel, we set off, along with our friends on SV VIA, a Caliber 40LRC (that holds 400+ gallons of diesel!) This trip was exactly what they say it was.  We motored for 700 miles, into the wind and the waves. At times doing 3 knots. We broke our davits due to the constant slamming into the waves. We also had some flat calm days. Overall, we sailed about 10 hours out of the entire 6 days. 

We ended up in Boquerón, Puerto Rico. We spent time cruising Puerto Rico for a month along the southern side of Puerto Rico, and flew home in (to Canada) in May.  Our  highlights are Isla Caja De Muertos, where you can hike up to the top of an abandoned lighthouse, and Isla Culebra for its snorkeling and coral farms, and of course, Costco in San Juan. 

Caja de Muertos Anchorage

With our boat loaded with a years worth of Costco supplies in Puerto Rico we made our way to the USVI’s where it was a surprise that they drive on the opposite side of the road. We spent a few days in St. Thomas, of course, stopping at the pizza boat where we attended a massive memorial day party hosted on a catamaran while we floated in the water.

Memorial day

A few days on the northern side of St. Johns before making our way to the BVIs. We have a dog on board so this was pretty difficult to sort out, as you have to have a lot of paperwork and health check proofs. We met the vet in Soper’s hole where he had to inspect Ricky, our dog, in person. Once that was dealt with we made our way to pussers for a rum! This was the first island we considered “the Caribbean”, and we made it! 

We spent three weeks bouncing around the BVIs including Norman Island (and the infamous Willy Ts, where we floated behind it in our Sunchill, met friends, and had beers thrown into our pool!

Floating behind Willy T's in our Sunchill making friends and catching beers.

Anchoring at the Baths, (where our engine died coming into the anchorage, that turned out to be ricky leaning on the shutoff button!), and spending time in Virgin Gorda was also great. Our favorite anchorages were Savannah bay, and the north side of Prickly Pear Island.  Having the Rum Runner bring us blended cocktails right to our boat was (also) a highlight, along with visits to Saba Rock. 

From The BVIs we checked out and headed to St. Martin, stopping at the French side first. The beaches here were phenomenal. While a little run down, its very pretty, and the French food supply is amazing. We had FKG rigging come out to the boat by dinghy to give us an estimate for the standing rigging replacement that we needed. They gave us a very, very reasonable estimate and we headed over to their dock on the dutch side to have the work done. A week later, everything was brand new. Highly recommend them!  We also had a new generator motor shipped here and replaced that, as our previous one had water ingress due to a manufacturing defect. St. Maarten is an amazing location for boat work and supply, especially since its all tax free. There are also great restaurants here, where we met up with some other Young Cruisers and talked shop, so we will definitely come back at some point. St. Maarten is a hit on our list! 

Our next stop was Guadeloupe. It was here that we rode out hurricane Beryl. On the west side of the island behind the mountain, we set out a 10-1 scope in 20 feet of water. Luckily (for us, certainly not the islands south of us) it headed south. We were hit with 35 knots of wind and a ton of rain, but otherwise, unscathed. After the weather cleared, the view was beautiful. 

Guadeloupe after Hurricane Beryl passed to the south

We worked our way down Guadeloupe, and anchored in some very rolly anchorages - There is not much for protection on this side of the island. We stopped in several hot springs and enjoyed the natural hot water that comes out all over the island. After an absolutely brutal sail crossing from Guadeloupe to Terre-de-Haut, a group of small islands south of Guadeloupe, we went to explore and island and old fort. There is a really cute little town (but not much for food available) that you can explore. 

SV JUBEL on anchor in Terre de Haut

From there we made our way to the jewel of the Caribbean, Dominica. I can not say enough about this place. It is, by far, our favourite locale in the caribbean. Absolutely untouched and unspoiled. There were no tourists, the locals were the friendliest people we have ever met, and would do anything for you. The natural beauty of this island is absolutely stunning.Waterfalls, valleys, hot springs, gorges - It has it all. 

Dominica

What it doesn’t have are services, restaurants, fuel docks, or supply shops. You are on your own. So bring what you need, and stay as long as you can. We grabbed a mooring ball in Portsmouth bay for $10 a night, where the PAY (Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services) will come out to the boat and give you anything you need, and help you check in.  We rented a car from a local company (that we had to swap out three times because they were not in great shape - Old cars imported from Japan), they also drive on the British side of the road (in Dominica). Its like driving in the game “crazy taxi”. We drove all over the island over 5 days. 

Dominica Hot Springs
Dominica waves

We went to visit Titou gorge where they filmed parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean

Titou Gorge

Overall, Dominica gets a 10/10 for us. We will be back to this island before our cruising career is over. Its got so much to offer, and so much that we haven’t seen, for a small island.  Our provisions were running low so it was time to carry on. We made our way to Martinique from here, where we knew we could provision. And provision we did. Wine, cheese, butter, oh my. The French have food nailed down. We were here during a summer festival and I have never seen so many boats on the move, ever. 

Martinique

Martinique was the busiest place we’d ever been. The bays were full, with hundreds if not thousands of boats. It was way too busy for us. And they’re very not dog friendly. So after we provisioned, we carried on down to Grenada. We skipped St. Lucia for safety concerns, and therefore had to skip St. Vincent and the Grenadines due to our dog and rabies rules. That, and its been hit hard by Beryl at this point. 

Grenada became our home for about a month and a half while we waited for hurricane season to subside slightly. The next stop after this was Bonaire, so hurricanes weren’t a big concern. We met up with friends, enjoyed copious wing nights, went snorkeling, and hauled out because we had won a free haul out from Spice Island Marine at the Young Cruisers Association Cruisers Awards. We were here for Carnival which was amazing. 

Carnival Oil
Carnival Fire show

We had tried out all the anchorages and there was a weather window coming. It was September at this point, so it was time to carry on to Bonaire. After a sporty 3 day sail downwind (oh how nice it was to go downwind finally, after beating our way east all the way to Dominica), we arrived in Bonaire. The water clarity blew our minds.

Bonaire water clarity blew our minds
Bonaire beach time

 However, the lack of Starlink was frustrating after having it for so long. So back to a cell phone data plan we went, we spent our days snorkeling and swimming. We rented a car and drove around the whole island, stopping to feed the roadside donkeys apples and carrots. 

 

 

 

Donkeys lean in for some apples and carrots

Bonaire was definitely another highlight. The freediving and snorkeling is amazing. Its everything its cracked up to be. 

We skipped Curacao and headed to Aruba to meet friends and for my parents to fly in. We loved Aruba - Dove on a shipwreck, swam with turtles, went out to fantastic restaurants, played some slot machines, had some pool days at the Hyatt pool, and even found a Canadian bar that had Poutine and took Canadian money! 

Now here we are in Cartagena once again, having crossed our track when we left 8 months ago, so very happy we traveled where we did and saw what we saw. The experiences will stick with us forever, and we hope to go back to some of the islands once again in the future. Now, its time to go back to San Blas one more time before we prepare for our grand adventure across the Pacific! 

 

SY JUBEL 🇨🇦 Leah & Kyle - Gulfstar 44'

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR 8 MONTH CARIBBEAN LOOP

 

JUBEL


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About Fleet Tracking:

Tracking is designed to give interesting parties an overview of where vessels may be on their voyage.  For specific vessel details including their float plan, latest updates, changes, positions and specific location related questions please contact each vessel directly.  If you are on passage all of us and the fleet can monitor your progress.

*The Ocean Posse is not responsible for the accuracy, frequency or validity of any individual vessel's report.  This report is not necessarily accurate. Due to privacy we do not provide vessel contact information.  To more accurately track vessels via it's own tracker or request AIS tracking from https://www.marinetraffic.com/ please note that this is also not accurate. There are many reasons why a vessel's position is not updated and please do not conclude that a vessel has an emergency or is in need of assistance because it has not been reported lately. Sometimes they may just want to get away from it all and not tell you where they are. It is the responsibility of each vessel to file a float and check in plan and escalation procedures.


PDF SAFETY UPGRADES

PDF SAFETY UPGRADES

By Rob Murray on SV AVANT

Aboard SV Avant, we’re bullish on PFDs. We wear them whenever on deck while underway, and have upgraded them with a few additional gewgaws to help them (pretty much) match ORC safety guidelines and increase their effectiveness. We regularly (annually) look over the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) guidelines and update our safety gear accordingly.

Your PFD is your primary piece of personal safety gear, and is what will keep you afloat should you slip overboard. Being rescued by the short-handed crew you leave aboard might not be instant, so being prepared to signal and help them find you is likely to be very useful. Having your PFD kitted out to make it more effective than what comes off the shelf is easy, and (we think) worthwhile. Having a few of the nice-to-have-at-hand items on your person is good too, so we add those as well.

We follow the ‘one is none, two is one’ ethos in equipment – if something is important, we like to have a spare or alternate item immediately at hand.

We start with a basic, automatic inflatable PFD with an integrated harness for offshore use. If you’re sailing in your home jurisdiction and want to use it to meet safety regulations, you need to pay attention to local government approvals, but if you’re offshore or going offshore, we feel any approval is good enough to meet the use case (Canadian Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, European CE, etc.). There are a lot of manufacturers (Crewsaver, Mustang Survival, Revere, Spinlock, Stearns, and many others) and when you look them over, they’re much of a sameness in features and approvals. We buy what’s on sale.

We replace PFDs every 5-6 years and rotate the used ones to spare status, and after 10+ years, they’re binned. We inspect them when they come into inventory as new, and annually thereafter. Annual inspection is visually checking for wear spots, frayed stitches, etc., cleaning and servicing the stuff attached to them, changing batteries in battery powered accessories, and then inflating the life vests and leaving them inflated overnight to check for loss of pressure (leaks) before refolding them for use.

Our Upgrades

Start with a basic, integral harness, self-inflating PFD.

We add what the ORC calls ‘ride up prevention system (RUPS)’. These can be either thigh straps or a crotch strap. We use crotch straps as we have found them easier to use, they have lower drag, and are cheaper than thigh straps. These prevent you from slipping down in the life vest (or the life vest slipping up on you) and make it easier to keep your head above water. If you’ve ever tried your life vest in the water, you will know the importance of having a RUPS.

Knife with tether and serrated sheepsfoot blade (note stylish tether, pink with sparkles); blue strap is crotch strap / anti ride up system

We add a knife. The knife should be easy to open (and close), and somehow attached to the PFD so it won’t be lost. A belt clip allows it to be clipped to the PFD waist strap for storage. You can make a string lanyard, but we prefer elastic tethers, which we get at the Dollar store (our favorite chandlery). These tethers last a few years before needing replacement. The knife should be at least ½ serrated (for fast cutting) and have a blunt tip or sheepsfoot blade (so it’s harder to inadvertently puncture the PFD bladder with it). A cheap West Marine rigging knife works fine, or a Spiderco Salt if you want an upgrade. If you get a sharp-tipped knife, grind off the pointy tip. Any knife will rust, so we brush ours liberally with wax (like we use on the hull) using a toothbrush and wipe the excess off, which seems to keep rust at bay.

Many PFDs come with a whistle stowed inside the folded bladder. If not provided, add a whistle there. We add a second one outside on a coiled elastic strap around the bladder so it can be used to call up off-watch crew, or signal a nearby boat instantly, without opening the life jacket. The low profile Fox whistles are good for this.

Light and whistle on the exterior, attached to a coil from the Dollar store

We think you should have a light (minimum 1). We have two (three counting the headlamp). We have one automatic light inside on the inflation tube, and a second one outside on the same coil elastic as the exterior whistle. The interior stowed light is a water-activated strobe. The exterior light is a simple, pocket LED powered by 2032 lithium coin batteries; these are often sold as bike lights. It provides enough light for tasks right at hand, can light your way forward on deck, help you find that thing you dropped, etc. They’re usually available in white or red, and we choose red to try to preserve night vision. We rub a bit of Vaseline on the o-rings when we change the batteries every year. For devices that use AA, AAA, or similar batteries, we use lithium batteries for longer life, better cold weather performance, and less chance of a leaking battery.

For our offshore jackets, we upgraded and use McMurdo MOB-1 Beacons. These have a light, a DSC-VHF alert with an AIS transmitter, and are rigged to go off when the jacket inflates. The beacons alert the mother ship and nearby vessels of a crew overboard situation via both DSC-VHF and AIS. There are other devices that have AIS transmitters without the DSC, and also PLBs (personal satellite beacons). We chose the DSC-VHF+AIS beacons because not everyone has AIS, but DSC-VHF is becoming ubiquitous. PLBs are great but take longer to alert anyone, and they send their alert to a coast guard station thousands of miles away, not to boats on the scene (if single handing, the PLB would be the way to go, though).

Our previous generation alerting devices were McMurdo Smartfind S20 AIS MOB Beacons (which seem to be discontinued now). These transmitted a GPS location on AIS and were good, but we prefer the dual DSC(VHF) and AIS functions the new beacons offer. The old ones are relegated to our backup systems now. These all need periodic servicing just like an EPIRB does.

Mirror, whistle and light attached to inflation tube inside PFD

We also add a signal mirror. These are inexpensive, and provide an alternative long range (up to 20 miles) signalling capability. You can get them in outdoor camping shops. We attached them to the inflation tubes with simple string neck lanyards for cell phones from those favorite chandlers, the Dollar store.

Simple Headlamp

We like a headlamp right at hand (it does get dark, pretty much every night), so we add one to a pouch on the belt. If the pouch is zippered, we treat the zipper with wax (like lip balm, also from the Dollar store) to keep it working. Our preference is for waterproof ones with variable output and red light capabilities. You don’t need much light working on deck at night, and bright white ones will ruin your night vision. These can be used to signal as well, should you need to.

Multi tool (Leatherman™). Stowed in black pouch. A headlamp goes in the red container, also on the PFD belt

We like to have a multi tool at hand at all times – a Leatherman™ (or similar) with pliers, screwdriver bits, and so on. We keep it in a pouch on the PFD belt. If you find something loose and want to tighten it up, it’s convenient to have the means at hand when you discover the issue and save a trip downstairs to grab a tool. The multi tools are also prone to rust, so we treat them the same way as the knife, with an annual liberal brushing of wax, wiping off the excess.

Meager reflective tape is upgraded with three more strips on the front, and an extra strip added in the back.

We like to upgrade the reflective tape(s) on the PFD’s bladder. They usually come with a couple of meager-meets-minimum strips of reflective tape, so we add three or five more around the upper edges to increase visibility. If you’re buying reflective tape, get a roll so you can upgrade your LifeSling, Man Overboard pole float, life ring, and other safety gear too.

Write your name and vessel name on the PFD with waterproof marker

ORC rules also call for each PFD to be marked clearly with the wearer’s or boat’s name: a few seconds with a Sharpie™ and that’s crossed off the list as well.

With a few changes in how you add, stow and use safety gear on your PFDs, along with a bit of attention, you can make any PFD a more useful survival aid, and the additional weight isn’t really noticeable when in use.

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5

 


French Polynesia Long Stay Visa Procedure

French Polynesia Long Stay Visa Application:

It's a Process not Rocket Science

 

By Maurisa Descheemaeker on SV WHIRLWIND

French Government Website

The best place to start getting familiar with the procedure is on the French governments visa wizard landing page: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-wizard    On the visa-wizard page you enter in your nationality, your destination, and plans in said destination.  In short you will find that with the exception of:

  • Citizens of the European Union, Monaco and Andorra, for all territories.
  • Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, except French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)

all citizens wishing to stay in French Polynesia for more than 90 days must apply for a long-stay visa BEFORE arriving in French Polynesia.  Anywhere there is a French Embassy one may apply for a long-stay visa for French Polynesia.  We were planning to set sail from Panama so we had our application appointment in Panama City and said as much on the application.  As a US citizen with plans to cruise in French Polynesia for more than 90 days the wizard determined that I needed to apply for a long-stay visa and then directed me to the online application link.  In this link you create an account with a username and password.  You may then access, fill out, and submit your application.   Once the application is submitted you can book an appointment to go in person to the embassy to present yourself, your application and all required supporting documents.

Honestly, with all the information from well intentioned cruisers on the internet about the process and all the changes over the years I felt mixed waves of uncertainty before I started the application.  I quickly realized that .he path to the Long-stay visa is a process not rocket science.  My waves of uncertainty were more of a mental block than an actual challenge because once I got started with the application I found the process very straightforward albeit a bit tedious.  Furthermore, any time I had a question I wrote directly to the embassy in the country I was applying from.  The response was very quick and very clear.  Asking the embassy directly was very helpful because the rules were one way before COVID, another way during COVID, and another way still since COVID.   The process and requirements have and may still be changing so the best source of information is the government agency directly.

That said, there were a few questions that felt like wild cards that actually were not because upon asking I was given black and white responses:

  1. There is a question of when to apply:  Each embassy has different processing times so ask directly.  Panama told me 4-6 weeks and they were.  It is important to note that you cannot apply more than 90 day before your expected arrival date.
  2. There is a question of when you will arrive: Our best guess was provided.  We arrived a month later and this was fine.  You basically have the duration of your visa to arrive.
  3. There is a question of providing your passport for review: Different embassies have different requirement regarding passports.  Some require looking at it and scanning it immediately, some hold it overnight or more.  Ask ahead so you know what to expect.  We provided a letter stating that we needed to hold on to ours and this was acceptable.
  4. There is a question of who is applying: I was applying for myself, my husband, and our two kids.  This is very easily done in the online application by stating that I was 'travelling in a group' so I just added people to my one application instead of making four applications.
  5. There is a question of an address: I am a citizen of the United States and provided my address in the US.  Regarding an address in French Polynesia I stated that I planned to be cruising.  I would be living about my vessel everywhere I went.  This was true and fine.  I stated the Island groups I planned to visit.
  6. There is a question of health coverage: I asked the embassy exact what the minimum requirements were and found a plan that met or exceeded them.
  7. There is a question of socio-economic status: I asked the embassy exactly what this meant she replied that: Socio-economic status would be for example retired/employed/company owner etc, which you need to show proof of.
  8. There is a question of funds: I asked the embassy what the minimum requirement was.  In January 2023, when we applied the requirement regarding the funds was that you had to prove that you had or have coming in an annual amount equal to 12 times the amount of the monthly minimum wage in France (currently 16,784.32€) per adult.  This would certainly be something to ask specifically about as minimum wage changes.  They ask that proof of the funds is by presenting the last 3 months of bank statements preceding your application appointment.  These can show monthly income equal to monthly minimum wage or a balance holding the annual income stated above.

After I made my way through the online application successfully, I was then able to make an appointment to present everything in person at the embassy.  The in person appointment is when we provided our passports, extra passport photos, printed and signed applications, all supporting documents, and the processing fee in cash.  The supporting documents I provided included two separate letters in English and French (using Google Translate): one stating that I had no plans of seeking employment in French Polynesia (this does not exclude me from working remotely for a US company as revealed in the question of funds on the application) and one stating that I homeschool my children.  I also provided a document from my school superintendent my kids status as enrolled homeschoolers, our marriage license and birth certificate copies for each of our kids.

French Embassy in Casco Viejo, Panama

In Panama, the French Embassy is located on a lovely point in Casco Viejo.  After the Visa appointment we took the afternoon to enjoy Casco Viejo which was a lovely treat!  Then we waited the 4-6 weeks to hear back via email that our visas were approved.  We then made yet another appointment to return to the French Embassy with our passports to get our visas, and enjoy another afternoon in Casco Viejo.

Again, every French Embassy in each country may have slightly different protocols.  Check with the Embassy directly to know exactly what they require so that your efforts to secure a long-stay visa in French Polynesia are smooth and easy.


FLEET UPDATE 2024-11-03

Latest fleet update from the Ocean Posse with 22 sections and first hand accounts

 

 

 

FLEET UPDATE 2024-11-03

"Live your life by a compass, not a clock."

- Stephen Covey

SUNSET

LATEST NEWS

  • Pictures Of The Week
  • Photo Of The Year Nomination
  • Ocean Posse Events & Gatherings
  • Marina El Cid - Cancún 🇲🇽 Riviera Maya
  • La Fortaleza & San Juan National Historic Site 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
  • Sailing ☯️ Philosophy
  • Easter Island 🗿 Mooring
  • Peer Support In Emergencies
  • Manta Rays Majestic & Mysterious
  • Placencia Yacht Club 🇧🇿 Belize
  • Discovering Makatea 🇵🇫
  • Meet The Fleet: SY One Piece
  • South Pacific Possemerges With The Ocean Posse
  • Resolutions For Mexican 🇲🇽 Foreign Boat TIP
  • ⚠️ Emergency Communications
  • Phifertex Takes Down The Temperature
  • Media Partners

 

BUENAVENTURA

 

2) AWARD ENTRY OF THE WEEK

 

PICTURE OF THE YEAR

 

WANDERLUST FabioWANDERLUST KristiWANDERLUST Crew

OCEAN POSSE AWARD CATEGORIES

3) OCEAN POSSE EVENTS & GATHERINGS

HOW TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO BARRA DE NAVIDAD 🇲🇽 MX
24 Anchorages to get there from San Diego

ROUTE TO BARRA DE NAVIDAD

 

24-25′ PANAMA POSSE KICK OFF WEEKEND 🇲🇽 BARRA DE NAVIDAD, MEXICO WHEN: December 4-8 2024 WHERE: Barra de Navidad, MX at the Marina Puerto de la Navidad RSVP PLEASE AND CONTACT THE MARINA DIRECTLY TO RESERVE A SLIP

 

24-25′ PANAMA POSSE KICK OFF BARRA DE NAVIDAD 🇲🇽 MEXICO
BIRTHPLACE OF THE POSSE

Bonfire on the beach

4) MARINA EL CID - CANCÚN 🇲🇽 RIVIERA MAYA SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

 

MARINA EL CID CANCUN

 

20°49.7766′ N 086°53.3816′ W

Marina El Cid is happy to support the OCEAN Posse with a 20% discount over our rates

https://elcidmarinas.com/destination/destination-cancun-riviera-maya/


BOOK A SLIP NOW !
 

MARINA EL CID CANCUN

 

  • Floating concrete docks, built to rise with the tide
  • Marina Slip Fees
  • Dock carts, locker boxes, drinking water, 30, 50 & 100 amp power, TV cable, fire stations, and 24-hour security
  • Diesel and gasoline fuel dock and pump out station
  • Transient Port Captain check-in facilities are onsite; marina monitors VHF channel 16
  • Inlet and marina depth is 9 to 12 feet (3 to 4.5 meters)
  • Breakwater protects the moorage from north, east, and southeast winds, providing comfort and safety for the yachts

  • Moderate rates for car, motorcycle, and bicycle rentals
  • 24-hour taxi service
  • Ice machines and bait & tackle shop
  • Launching ramps
  • Long-term parking facilities
  • Snack bar
  • Weather services
  • E-mail service
  • Laundromat
  • Restrooms & showers
  • Sportfishing
  • Dive shop
  • Snorkeling, sailing, day cruises, and ecological tours departing daily
  • Marina updates on VHF Channel 16

 

MARINA EL CID SAVE APPROACH

 

 

WANDERLUST

 

7) GOOD NAUTICAL

EASTER ISLAND 🗿 MOORING

 27° 8.6900' S 109° 26.1300' W

Safe Approach to Hanga Roa

EASTER ISLAND MOORING

27° 8.6900' S 109° 26.1300' W

EASTER ISLAND ANCHORAGE

8) POSSE PERK

PEER SUPPORT IN EMERGENCIES
WITH ESCALATION PROCEDURES

W "Whiskey"

If you see the W (Whiskey) flag, a vessel has a medical emergency and needs help.

V

D "Delta"

V

V "Victor"

The combination of the D (Delta) and V (Victor) flags, meanwhile, means “I’m maneuvering with difficulty and require assistance.”

J "Juliet"

L LIMA

L "Lima"

The J (Juliet) and L (Lima) flags mean “you’re running the risk of going aground.”

 

HORIZON

 

9) MANTA RAYS MAJESTIC & MYSTERIOUS

10) PLACENCIA YACHT CLUB 🇧🇿 BELIZE
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

 

Yacht Club

 

16° 30.5216′ N 088°21.7333′ W

SERVICES

  • 6 slip depth of 8 – 10 feet
  • Depth 8 to 10 feet
  • Water (Drinking quality)
  • 50amps electricity
  • Washing Machine / Laundry
  • Free WIFI
  • Extensive Outdoor Area
  • Sky bed
  • Sofa and pick-nick tables
  • Bathroom
  • Outdoor shower
  • Dog Friendly
 

https://oceanposse.com/placencia-yacht-club/

 

11) DISCOVERING MAKATEA 🇵🇫
THE WORLD'S TALLEST ATOLL

 

Outer Fringing Reef of Makatea

 

 

SV WHIRLWIND on anchor in the lagoon of Rangiroa

 

 

Sunrise at Makatea

 

 

MAKATEA

 

12) MEET THE FLEET

We the people of the ocean posse

 

ONE PIECE

 

13) SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
MERGES WITH THE OCEAN POSSE

 

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE

 

SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
NOW PART OF THE
OCEAN POSSE

Over the next month, we’re simplifying everything: the South Pacific Posse website, communications, and perks are merging into the Ocean Posse. One Posse for all, all for one. This means no more logging into separate sections—everything, including South Pacific Posse benefits, will now be available to all Ocean Posse members.

Enjoy seamless access to perks without needing to sign up or pay extra. One low annual fee ( 299 till Dec 31 ) covers it all, wherever your adventure takes you, from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean. With over 100 marinas and a network of fellow yachts across the globe, you’ll always have support and camaraderie. And don’t worry, there are no hidden fees or upgrades—just one simple fee for access to the entire ocean of benefits. Check on oceanposse.com website under countries - South Pacific and watch tiny little ants add one country at a time to the South Pacific menu.

 

OCEAN POSSE

 

THE OCEAN POSSE IS FILLED WITH PERKS FOR YACHTS

✔️ Up-to-date and verified information by fellow yachts

✔️ Fact-focused communication – no unsolicited advice

✔️ Real savings at 100+ marinas with awesome discounts

✔️ Free vessel and fleet tracking courtesy of Predict Wind

✔️ Free Burgee for your vessel

✔️ Discounts with service providers and chandleries

✔️ Discounted and experienced Canal & clearing-in agents

✔️ 500 GB of satellite charts for OpenCPN (Mac/PC/Android)

✔️ West Marine Pro Discount – save on parts

✔️ Predict Wind Pro Discount – weather savings

✔️ Printable Reference Charts for emergency backup

✔️ Video Seminars on destinations from experts in the area

✔️ Weather routing by Marine Weather Center’s Chris Parker

✔️ Inclusive club– kids, single-handers, pets ... all are welcome

✔️ Emergency peer support with escalation procedures

✔️ Free fleet updates via email

✔️ Fun awards you can win - such as the Captain Ron Award a.m.o.

✔️ Fun Award Categories for memorable achievements

✔️ 2500+ GOOD NAUTICAL Anchorage reports – free access

✔️ Weekly live calls via LINE.me every Monday

✔️ 24/7 LINE group channel for real-time discussions

✔️ Collective Knowledge from participant experience and knowledge

✔️ Be part of a fleet sensor network to aid others

✔️ You asked for it - No more "seasonality" - signups are all year long

✔️ Priority traffic coordination – by participants, for participants

✔️ Great Rum Parties in 3 continents and impromptu gatherings to celebrate -


SIGN UP NOW !
 

https://oceanposse.com/register/panama-posse-24-25/

 

14) LATEST RESOLUTION FOR MEXICAN 🇲🇽
FOREIGN BOAT TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT
FROM PRE-2005

15) SAFETY AND SECURITY

16) THE OCEAN POSSE FLEET IS TRACKING

17) PHIFERTEX BRINGS ON THE SHADE &

TAKES DOWN THE TEMPERATURE

 

Heat gun reads 82 degrees Fahrenheit with the new window shade.

 

Heat gun reads 82 degrees Fahrenheit with the new window shade.

 

Heat Gun reads 135 degrees Fahrenheit without any window shade.

 

Heat Gun reads 135 degrees Fahrenheit without window shade.

18) MEDIA PARTNERS

LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

 

Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine

 

 

Subscribe to the #1 Cruising Lifestyle Magazine on the Planet!

 

🇩🇲 MARINE CENTER - DOMINICA
🇰🇳 PORT ZANTE - ST KITTS & NEVIS
🇻🇮 ST. CROIX YACHT CLUB - USVI
🇻🇮 GREEN CAY MARINA
🇵🇷 MARINA PESCADERIA - PUERTO RICO
🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo - CUBA
🇹🇨 South Bank Marina - Turks & Caico
🇧🇸 Romora Bay Marina - Bahamas
🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina
🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina
🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina - Bahamas
🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia - DR
🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina - DR

🇧🇲 PIER 44 MARINA - BERMUDA
🇧🇲 CAROLINE BAY MARINA - BERMUDA
🇵🇹 MARINA FUNCHA - MADEIRA
🇵🇹 MARINA DE CASCAIS - PORTUGAL
🇬🇮 OCEAN VILLAGE - GIBRALTAR
🇨🇻 MARINA MINDELO - CAPE VERDE
🇪🇸 MARINA DEL ODIEL - SPAIN
🇪🇸 ALCAIDESA MARINA - SPAIN
🇪🇸 PUERTO SOTOGRANDE - SPAIN
🇪🇸 IGY MÁLAGA MARINA - SPAIN
🇪🇸 YACHT PORT CARTAGENA - SPAIN

 

MARINAS

 

20) OCEAN POSSE SPONSORS

  • ABERNATHY - PANAMA
  • BELIZE TOURISM BOARD
  • BOAT HOW TO
  • CABRALES BOAT YARD
  • CENTENARIO CONSULTING - PANAMA CANAL
  • CHRIS PARKER – MARINE WEATHER CENTER
  • DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY PANAMA
  • DIGITAL YACHT
  • DOWNWIND MARINE
  • EL JOBO DIST. COSTA RICA
  • FOUNTAINE PAJOT
  • FLOR DE CAÑA
  • HAKIM MARINA AND BOAT YARD
  • HERTZ RENTAL CARS MEXICO
  • HOME DEPOT PRO MEXICO
  • LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES
  • MARINA PAPAGAYO
  • NOVAMAR YACHT INSURANCE
  • PANAMA YACHT BROKER
  • PREDICT WIND
  • SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
  • SAN DIEGO MARINE EXCHANGE
  • SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
  • SHAFT SHARK
  • SUN POWERED YACHTS
  • WAYPOINT YACHT SERVICES
  • WIKUS MARINE AUTO
  • WESTMARINE PRO
  • YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS
 

NOVAMAR

 

A true tale of an insurance agent who goes above and beyond, turning an ordinary day at the office into an extraordinary adventure to ensure their clients' needs are met.

One evening in late December, I received a scratchy ship to shore phone call from a Panamanian freighter telling me they had responded to a Mayday call from the captain of a 55’ sailboat that we insured near Guadalupe Island, Mexico. The ship captain handed the radio mic to our client who told me that he and his family and crew abandoned ship due to bad weather. They had blown out all their sails, fuel filters were fouled, and batteries dead so the boat was completely disabled. His wife and daughter were terrified, and the captain and crew were exhausted. The transfer of the captain and crew from the yacht to the freighter was harrowing, but luckily no one was injured.

The yacht owner informed me he had already contacted a salvage company to recover the yacht, so I contacted the salvor to inquire about the cost of the vessel recovery. I thought the quote was exorbitant as the yacht’s EPIRB was deployed so the sailboat’s location was not in question. In my view, this was a straightforward vessel recovery and 300-mile tow back to the U.S. I thought we were being taken advantage of. I contacted the insurance company and several good friends to see if we could organize the recovery ourselves to save some money.

One friend loaned us his recently restored Bertram 31, one friend loaned us some fuel drums (the Bertram did not have the fuel capacity to make the round trip) , another friend opened the fuel dock on Christmas Eve to fill our tanks, and found three other friends ready to jump onboard as crew and to hopefully MacGyver the boat back into operation so we wouldn’t have to tow her all the way back to Newport Beach, CA. So on Christmas Eve the insurance company marine department manager gave us the green light to recover the boat ourselves. We advised the salvage company that we would not require their services and they agreed to stand down. As we left Newport Harbor late on Christmas Eve for a planned arrival the following day, we heard the salvage company on the VHF radio asking the US Coast Guard for the most recent position of the yacht. They had lied to us and were already on their way from San Diego to claim salvage rights!

Leaving from San Diego, the salvage boat had a 60-mile advantage and 1 hour head start. We calculated an increase in speed from 15 to 25 knots was necessary to arrive onsite first. We left the harbor with full fuel tanks and 4 full 55 gallon fuel drums, but the increase in speed killed the fuel economy and would only leave us with about 30 minutes of search time before we had to break for shore to San Quintin, Mexico and refuel. Fortunately, we arrived first.

We came upon the sailboat with tattered sails rolling wildly in 10’ beam seas, and her interior in complete disarray. Books, clothes, and Christmas presents strewn all over, like a ghost ship, with a story to tell. We transferred fuel from the sailboat (which luckily had 300 gallons of fuel aboard) using the sailboat’s spinnaker pole to hoist the four 55-gallon fuel drums and boom them over to the cockpit of the Bertram. Maneuvering the Bertram under the drums and lowering them into the cockpit without the boats hitting each other as the two boats rolled in the swell was like wrestling a greased manatee, but it worked.

Two of us aboard the Bertram stood by, just in case we had to tow the sailboat boat back to California, while the other two crew got busy on the sailboat replacing fuel filters, securing the sails, and generally cleaning things up on deck and down below. An hour later, the sailboat’s engine was running, and both the sailboat and the Bertram motored for Newport Beach. The irony of this story is while motoring north at 0200, the VHF radio on the sailboat crackled. The salvage boat had broken down on its way, which is why they were nowhere to be found when we arrived on site. They were disabled and dead in the water about 10 miles from the sailboat’s current position.

My friends called the salvage boat on the VHF, gave them their position, and offered the salvage boat a free tow back to San Diego, which was refused. The salvage company had already sent another boat to tow them back to San Diego.

The story ends with our client arriving from Panama the following week to find his boat back in her slip, all cleaned up and ready to go. The exercise saved the insurance company about $50,000 so it was a nice Christmas present for everyone. The moral of the story; offshore cruising is not all palm trees and mai tais. It requires us to recognize the reality of self sufficiency, preparation, and even a dose of good luck sometimes.

Yacht insurance claims are often due to two or three things going wrong in a row, not just one. I know most people ready this already know this, but being prepared and anticipating the next problem and how to solve it, will help reduce the chance of Murphy’s Law playing itself out on your boat. The money in the cruising insurance premium pool is paid by everyone. Reducing the frequency and severity of insurance losses whenever possible benefits all those that keep the premium level in the pool high enough to pay out the losses when they do occur.

Craig Chamberlain

President

NOVAMAR INSURANCE GROUP

 

NOVAMAR

 

21) VIDEO OF WEEK

 

Hurricane Beryl (/ˈbɛr.əl/) was a deadly and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June and early July 2024. It was the earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane on record and the second such storm in the month of July, the other being 2005's Hurricane Emily. Beryl was also the strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic before the month of July. The second named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane[nb 1] of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl broke many meteorological records for the months of June and July, primarily for its unusual location, intensity, and longevity.

 

Lithium Batteries swelling up and one couple's way of dealing with it...

 

PANAMA CANAL

 

One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World

The Panama Canal is designated as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World and a Monument of the Millennium” by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The earth and rubble removed between Colon and Balboa was enough to bury Manhattan to a depth of 12 feet. It connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean across the Isthmus of Panama, via 6 locks facilitating international maritime trade. The maximum vessel dimensions are:

 

 

Each Maritime Area in the ocean posse features printable and digital satellite charts to help you with your route planning

OCEAN POSSE

MISSION

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

Portuguese city

The Portuguese fortification of Mazagan, now part of the city of El Jadida, 50 nm southwest of Casablanca, was built as a fortified colony on the Atlantic coast in the early 16th century. The fortification with its bastions and ramparts is an early example of Renaissance military design. The surviving Portuguese buildings include the cistern and the Church of the Assumption, built in the Manueline style of late Gothic architecture. The Portuguese City of Mazagan - one of the early settlements of the Portuguese explorers in West Africa on the route to India - is an outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures, well reflected in architecture, technology, and town planning.


LATEST RESOLUTION FOR MEXICAN FOREIGN BOAT TIPS FROM PRE-2005

LATEST RESOLUTION FOR

MEXICAN FOREIGN BOAT TIPS FROM PRE-2005

The Ocean Posse is pleased to share information directly from a recent success story.  As reported in our October 20, 2024 newsletter there is hope yet for foreign flagged vessels  that were issued TIP's (Temporary Import Permits) and are now attempting to enter Mexican waters.  Last year all vessels with open TIPs from before 2005 were flat out turned back and refused entry because the office that had issued the TIPs had been dissolved and therefore any TIPS issued by this office that had not been properly closed were not able to be resolved.  This year Sally & Michael Aldridge on SV SWEETHEEART took this matter into their own hands with conviction and seem to have found a solution.  Sally shares below what worked for them so that others may have similar success.

Oct 17 2024 by Sally and Michael Aldridge on S/V Sweetheart

Canceling pre 2005 Aduana TIPs in Ensenada

We had two pre 2005 TIPs to cancel, one in 2001, and the other in 2004

On Oct 16,  we walked across the border at PedEast at San Ysidro in the morning and caught the ABC bus down to Ensenada from Tijuana because we didn’t want to mess with driving a vehicle across the border and dealing with a motor vehicle TIP and insurance (too many TIPs already !) Walking over the border turned out to be super easy, with no lines and the bus is nearby and is comfortable and inexpensive.

When in Ensenada (we got there at around 10:30am) we started with the

Banjercito Ensenada

On Ave Teniente Jose Azueta

(Building marked with a thin red line on attached image)

We spoke to Elia Beatriz Urquidi Cobos, who is a manager there

She speaks great English

We showed her relevant boat documentation as per the attached form from the Mexican consulate in Sacramento.

Elia made 3 copies of each, and also verified and checked the report in her system. 

Elia explained we needed to go to the Aduana office down the street to start the process. 

At this point Elia stepped outside to direct us and she and the manager of the Aduana, Jorge Badille spoke in person on the street. Not sure if they just “ran into each other” or whether this was planned, but it turned out to be a very fruitful conversation. Jorge reviewed our documents right there, and confirmed that everything was in order, and told Elia what else we needed to do

Which was the following:

Write a letter to the Aduana asking for the TIPs to be cancelled 

Including the tip number, previous owner names etc.

State that we are the new owners

Print it

Sign it 

Make 3 copies

We went to the tourist information office around the corner to do this and they were very helpful and made print outs and copies for us for free.

Then we went to the Aduana de Ensenada with all the paperwork. The office is marked with thick red line on the image and address is here.  Blvd, P.º Olas Altas 110, Recinto Portuario, 22800 Ensenada, B.C., Mexico

This office is behind a heavy layer of security and they told us that only one person can go through, so Michael, my husband, did this for us as he is the appointed “manager” of our LLC. He spoke to the woman at the desk and she asked for the letter to be in Spanish, so she translated it for Michael and he wrote it out by hand and she stamped it. She told him it would take one week to get the TIP cancellations done.

We then showed the stamped letter to Elia back at the Banjercito, but she said she actually needs a printed and stamped image of a “cancellation screen” from Aduana to get the process going on the Banjercito side. She said once she has that, she can send it to the Mexico City Banjercito and it could be canceled out of the system intraday, depending on time differences.

So we went back to Jorge at the Aduana to ask for that and he committed to doing just that the next day. Jorge promised to email it to Elia it at 10am the next morning, so we stayed overnight just to make sure that happened. 

We stayed at the Hotel Coral, as it was a good chance to speak with Fito Espinoza, the dock master, who is very experienced with TIPs and immigration. He suggested we stay on it till it is done. He was very interested to hear about the results of our efforts as it will allow him to help many other boats. 

Michael went back to the Aduana office the next day at 10am on 10/17 and he stayed there until he had the right docs in hand.

At this point we have now cancelled the two old TIPs ! 

We then took those pages to Elia who scanned them and sent them to her superiors. The old tips were cleared out of the Banjercito system within a few hours and we were able to successfully apply for a new TIP that day. Again we sat in the office until this was all done (about 30 mins) and we now have the TIP in hand.

Summary: The Sacramento consulate was correct: It is now possible to cancel pre 2005 TIPs with the Aduana in Ensenada, and the Banjercito in Ensenada can get it cleared from their system with the right documentation from Aduana (see attached process from the Mexican consulate in Sacramento).  Fito confirmed this is exactly how the process worked in the past, but he did not know it was working again at this time, and neither did BC Connections. 

Jorge (Aduana Ensenada manager) and Elia (Banjercito Ensenada manager) are competent people who seem to have a good working relationship and they are collaborating together to make it happen. It helps that these offices are down the street from each other. Not sure if it’s dumb luck and they have started canceling old TIPs again at just the right time for us, or we are geniuses. Either way, we will take it !

There are no charges for the process of TIP cancellation and it can be done by the boat owner through the official channels without an agent in one or two days. Be prepared for multiple visits to each office.

Hopefully this bodes well for other boats in this situation. 

Feel free to send any questions to sally.aldridge@mac.com

THANK YOU SV SWEETHEART FOR SHARING YOUR SUCCESS!


EVERY SEASON STARTS WITH THE ROAR OF THE HOWLER MONKEY

EVERY SEASON STARTS WITH
 THE ROAR OF THE HOWLER MONKEY

 

Like the sound of the conch sounding as the sun meets the horizon pronouncing the beginning of sunset,

the Ocean Posse likes to start every season with the roar of the Howler Monkey.

Watch this video to hear the loudest mammal above ground roar at it - you can hear them 3 nm through then densest of jungles.  Howlers are stoutly built bearded monkeys with a hunched appearance and thickly furred tails that are naked on the underside of the tip to afford a better grip. The hair is long and dense and, depending on species, is typically black, brown, or red.

Howler Monkey range

Endemic to the southern tip of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia - the howler monkey is an endangered species but shall not go quietly into the night!


AZORES CREATES LARGEST MARINE PROTECTED AREA IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

AZORES 🇵🇹 Azores CREATES LARGEST

MARINE PROTECTED AREA

Cruising the Azores Just Got Better

 

The Azures are made up of nine volcanic islands.

The Azores, an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, is a sailor’s paradise. Comprised of nine volcanic islands, underwater mountain ranges, and rich biodiversity on land and in the surrounding sea this autonomous region of Portuguese territory offers a unique blend of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and ideal sailing conditions. For yachts and sailboats, cruising the Azores provides an opportunity to explore unspoiled nature, vibrant communities, and a wide array of maritime experiences.  The islands are about 900 nautical miles west of mainland Portugal, making them accessible from both Europe and North America. Navigation in the Azores is generally straightforward, thanks to well-marked channels and reliable nautical charts. However, sailors should be prepared for variable weather conditions and the occasional challenge posed by the archipelago’s volcanic topography.  The nine islands are divided into three groups: the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria), the Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial), and the Western Group (Flores and Corvo). Each group offers distinct attractions and cruising experiences.

The best time to cruise in the Azures is in the summer.

Last year a global pact was adopted by the United Nations to protect 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030.  This month, the a regional assembly of Portugal's Azures Islands took the leading step towards this goal by designating expansive marine protection which now represents the largest Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic.  The protection creates two areas: a fully protected area of sea marking it as a safe haven for biodiversity and natural resources, and a highly protected area of sea surrounding the islands.  The distinction being that in the latter selective and light fishing is permitted.

World leaders are gathered this week in Columbia for the UN Biodiversity Conference COP16 and this recent announcement by the Azures will hopefully be an inspiration to other nations to make strides to protect their 30% of the earth's land and sea that they can to preserve the world's biodiversity.  According to Oceanographic Magazine, "Marine Protected Areas are widely recognized as the most effective tool in the global effort to reverse biodiversity loss and build ocean resilience against climate change. The Azores leadership has been earmarked by commentators as ‘particularly inspiring’ given that only 2.8% of the world’s oceans are currently fully or highly protected.

A report issued by Greenpeace International earlier this week warns that at the current rate of development in ocean protection, the United Nations stands to miss its critical 2030 target by a full eight decades. This means the ambitions of the 30×30 target – at the current pace of success – won’t be realized until 2107."

José Manuel Bolieiro, president of the Regional Government of the Azores said, “The Azores has long been known for its unique ocean nature, and with this decision, we are driving the way forward to a productive, vibrant ocean.  The sea is an integral part of our collective identity, being vital socially, culturally, and economically. We are committed to protect and recover our ocean to support a healthy blue economy. Our decision through a science-based and participatory process leading to the protection of 30% of our seas serves as an example that other regions must follow now to ensure the future health of the planet.”

The process by which the Regional Government of Azores achieved this protection may also be an example to other nations.  This decision was not made by an authoritarian ruler at the expense of livelihoods and local sustainability.  Rather the decision to create the largest marine protection area in North America was reached through "an extensive participatory process".   This process included over 40 meetings with representatives from various sectors, including those within fishing, maritime transport, maritime tourism, and environmental non-governmental organizations.

“The result was the collaborative design of a network of marine protected areas that benefits people, nature, and the economy, based on the best available science in the region,” said representatives of the Azores.

This ketch found a calm and secluded anchorage in the Azures.

Cruising the Azores with the new Marine Protected Area offers an unparalleled yachting and sailing adventure. The archipelago’s diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and excellent sailing conditions make it a premier destination for sailors. Whether exploring the historical streets of Angra do Heroísmo, hiking the volcanic trails of Pico, or enjoying the serene beauty of Graciosa, the Azores provide a wealth of experiences for every sailor. Navigating these enchanting islands requires preparation and respect for the natural environment, but the rewards are well worth the effort. The Azores’ unique blend of maritime tradition, natural beauty, and welcoming communities ensure that every cruise is a memorable journey.