OCEAN  POSSE 
 🧭 
FLEET UPDATE
May 26 2024
 

“If we were meant to stay in one place, 
we’d have roots instead of feet.”

 - Rachel Wolchin   
 

TOP NEWS  

 

• Ocean Posse Sign Up For Season 8
• Pictures Of The Week
• Ocean Posse Seminars & Events 24-25
• Sunrises & Sunsets This Week
• Ocean Posse Meet Ups
• Adventures  Caving In Bocas Del Torro, Panama
• Crossing The Pacific Ocean From Panama To The Marquesas
• 2024 Hurricanes
• Lightning Season In Panama
• Good Nautical: Playa Benoa, Panama
• Meet The Fleet: Sv Dark Horse
• Security Alerts  Sharks 🦈 Attack
• Must See: Copper Canyon, Mexico 🇲🇽 

🇲🇽 🇧🇿 🇨🇷 🇳🇮 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇪🇨 🇸🇻 🇵🇦 🇩🇴 🇭🇳 🇯🇲 🇧🇸 🇹🇨 🇰🇾 🇬🇹 🇺🇸

SIGN UP FOR THE OCEAN POSSE 

SEASON 8 

$ 299 @ sign up | $ 249 to renew

JUNE 2024 - MAY 2025

EASY ROLLOVER FOR PRIOR PARTICIPANTS 

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

We’re having a poke party tomorrow!! 

SY TIAMAT 🇺🇸 Stephanie & Owen – Fountaine Pajot 44’

Caving, Bocas del Toro  🇵🇦 Panama

SY MAISON DE SANTÉ 🇺🇸 Nicole & Keenan -  Cal 46' &

MY SUNDOWNER 🇺🇸 Jeffrey & Lynn - Californian 50'

Dinghy Parking, San Blas 🇵🇦 Panama

SY DARK HORSE 🇺🇸 Brian & Angela – Beneteau 49’

2)  MORE EVENTS IN 2024-2025 
 

OCEAN POSSE @ ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW

OCTOBER 10-14  ’24   🇺🇸  ANNAPOLIS MD

Come party and meet the cruising fleet at booth VB10 OCT 10-14 2024
Pick up your burgee - drink a coconut full of rum and enjoy the show specials 

 
SAN DIEGO 🇺🇸  CALIFORNIA 
CRUISERS SEMINARS SERIES  
OCTOBER @ SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY

https://oceanposse.com/events/san-diego-seminar-series/

AGENDA WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23rd, 2024 ● SEMINARS

• Cruising down Pacific Mexico and the Sea of Cortez
• Water Makers + Plumbing in Paradise
• Diesel Engines  & Generators and preventative Maintenance
• Open CPN – installation and integration (PC + MAC )
• Rigging 101 Standing and Running Rigging
• Weather Weather Weather – planning – routing – underway
• Crew the good the bad and the ugly
• Destination Costa Rica and Nicaragua

 

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24th, 2023 ● SEMINARS

• South Pacific  – French Polynesia – Cook Islands – Tonga &  Fiji
• Safety Security and Emergencies  outside the US and what to expect
• Electrical Systems – Batteries, Chargers, Alternators, Solar Panels
• Cruising in Panama + the Panama Canal + SAN BLAS
• Where and how to repair boats outside the US
• The tropics – Refrigeration, AC, Shading,  Airflow + other ways to stay cool
• Destination Colombia, Jamaica & Bay of Islands Honduras & Roatan

 

FRIDAY OCTOBER 28th, 2023 ● SEMINARS + PARTY

• Destination Belize & Rio Dulce Guatemala
• Blue Hole Belize Cruising Ground and how to get there
• Communications onboard, underway and on shore
• The fundamentals of wires, connectors and fuses
• Open CPN – Satellite Charts – Use Cases and Satellite Chart creation
• Chart Accuracy, Navigation Trips and Tricks & Tracking
• Provisioning, Propane and Fuel – where to replenish

+ RUM  PPPPARTY INVOCATION & KICK OFF  

24-25′ OCEAN POSSE 
KICK OFF WEEKEND 

 BARRA DE NAVIDAD 🇲🇽 MEXICO

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 & Tenecatita

SEMINARS PLUS  Special Ocean Posse Beach gathering

in Tenecatita on Dec 8 with local water taxi to get you from your boat

to the party AND BACK – local food and beach bonfire and RUM –

whoop whoop – bring on the s’mores on a stick 

3) SUNRISES AND SUNSETS THIS WEEK

Sunrise in Uvita  🇨🇷 Costa Rica.  Going to look for some mermaids.

MV SUMMERBREEZE 🇺🇸 Kurtis - Bestway 46'

🇨🇷

MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy - DeFever 52′

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean bound for French Polynesia

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

4) OCEAN POSSE 🎌  MEET UPS

Posse meetup in West Palm Beach 🇨🇷 Florida

We
had a great PP meetup on Cerca Trova today with Yo-D-Yo and French
Kissing in West Palm Breach. Good times!  The original San Diego
Posse group finally get together for the first time since the fall of
2021 in West Palm Beach. Mary and Dave on Yo-D-Yo, Sheila and Josh on Sephina, and Lynette and Bruce on Cerca Trova. Way too long without seeing all of us together. ❤️

SY YO-D-YO 🇺🇸  David & Mary – Hunter 45’, 

SY FRENCH KISSING LIFE 🇺🇸 Tess&John – Bavaria 45’  &,

SY CERCA TROVA 🇺🇸 Bruce & Lynette - Manta MK IV 42′

5) ACCEPTING AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR 

SEASON 8 

ANNUAL AWARDS INCLUDE:

• 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
• GALLEY GOD(ESS)
• GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR
• BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR
• COURAGE AWARD

Nominate yourself, a crew member, or another boat   

SUBMIT ENTRIES ON THE LINE AP OR EMAIL TO EDITOR@PANAMAPOSSE.COM

Share the adventure

Flor de Caña sponsors the Panama  Posse 

6) ADVENTURE INSIDE THE EARTH:

CAVING IN BOCAS DEL TORO 🇵🇦 PANAMA

Welcome to the Bat Cave

Spelunking in the inner dark depths of the earth is for the brave hearted

Trip Report: 

Maison
de Sante and Sundowner had a great time at the bat cave located on one
of the islands in Bocas Del Toro, Panama!  Fermin and his family
live on the land, have a farm, and run tours of the cave. $20 pp and
includes shoes, helmets with lights, and gloves. They point out wildlife
along the way such as red frogs, sloths, millipedes, etc. A great way
to support locals. Just traversing through the mangroves to get there is
better than the jungle ride at Disneyland. You can contact Justiliano
on WhatsApp; he speaks English.

A boatride through the mangroves.

Red Frog spotted in the jungle

The entrance to Bat Cave.

Let's do this!

Inside Bat Cave.

MV Sundowner  Jeffrey & Lynn - Californian 50′

7) CROSSING THE PACIFIC 

FROM PANAMA 🌊 TO THE MARQUESAS

Full Sails to French Polynesia

Ocean Posse Editor, Maurisa, on SV WHIRLWIND shares :

My
family and I left the Pacific Northwest in 2018 with the vision of
sailing across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia one day.  Over
the last 6 years we have cruised the pacific coast of North America
twice on two different boats.  We have loved the Panama Posse Route
and after many years and more miles we were ready to make the jump!
We sailed out of Panama City to Isla Contadora with bananas
swaying from hooks, hammocks full of fresh produce, and egg crates
stacked five high.  We took a few days to clean our bottom, stow
the last of our stores, and take a deep breath.  Then, as the April
moon swelled to full, we weighed anchor, turned our bow out to sea, and
turned our stern into the wind.  

"Let
the Downwind Coconut Milk Run Begin!"  We were so excited for this
adventure and our longest passage to date to begin.  

The good ship SV WHIRLWIND sets sail from Isla Contadora in the Perlas, Panama

The
first few days getting out of Panama Bay proved exhilarating, if a
little sporty.  The wind and the current helped flush us out to
sea.  The sky and the ocean got bigger and we got smaller as we
settled into what became our routine.  While we did check the
weather forecast every day, we also used our radar, and relied heavily
on what we saw and felt around us to determine our sail plan.  

The
sky tells so much as do old weather adages.  Our third day out,
dawned with big poofy clouds and a bright rainbow in our path.
Ignorant of the old adage: Rainbows in the morning, Sailors take
warning, I completely mis-read the message dead ahead.  While I sat
staring wistfully at the pretty rainbow and thought of what treasures
we might find at the end of the rainbow, little did I know squalls were
building beyond the pot of gold.  We sailed into squalls through
the night and I learned to look at rainbows with a bit more caution.

An old weather adage: Rainbows in the morning, Sailors take warning.

Squall in the distance

Our radar showing squall ahead into the night.

Our
days began to fly by and simply slide from one to the next.  We
sailed with the wind and the seas on our quarter well beyond the
Galapagos in a swirly mess of mixed current and changing conditions.
While the sea state was unorganized and tossing us this way and
that, we deepened our endurance and praised the gimbled stove as the
only 'level' surface aboard.  We cooked up great meals to kept
morale high. We raised, lowered, reefed, adjusted, and changed sails to
keep our good ship moving.  We looked for chafe or damage on the
topsides daily, played games, listened to books, celebrated animal
visits, and troubleshooted odds and ends in a wild array of conditions.
In time, we hoisted our Spinnaker and sailed downwind, with a
positive current and following seas.  We went from feeling at odds
with our surrounding to feeling in the flow with the ocean.  It was
absolutely magnificent. 

Adjusting the leech line underway

Putting some meat on the rail to put the miles under our keel 

Our entire family became Shellbacks upon crossing the equator.

Bird attempting to take a rest and catch a ride on our solar panel.

Kite flying for days ( watching out for chafe )

Colorful sunrise. Is that a red sky in the morning, or is it pink?

This
magnificence with the following wind and seas lasted as long as it
lasted and then we were back at sailing hard to make our destination.
Nearing the islands, we once again met fast changing weather,
squalls, and mixed sea conditions.  Sails went up, sails went down.
That's when grit set in and we truly dug deep holding each other
up as needed.  Thankfully, the excitement of our proximity to our
destination, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia gave us the extra energy
necessary.  

Our
final push was intense and so worth it!.  The moon was full and,
like us, was in and out of thick clouds all night.  Nearing sunrise
the sky and squalls cleared.  The moon set and we saw land.  

The island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas appears 

Land Ho!

Captain Mike at the helm, ever vigilant of our sails and wind angle.

The
sun rose and began to set the landscape aglow.  Birds were
chirping, there was so much fresh green vegetation growing in steep
volcanic soil, and the air smelled of flowers.  We sailed into
Anaho Bay and for the first time in 30 days we put our sails to bed one
by one, pulled and coiled our spinnaker sheets, and prepped our anchor
to drop. 

Left Panama a ten year old and arrived in French Polynesia an 11 year old Salt.

Verdant peak, Anaho Bay, Marquesas 🇵🇫  French Polynesia

The volcanic island of Nuku Hiva 🇵🇫  FP

After
sailing through one Full moon cycle across 4234nm of Bluewater, we
arrived.  The anchor set and we sat back: exhilarated and
exhausted.  

Interestingly,
the ocean voyage now feels like a dream and the landscape surreal in
it's beauty.  I keep pinching myself thinking, " We did it!
We are in the South Pacific.  We are here!"

I feel boundless gratitude for our safe passage, my captain and our crew, and the new (to us) land and sea we will explore!

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

Thank you for Sharing your LOVE of the water !

8) SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES  
is the heart and soul of the Panama Posse 

Please
share pictures of your adventures, your award entries/nominations, your
breathtaking sunsets, and picturesque anchorages on our group
communications platform for others to enjoy in real time and/or email
Maurisa at editor@panamaposse.com
to share in the upcoming newsletter.  Maurisa is a sailor among
us.  She is part of the Ocean Posse crew and enjoys writing fun and
helpful updates to the Panama Posse. 

A feathered guest drops in off the Galapagos.

9) 2024 HURRICANE SEASON 
🌀FORECASTS 

NHC has released seasonal hurricane predictions for the Eastern Pacific and the Atlantic 2024 Hurricane Season.  

1. Below average in EPAC

•  https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Epac_hurr/index.shtml (scroll down a bit).

1. Atlantic: Above average in Atlantic. 

• https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2024-atlantic-hurricane-season

Watch this video of how to prepare and ride out a hurricane in the Sea of Cortez

BASIK 🇺🇸 Teal, Linh & Emma & Compass - Custom 43' 

10) IGY RED FROG MARINA  

BOCAS DEL TORO  🇵🇦  PANAMA 

SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

 09° 20.13′ N  082° 10.65′ W

Ahoy Captains

We can offer to the Ocean Posse members:

•     15% discount on the daily, weekly, monthly and rate.
•     10 % discount on the quarterly rate (3 to 5 months), and long term (6+ months)

Santiago Herrera 

Marina General Manager

santiago.herrera@igymarinas.com

Red Frog Beach Island Marina

Amenities

•     Private Beach Access
•     Restaurants
•     Ship’s Chandlery
•     Private Shower House
•     Wi-Fi Connectivity
•     Golf Cart Rentals
•     Guest Laundry

Services

•     Fueling Services
•     Customs & Immigration
•     Canal Agent Services
•     Provisioning Services
•     Vessel Repairs & Maintenance

11) LIGHTNING SEASON 🇵🇦 PANAMA 

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama captures this image of a lightning bolt

 The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) defines a lightning storm as a
“sudden discharge of atmospheric electricity manifested by a brief glow
(lightning) and a clicking noise or a dull roar (thunder). Storms are
associated with convective clouds (Cumulonimbus) and

They are usually accompanied by precipitation in the form of  showers.

Thunder: is the sound caused by atmospheric electrical discharge. It is given as

consequence of the heating of the air surrounding the discharge

 PANAMA LIGHTNING DENSITY -  SEASONAL COMPARISON

January vs October

For More info on lighting visit https://oceanposse.com/lightning-density

SY AVANT  🇨🇦 Rob & Debra - Beneteau 43.5'

12) GOOD NAUTICAL: PLAYA VENAO  (BENAO)

7° 25.5161' N, 80° 11.3323' W

Playa Venao is locates on the Azuero Peninsula west of Punta Mala.  Many
vessels will anchor here before or after rounding Punta Mala.  It
is a great little beach town with a popular surf break and, in the right
conditions, a great anchorage.

https://goodnautical.com/panama/anchorage/ensenada-venao

SV AEESHAH shares their experience in Venao:

After an overnight that John mainly covered we arrived at  Playa Venao.
Described as one of Panama’s premier surf spots the bay did offer
shelter at one end.  This is a very, very, large bay where one end
was protected from the huge Pacific waves by an island and a rocky sand
bar.  The sound of the surf crashing ashore was the dominant sound,
the spray was in the air everywhere giving the huge bay a hazy
unfocused glare. There were surfers in the shallow surf and others way
out in the huge rollers. I guessed they represented different levels of
skill.  Later during the afternoon there were folks riding horses
along the beach.  Out we motor-sailed at 6:30am the next morning
heading to our next destination. The scenery was spectacular even with
the cloudy hazy conditions.

Playa Venao

Playa Venao

Landscape near the Anchorage

SV AEESHAH 🇧🇲 Jen & John - Gulfstart Hirsh' 

13) ENSENADA CRUISEPORT VILLAGE 🇲🇽 MEXICO SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

31° 51.2766′ N 116° 37.2433′ W

https://oceanposse.com/ensenada-cruiseport-village/

We are pleased to welcome the Participants of the Panama Posse to Ensenada, BC Mexico

As a special welcome rate we offer 2 nights and one free !

In the minimum stay of 2 nights, you get 1 extra night for free + special
DAILY rate for the participants with boats with a length up to 65 ft:
$2.00 USD per foot of the vessel + tax + free assistance to clear in and
out of Mexico, immigration and to get the Temporary Importation Permit
as long as they present all the documents as required  by the port
authorities.

CONTACT

VHF  12

T: +52 (646) 173-4141

Toll Free: +1 (877) 219 5822

E: reservations@hutchisonportsecv.com

W: www.marina.hutchisonportsecv.com

SERVICES

• 189 slips from 36’ to 68’ and 6 end ties from 83’ to 135’
•  350’ mega yacht area
• Dock box with water supply and electricity capacity (30, 50 and 100 amp end tie)
• Double breakwater protection, insuring the calmest marina in Ensenada area
• Concrete Bellingham Marine built docks
• Launch ramp
• Parking
• Laundry room
• Restrooms and showers
• Port Clearance and Customs assistance

AMENITIES

• Controlled access to facilities
• 24 hour security
• Dock carts
• Downtown within walking distance
• Friendly environment
• Pet friendly
• BBQ area

Cruiseport Marina, Ensenada 🇲🇽  Mexico

14) POSSE SPONSOR: 

EL JOBO – CHANDLERY & DISTRIBUIDORA 

PLAYA COCOS 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA

We welcome the Panama Posse to Costa Rica with a special 10 %  discount !

To make sure you get your discount make sure you are on the vessel list with your picture.

Please feel free to shop at our Playa Cocos Store Costa Rica.

 

Alvaro & Renee

Website: FB >>

Email: cotecpes1467@outlook.com

Whatsapp: +506 8575 5886

https://oceanposse.com/el-jobo-chandlery-costa-rica/

15) MEET THE FLEET  

SV DARK HORSE

Angela & Brian

SV DARK HORSE
is our 4th boat,.  We purchased her new in 2007.  We fell in
love with her new design and I knew she would take us to some beautiful
places. But we what discovered is that she has introduced us to an
incredible sailing community.  Dark Horse has taken us to many
small anchorages, villages, towns, cities, and countries where we've met
so many warm and friendly people. Since we left San Diego last October
2023 on the Baja Ha-Ha, she has enriched our lives on the sea and opened
our eyes and hearts to the people living on or near the waters we've
sailed upon. Our new friends can follow us on social media and WhatsApp,
and we often hear back from them about how much they love living
vicariously through us.  Dark Horse will be taking us around the
Caribbean and perhaps the Mediterranean, where her ancient ancestors
first plied the seas of civilizations long ago.  Oh, the places
we'll go!

SV DARK HORSE on anchor dressed for action.

Different lights take the Dark out of the night.

SV DARK HORSE 🇺🇸 Brian & Angela- Beneteau 49’

 

16) SAFETY ALERT:

SHARK ATTACK 🦈
 THE GAMBIERS  🇵🇫  FRENCH POLYNESIA

Grey Reef Sharks are known to be among the more aggressive sharks

Report from SV KISKADEE from the Gambiers, French Polynesia:

We
anchored in Gambier, French Polynesia near the Airport Island, aside
the Fausse Passe, False Pass, a beautiful shallow snorkeling spot. We
took the dinghy to the corner of the channel, my 2 crew members went for
a free dive, snorkeling. They were going to the ocean side and let the
incoming tide slowly take them into the channel again. The spot is, on a
sunny day, beautiful. Coral, sandy bottom, little fish and small black
tip reefs shark, on an incoming tide there is a lot of activity. And
safe because you are pushed into the lagoon.  

Swimming
close together, 10-15 meters my two crew members entered the the
channel close to the shallow part with 50 cm of water on top of big
coral formations. Out of the ocean came a single bigger, 2-3 meters,
shark, properly a Grey Reef shark. It swam directly toward A. and bit
him in his underarm.

A. reacted promptly and stabbed him multiple times in the gills which
resulted in the Shark letting him go. He managed to get on top of a
coral bank bleeding badly from the bite running from below his elbow to
above his wrist. D. swam ashore safely.

I managed to launch the dinghy from the beach, had to go around some very
swallow parts and row the last 10 meters. Hoist him in the dinghy. It
was obvious, this was a severe bite. Big open wound trauma, lots of
blood.

First response

From that moment on, we went into crisis modes and did a few things right.
We applied a tourniquet with a dinghy rope and twig and used a long
leave shirt to make a pressure bandage over his wet suit and arm. On
board we give hem a sugary, salty drink. And kept talking to him.

We motored back on maximum power, taking a few safe shortcuts. 45 minutes
later we were in Rikitea, which has a medical center with two trauma
Nurses.

After the first actions of stabilizing, IV, cutting his 5 mm wet suit off,
replace our twig with a professional tourniquet etc, they consulted the
ER doctor in Tahiti. A medical emergency was declared and the hospital
ordered a medevac. At that time it was about 14 hours local time, all
ready two hours after the attack. A. was put on pain medicine as well as
antibiotics to counter any infections from the dirty bite.

The follow up

Gambier has an airport, but it’s not equipped for night flights, there are a
very limited amount of lights on the runway. So the medivac was
performed by the French Air force which flew in a midsize transport
plane. They landed at 21:30 and departed an hour later. Flying time to
Tahiti is about 3-4 hours.

The transport from the Medical Center to the Airport was performed by a
Gendarmarie Pickup truck for the stretcher and the local ferry of the
Rikitea community to the airport island. Ta’aone Hospital in Tahiti is
the next stop for surgery.

Update:
A. is “ok”, surgery is today (24 may) reconstruct blood vessels, muscle
tissue etc. Later an skin reconstruction, common with shark bits. An
X-ray revealed two shark teeth in his arm. An unusual souvenir of a very
scary event.

Things to learn

There is local knowledge about Sharks and there are stories about them (semi)
attacking. Also that it is most likely a Grey Reef Shark which are know
to be aggressive when their territory is invaded. We learned this
stories afterwards. I would be skeptical about swimming in that channel
having this info on forehand.

A. was not Speer fishing but wears a wet suit that was used multiple times
while fishing. I called it his smelly suit. Don’t know if its a factor.
Its a dark suit, opinions differs on colors attractive for game fish.

We called out a pan-pan-pan multiple time but nobody reacted. We called
the Gendarmarie on cell phone but got an answering machine, between
12-14 its siesta time. Translate a short message in French for VHF. A
local harbor master has almost no knowledge of English.

In this case the medical center was one to 1,5 hours away. If we were more
remote we would have add three steps to our first aid. Start
immediately on a maximum dose of Paracetamol and add a max dose of a
broad span antibiotics like Amoxicillin from the Kiskadee board
pharmacy, 8to fight on upcoming infection. Second, replace the
improvised t-shirt bandage with a real pressure bandage. Third, release
the tourniquet a bit after 1,5 hours to start a blood flow to his hand.
Look for bleeding, if it occurs you have no choice then tightening it
again. Releasing the flow will increase the pain.

For comfort and against a shock, cut his wet suit off, except the arm peace covering the wounds, and rap him in a few blankets.

Words of Thanks

We are in deep gratitude for so much help and kindness. From the
professionals to the lady on the dock handing us a bottle of water.
Numerous people where involved by transporting him to Tahiti. My second
crew member was allowed to fly with him to Tahiti. Also unusual.

So my final words, sailing is beautiful and dangerous. Therese and I are
always super grateful that dangerous thus not go all the way to fatal.
We are privileged.

https://svkiskadee.nl/shark/

QUESTIONS TO PREPARE FOR :

1. What is the protocol on your vessel for First Aid Emergencies ?
2. What is the protocol on your vessel for Emergency communications ?
3. At what point will you activate an EPIRB?
4. If the EPIRB were used in this incident would the vessel have had more rapid response from local officials ?

17)  MUST SEE: 

COPPER CANON – BARRANCA DEL COBRE  
EL CHEPE 🇲🇽   MEXICO

The
Journey through the Copper Canyon by train is an experience of one of
the most scenic train rides in the world. TAs El Chepe chugs along its
653 km (405 mi) of track, a journey which takes anywhere from 9 to 16
hours, it crosses over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels. It crosses the
Copper Canyon, called the Barranca del Cobre by Mexicans.

Train crossing the Copper Canyon

Volcanic Islands

The
Copper Canyon is one of Mexico’s lesser-known gems.  The area is a
group of six distinct canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the
southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua.

It is 65,000 sqk  / 25,000 sqm  in size.

The
canyons were formed by six rivers that drain the western side of the
Sierra Tarahumara (a part of the Sierra Madre Occidental).

All
six rivers merge into the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Gulf of
California. The walls of the canyon are a copper/green color, which is
the origin of the name.

The
Spanish arrived in the Copper Canyon area in the 17th century and
encountered the indigenous locals throughout Chihuahua. For these New
Spanish, America was a new land to explore for gold and silver and also
to spread Christianity. The New Spanish named the people “Tarahumara”,
they encountered derived from the word Rarámuri, which is what the
indigenous people call their men.

During
the 17th century, silver was discovered by the Hispanic in the land of
the Tarahumara tribe. Some were enslaved for mining efforts. There were
small uprisings by the Tarahumara, but to little avail. They eventually
were forced off the more desirable lands and up into the canyon cliffs.

THE FULL JOURNEY TAKES EITHER NINE OR SIXTEEN HOURS

If you travel on the Chepe Express (Los Mochis to Creel and vice versa),
your journey time will be nine hours, with the train leaving from Los
Mochis at either 6am or 3.50pm. On the Chepe Regional (Los Mochis to
Chihuahua and vice versa), the journey is around 16 hours from start to
finish and the train leaves either Los Mochis or Chihuahua at 6am.

CLIMATE

The alpine climate of the mountainous regions of Copper Canyon has moderate
temperatures from October to November and March to April. The bottom of
the canyons are humid and warm and remain that way throughout the year.
During the warmest months, April through June, drought is a chronic
problem with little rainfall until July when the rainy season begins.

https://oceanposse.com/copper-canon-barranca-del-cobre-el-chepe/

 

18)  75+  MARINA SPONSORS 

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor Ventura Isle -  Ventura, USA

🇲🇽 Cruise Port Village - 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  

🇨🇷 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 

🇵🇦 La Playita Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Flamenco Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Solarte  Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Turtle Cay Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 IGY Red Frog Marina – Panama

🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Manzanillo Marina Club – 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 

PORTSIDE MARINA 🇺🇸 Morehead City NC USA

34° 43.1583' N 076° 42.300' W 

Bogue Banks & Morehead City is also know as  the Crystal Coast North Carolina 

19)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

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

WEST MARINE PRO SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE PARTICPANTS WITH A PRO DISCOUNT 

20) 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

“Our
vision is to provide a top tier service to our customers while covering
every potential need they may have when approaching shore. 

Small
yachts (up to 38.1 meters LOA) are expected to experience substantial
delays, and in the meantime, we will be able and willing to help you
mitigate this impact and serve you.

 Contact us today through panama@waypointyacht.com

The
keel-billed motmot is a species of bird in the motmot family Momotidae.
It is very closely related to the broad-billed motmot, and the two may
be the same species. The two are similar sizes and shapes, and have been
reported to have similar calls, but they do have different plumage.

22) STRATEGIC PARTNERS
 

• SSCA
• 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 

 OUR MISSION

• Make traveling for yacht owners easier, transparent and better informed.
• Generate group buying power with discounts in marinas and with service providers
• Pass on relevant information to help fellow participants in a timely manner without personal opinions
• Identify, document and reduce risks
• Allow for flexibility and reduce pressures due to schedules