Corozal is in Belize 🇧🇿  located  just 9 miles from the border with Mexico.

PANAMA POSSE 
 
FLEET UPDATE 

April 16, 2023

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires imagination, 

and brings eternal joy to the soul." 

-Robert Wyland 

TOP NEWS  

• VISTA MAR SEASON 🎆 FINALE PARTY
• MARINE EXPO BUENAVENTURA 👥 🇵🇦 PANAMA
• GEORGE TOWN 🇰🇾 CAYMAN ISLANDS
• THE BARCADERE MARINA 🇰🇾 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
• ALEBRIJES: ART OF OAXACA,  🇲🇽  MEXICO
• NEW POSSE BENEFIT: Marina Papagayo is offering great summer deal 
• ANCHORAGE IN BAHIA HONDA EXPLORED AND EXPLAINED
• EARLY SIGNS OF THE RAINY SEASON IN CHIAPAS, 🇲🇽 MEXICO
• THE BARREL OF HOPE
• CROSSING THE TEHUANTEPEC IN SOUTHERN  🇲🇽 MEXICO
• LONG LINES CATCH AND KILL: WHAT TO KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR
• EL AVION RESTAURANT AND BAR   🇨🇷  COSTA RICA
• ⚠️ SAFETY: SECURITY MEASURES TO PROTECT YOUR VESSEL
• MUST SEE 🇨🇷 MANUEL ANTONIO PARK 
• MARINA CLUB NÁUTICO CARTAGENA 🇨🇴 SPONSORS PANAMA POSSE 

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK: 

SAME PLACE DIFFERENT TIME

Crystal clear water in San Blas Islands 🇵🇦  Panama

No shortage of stunning sunsets in the same San Blas Islands 🇵🇦  Panama

SY LA VIDA GYPSEA 🇺🇸  Kurt, Linda & Rigby - Catana 47′

 Overlooking Bahia Culebra, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

 Swinging in the sunset in Bahia Culebra, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Over
2,200 miles from where we became friends with this lovely couple back
in San Diego, we meet again in Papagayo Costa Rica!!!!! They voyage here
by sail on the wind and open seas, we flew on the jet plane🤩

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

 
2) SAVE THESE DATES: 

MARINE EXPO

BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA

SAT. APR. 22 ’23

12:00 – 20:00 PM

We would like to invite you and the Posse members to the marina Expo happening

April 22, 2023 At Marina Buenaventura. 

We will have Food & Drinks, and music. Various vendors and companies

would like to offer their products and services to anyone that has a

boat.  The Posse will have a table to sign up members and let

Buenaventura Residents and Friends know a little more about the Posse.

We will also have a Space to do a Swap/Meet. So if anybody wants

to bring some of the treasures they want to sell, the table cost is $15.

We still have 4 tables available.  Please let us know soon

as possible if you will like to join us.  The goal of Expo Marina

is to connect all people that enjoy Boats and everything that is done on

and around them: Fishing, Cruising, or just out on a Fun Day.

P.S.  We will have a courtesy bus down from Vista mar marina and back.

PANAMA POSSE 🇵🇦 AWARDS PARTY

SUNDAY MAY 21, 2023 16:00

VISTA MAR MARINA @

End of season award celebrations will be held at Vista Mar Marina, our Panama Pacific Headquarters, on Sunday May 21st

AWARD DETAILS:

    BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*

    PICTURE OF THE YEAR

    YODA OF THE YEAR

    SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD

    THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD

    MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD

    HIGHEST WIND RECORDED

    SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION

    2  X GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔  

    GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR

    BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR

    COURAGE AWARD

*no bill-fish entries   ✔winner announced already

Vista Mar Marina: The place we will have a great “End of Season” Party.

AND ENJOY THE FREE RUM BAR 
COURTESY OF FLOR DE CAÑA

FLOR DE CAÑA SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

3)  ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF THE WEEK 

Sunset over the Pacific

SY WILDFLOWER 🇺🇸 Steve, Roan & Karrie – Beneteau 54'

☸️ Panama Posse Season 6 Burgee: Retired after many many ocean miles 

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

Sunsetting behind Isla Coiba,  🇵🇦  Pacific Panama

SY LADY SLIPPER John and Kathryn - 🇺🇸 -Dufor 41'

Crossing the bar into Bahia del Sol 🇸🇻  EL Salvador

SY WILD BLUE Edward and Kathleen 🇺🇸 Island Packet 45'

A nice shady spot in Paradice  🇨🇷  COSTA RICA to repair the Dinghy.

Easter dress  up party 

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

4)  GEORGE TOWN 🇰🇾 CAYMAN ISLANDS

Cayman Islands Sunset 

Entrance to the inner harbour

SY FREEDOM 🇺🇸 David & Sheri  - Beneteau 55′

THE BARCADERE MARINA 🇰🇾 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

We will offer the Panama Posse group a 15% discount for slip fees.

5) ALEBRIJES: CARVED AND PAINTED 

WHIMSICAL CRAFTED CREATURES

OF OAXACA,  🇲🇽  MEXICO

Alebrijes showcased in many shops in Huatulco, Oaxaca 🇲🇽  MEXICO

Alebrijes
were originally created in the imaginative heart and mind of artist
Pedro Linares (1906-1992) in the 1930's.  Alibrijes are sculpted
creatures that seem to be born from real animals and become fantastical
creatures with intricately patterned bodies.  The creatures have
horns or wings or both, exaggerated teeth, eyes, ears, and/or claws.
They are a feast for the eyes, heart, and mind.  

A large and brightly colored alebrije in the window of a business in Oaxaca City

In
his early years, Linares started making alebrijes out of paper and
cardboard and selling them in the mercados in Mexico City.  His
work was discovered by a gallery owner who began selling his alibrejes.
Well known artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo began
commissioning alebrijes directly from Linares.  Linares soon
returned to his native village of Arrazola outside of Oaxaca City and
shared his designs with fellow artisan Manuel Jiminez.  Then and
there alebrijes were reborn among fellow Indigenous Zapotec woodcarving
artists who began carving Linares' inspired creatures out of copal wood
and painting them.  The unique and distinct artform became well
know throughout Mexico and abroad.    

Today,
Alebrijes are still colorful and whimsical, intricately painted copal
wood carvings.  They have come to be among the most popular Mexican
folk art in the country.  

6)  NEW COSTA RICA VESSEL TIP EXTENSION
AND SPECIAL PANAMA POSSE DEAL 
@
MARINA PAPAGAYO  🇨🇷 COSTA RICA

MARINA PAPAGAYO 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

Marina
Papagayo is proud to continue our sponsorship of the Panama Posse fleet
for the 2022/2023 season.  The dockage discount for Posse members
is:

• Stay three nights pay for two
• Stay for a week and pay for five days
• Stay for a month and pay the annual monthly rate
• Complimentary drink coupons for the Dive bar on arrival  

NEW BENEFIT: Marina Papagayo is offering great summer deal 

Panama
Posse members have opportunity to stay for three months and get the
Fourth month free.  If members choose to stay longer the one free
month will still apply.   This will be given at the last month of
their stay.  

Marina Papagayo explains Costa Rican Tourist TIP that allows vessels to extend their stay in Costa Rica beyond 90 days:

Costa Rica is now offering a Tourist TIP for a period of 6 month or one year
and is renewable for a maximum of two years.  The vessel must
still get the standard 90 day TIP on arrival and then this can be
converted to a Tourist TIP.   The advantages of this new Temporary Importation Permit
classification is that it allows duty free importation of spares.
When the Tourist Yacht TIP is in process there is the requirement
that Customs will inspect the boat and the owner or Captain of record
must be present for this inspection.  Finally there is a cost for
the agent to process this second permit.  

Ultimately this is an easier process than the two year MOPT duty exoneration and has the benefit of the duty free spares.  

Dan Eaffaldano

Gerente, Marina Papagayo

Tel: + 506 2690-3600

Tel: + 506 2690-3602

Marina Papagayo

VHF: 16

E-mail: dan.eaffaldano@marinapapagayo.com

7) GOOD ANCHORAGE:

BAHIA HONDA 🇵🇦 PANAMA
IN GOOD  NAUTICAL 

Bahia Honda 🇵🇦 Panama and dangerous shoaling are in Good Nautical 

Full moon over Bahia Honda 🇵🇦 Panama after a day on land looking for monkeys with locals.

SY LADY SLIPPER John and Kathryn - 🇺🇸 -Dufor 41'

8) EARLY SIGNS OF THE RAINY SEASON:

FLYING ANTS HATCH IN CHIAPAS  🇲🇽 MEXICO

Rainy
season in Mexico is more or less considered May thru November.
The early part of rainy season (April) dawns with certain hatches.
Enter the flying ant.    

A SEASONAL DELICACY OR A PEST? 

In short, it depends who you ask and more than likely how it is presented.

A basket of smoked flying ants known as nuku

Flying ant found Cruising around in the galley of a cruising vessel last week in Marina Chiapas,  🇲🇽  Mexico

Mexico
has over 530 edible hopping and flying insects.  Over 155 of them
are found in the southernmost state of Chiapas.   As of mid April
this year, flying ants are just beginning to hatch in Chiapas.
Besides being found wandering in the galley, flying ants are a
seasonal part of peoples diet in Chiapas.   Apparently, one way or
another they may make their way to the galley.

The
preparation of nuku has been passed down for generations.  Flying
ants are collected in the forest, carefully seasoned, grilled or
toasted, and eaten or sold by weight as nuku.   As food the ants,
deliver vitamins, protein, and minerals as well as a unique flavor to
the palate.  For these reasons, nuku are as sentimental as they are
nutritious.  

A
visit to the local mercado this time of year through the summer months
one can find nuku.  For some people in Chiapas nuku are a common
part of their diet during the rainy season.  Nuku is eaten with
tortillas, quesadillas, or tostadas.  Nuku is eaten on its own as a
snack and more recently can be found as a seasonal pizza topping.

To read more about flying ants as food: https://globalpressjournal.com/americas/mexico/rainy-season-southern-mexico-flying-ants-takeover-menu/

9) THE BARREL OF HOPE

YACHT SIGNED ON TO THE BARREL

•     Maison de Santé
•     Enjoy
•     We|Sail Va
•     Yahtzee
•     Edelweiss
•     Calico Skies
•     Jupiter 2
•     Green Flash
•     Knot Right
•     Long Windid
•     daMMAD Cat
•     Freedom
•     It’s about Time
•     Rochambeau
•     Myla
•     Solmate
•     Queso Grande II
•     Epsilon
•     Synchronicity
•     White Wings
•     Flite Deck
•     Serenity
•     Ilohale
•     One Life
•     Exhibitionism

amo >>

10) CROSSING THE TEHUANTEPEC

IN SOUTHERN  🇲🇽 MEXICO

After a morning spent cleaning both hulls Rochambeau is ready to cross the T'Pec

SY ROCHAMBEAU  🇺🇸   Rolf & Beverly –  Lagoon 39′

Regardless
of when you and your vessel plan on crossing the Tehuantepec in
southern Mexico, it is best to proceed with caution.   Tehuantepec,
T'Pecker, or Tehuano wind, is a violent mountain-gap wind originating
with the trade winds in the Atlantic, traveling across the Caribbean
through to the Gulf of Mexico, squeezing through Chivela Pass and
dumping into the Pacific in the Gulfo de Tehuantepec.  These winds
can reach up to 70 knots and are not to be trifled with.  The
violent winds are most common between October and February, with a
summer minimum in July when hurricane season starts.

In
general, crossing the Tehuantepec will depend on your boat speed and
the “size” of the the Weather Window.  Ocean waves take about 6 –
12 hours to lay down so generally vessels only go straight across if
they have at least a 48 hour window.  

Currently,
there are as many as12 Panama Posse boats plus a few others eyeing up a
four day weather window to cross the Tehuantepac over the weekend.
Some vessels plan to use the "one foot on the beach strategy" and
contour the coast, while others are planning to "shoot straight across".
Others, still, are planning some mix in between as the situation
unfolds.

Hugging the shore adds 60 NM to the trip but the upsides are:

1. The ability for you to get live weather along the way
2. The
   opportunity to anchor along the way in somewhat protected and roadstead
   anchorages.  Sleep is Good!  (LINK TO GOOD NAUTICAL ROADSTEAD
   ANCHORAGES)
3. The opportunity to explore less visited places.

Hugging the shore is the more prudent choice as you can pick up 7 cellphone towers and update your weather forecasts.

This weather window offers vessels the opportunity to choose their own adventure

Hug the shore, Shoot across, or something in between.

ECM and SPIRE Forecasts models by Predict Wind

It will be best to be out of the Gulf by Monday! 

Shooting
Across is often chosen when the weather window is longer, the winds are
light to nill and the vessel wants to just get across more swiftly.

Whatever any vessel chooses may there be 

FAIR WINDS AND FOLLWING SEAS

 for all crossing this weekend!

  

11)  LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES
 ADVENTURE SAILING MEDIA PARTNER

12) ⚠️ LONG LINES CATCH AND KILL:

WHAT TO KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR

LONG LINES ARE ILLEGAL AND RESTRICTED IN AROUND THE WORLD...

WATCH OUT FOR THEM ALONG THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PANAMA POSSE ROUTE 

By
definition, a long line is a monofilament fishing line stretched
between two buoys (which, depending on size and seastate, may or may not
be visible) with smaller lines hanging from the main line. Each smaller
line terminates at a baited, sometimes lighted or floating, hook.
According to NOAA, the average longlines in the US (where
longlines are illegal) are 28 miles long with 1000's of these smaller
lines and can soak for hours to days.  The lines are hung at
different depth depending on the target species the fisherman aim to
catch.  

Long lines disrupt the ocean balance
by first catching fish on the lower end of the food chain such as
sardines, mackerel, squid, shark meat, or scad for bait.  Excluding
shark meat, the animals used as bait play a vital role in the marine
ecosystem providing food to larger fish and pelagic invertebrates.
The animals that prey on the sardines are predator species of
increasing size and strength.  When the bait fish are harvested
larger fish that are prey to even larger fish struggle to survive.

Longlines are a lethal weapon to the fish they seek and other marine animals
because they catch and kill marine life indiscriminately.  Most
longline crew are professional fisherman whose livelihood depends on
working well together in a highly coordinated to maximize their catch
and get as much to market as they can.  Recently, people have begun
using drones to spot fish and more precisely drop longline where fish
are.  Along the Pacific Coast between Mexico and Panama target
species include: tuna, halibut, swordfish, and sablefish.
Byproducts include highly sought after mahi-mahi.

While
longline fishing does not kill as many fish as deep sea trawling,
Longlines catch and or kill many more marine animals than they target.
These animals are called "bycatch"; they can be
searbirds or sharks to aquatic mammals.  Along the Pacific Coast
between Mexico and Panama marine animals can get hooked or entangled in
the lines.  For animals such as birds, sea turtles, or dolphins:
getting trapped underwater unable to surface for breath is a death
sentence.  It is estimated that 300,000 seabirds (including
100,000 albatross) die on longlines each year.  A recent
estimate of the total marine bycatch discarded was more than 30 million
tons per year, or about one-third of the yearly total catch.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1938973613000834

How did these fish get to market AND what can cruisers do?

1. Knowing
   and sharing information about what longlines are and what to look out
   for helps bring awareness to the pressures that the fishing industry is
   putting on our oceans.  Report Longlines here:    LINK TO LONG LINES REPORT ON POSSE WEBSITE
2. Knowing
   where the fish in you fish taco comes from can help too.  Buying
   fish directly from fisherman or fish markets that you know how they get
   their catch will support better fishing methods.  Do not support
   longlining with the fish you consume.  The most sustainable fishing
   method to support is rod and reel fishing.
3. Some private vessels choose to install longline cutting devises to their boats:

INTRODUCING  THE SHAFT SHARK

For the Panama Posse group we can offer your group a special discount  

30% off the List pricing plus shipping  ( below trade ! )

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR DETAILS + HOW TO PLACE YOUR ORDER >>

The Shaft Shark is a serrated edge disc, machined from high quality type

316 stainless steel.   Attached to your propeller shaft, it rotates

with the shaft, cutting anything that might try to become entangled

around
your shaft and propellor.  The Shark Shaft cuts through lines,
nets and other underwater debris as soon as it catches.

Features:

    Keeps your propeller free from rope, weeds and underwater debris

    Eliminates towing due to fouled stern gear or propeller

    Eliminates dives to clear your prop

    Eliminates shaft and strut damage

    Split design eliminates the need to remove propeller for installation

    Does not require drilling of the shaft which can threaten shaft integrity

INSTALLATION IS EASY/SIMPLE – Just clamp it on.

    no drilling, tapping or dismantling

    the propeller does not need to be removed underwater by a diver

    supplied with glue for above or below water install

    ZERO maintenance

(no moving parts -cutters/bearings/zincs/stops) to maintain or replace annually

    re-sharpen if necessary

    no noise/clicking when trolling or loss of performance when motoring

13) EL AVION RESTAURANT & BAR 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA 

Check
out El Avion, a restaurant and bar with a mysterious history and a
precarious perch.  It is lovely place to unwind and ponder what
life would be like up in the trees on the outskirts of Manuel Antonio
National Park in  🇨🇷  Costa Rica.

SY SEEKER John and Tammy 🇺🇸 Selene 62'

14) PANAMA POSSE HATS

PANAMA POSSE HATS

 

15)  ⚠️ SAFETY CONCERNS

PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR BEST PRACTICES TO SAFEGUARD ENTRY TO YOUR VESSEL editor@panamaposse.com

How to harden access points to you vessel 

Deny entry to your vessel's companion way with removable stainless steel bars 

SY  MIDNIGHT BREEZE  🇬🇧 Richard & Caroline Sweden Yachts 43′

Motion Sensor Detects and records  any Human Movement day and night - and stores it in the cloud for later review 

Remote keychain for Audible alarms and sirens 

LED STROBE LIGHTS FOR YACHTS

LED Marine Flood Lights & Spreader Lights

the bigger the dog the bigger deterrent 

take pictures of every small local vessels near your vessels - use a  flash so they know you are taking pictures of them ...

Tack Mat with Spikes  Deterrent Outdoor  makes transom boarding painful - 
just ask Joshua Slocum 

Permanent electric fence for cows with 12 Volt charger wired to your house bank mount along your  Lifeline Stanchions

Two
projects have been undertaken where the wires have been strung around
the yacht using the metal railings as the earth system. The energizer
was attached to the integral 12v circuit.

White
plastic insulators have been used together with high voltage Hotshock
units. We felt this was necessary as there would only be one chance to
belt the attacker coming over the side so the 10000 v kick would prove a
substantial deterrent. This may be connected to an alarm that would
sound a siren when tampered with.

A
physical test was carried out and it is very difficult to maintain a
hold when the shock kicks in. The worst was when climbing out of water
as this was connected to the railings creating a direct link for the
electricity. 

you need to ground connect to your house bank it and not forget to turn it off 

NERF tactical laser attachment - paintball filled with chlorine - maybe spray paint NERF black 

KEEP EM COMING 

16)  MUST SEE 🇨🇷 MANUEL ANTONIO PARK

Costa
rica is one of the most biodiverse places on earth.  An excellent
place to experience Costa Ricas diverse flora and fauna is by visiting
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.  Manuel Antonio National Park
located on the Pacific coast a few miles south east of Quepos and Marina
Pez Vela.  This national park was named by Forbes Magazine as one
of the 12 most beautiful parks in the world.  The Park is a small
and beautiful place with many tour guides available to help visitors see
many elusive animals up close with spotting scopes while learning and
walking about the park.   

Arial View of Manuel Antonio National Park and Anchorage.

Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica's smallest national parks and yet it is home to a great variety of animals:

• 184 species of birds including are toucans, woodpeckers, potoos, motmots, tanagers, turkey vulture, parakeets and hawks
• many reptiles such as black spiny-tailed iguana, green iguana, common basilisk and a large variety of snakes.   
• 109 species of mammals including the three-toed sloth and two-toed sloth, three of Costa Rica’s  monkey species —

1. The mantled howler monkey
2. Central American squirrel monkey
3. Panamanian white-faced Capuchin monkey.

LINK TO MANUEL ANTONIO MUST SEE IN PANAMA POSSE WEBSITE

 

17)  70+ PANAMA POSSE MARINA SPONSORS 

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA

🇲🇽 Marina Coral, Ensenada – Mexico  

🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas  – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Puerto Escondido – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina el Cid – Mazatlan – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico  

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

🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico 

🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Vicente’s Moorings, Acapulco – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas – Mexico  

🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela – Guatemala  

🇸🇻 Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador  

🇸🇻 La Palma Moorings – Bahia del Sol - El Salvador

🇳🇮 Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua  

🇨🇷 Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Marina Pez Vela – Costa Rica 

🇨🇷 Marina Bahia Golfito – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica  

🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador  

🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina – Panama  

🇵🇦 Bocas Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama 

🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia

🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia 

🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica 

🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica  

🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club –Jamaica 

🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina –Cayman Islands 

🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras 

🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras  

🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort & Boatyard – Guatemala 

🇧🇿 Thunderbirds Marine – Placencia – Belize 

🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize 

🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico 

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

🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba 

🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos  

🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas  

🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas 

🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas  

🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic

🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic    

🇺🇸 Marathon Marina – Marathon Keys 

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

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , USA  

🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA  

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

🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA  

🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina – Portsmouth,  USA  

🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, USA  

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA  

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA 

🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, Virginia USA 

MARINA CLUB NÁUTICO CARTAGENA 🇨🇴 SPONSORS PANAMA POSSE

“Following
my message I am happy to inform you that Club Nautico will be offering
all 1st time arrivals affiliated to the Panama Posse a 15% dockage
discount applicable for up to 3 months from their arrival to the Port of
Cartagena, Colombia. We hope to see many new arrivals once the port
opens once again. Thank you for all your efforts in making this
possible. Best wishes to all PP members.

Very best

CLUB NÁUTICO CARTAGENA LTDA”

18)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

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

   

19) 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

20) STRATEGIC PARTNERS

 

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Vicente’s Moorings – Acapulco – Mexico

Park Avenue Villas – San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua

Coconutz – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica

Abernathy – Chandlery – Panama

Pacific Posse 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners – Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

Viva and Felicità breaking bread in Puerto Escondido tonight. Brought together by the Panama Posse. We are two of the few still in the Sea.

ocean posse llc | panama posse communications 
 @ 9811 W Charleston blvd 2262 Summerlin LV NV 89117  USA

© 2022  Ocean Posse LLC

PANAMA POSSE 
 
FLEET UPDATE 

April 8, 2023

"Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly.” 

— Van Morrison

TOP NEWS  

• VISTA MAR SEASON 🎆 FINALE PARTY
• MARINE EXPO BUENAVENTURA 👥 🇵🇦 PANAMA
• MEET THE FLEET (COUNTER) ☸️ PANAMA POSSE 
• FIELD TRIP IN HUATULCO, OAXACA 🇲🇽  MEXICO
• GOOD ANCHORAGE ⚓ ISLA CEDROS AND ISLA JESUSITO,  🇨🇷 COSTA RICA
• LA PLAYITA MARINA 🇵🇦 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
• TROPICAL WAVES
• GOOD ANCHORAGE ⚓PUMTA NARANJO  🇵🇦 PANAMA
• SIMON BOLIVAR (1783-1830) 🪖 EL LIBERTADOR
• THE PANAMA POSSE 🌶️ PEPPER SCALE 
• SLOWING DOWN AMONG THE SLOTHS: GAMBOA RAINFOREST RESERVE 🇵🇦 PANAMA
• LEAVING  🇲🇽  MEXICO: REQUIRED AND OPTIONAL
• MONKEYS 🐒 ON BOATS
• CENTRAL AMERICAN POSSE ROUTES HAUL OUT LOCATIONS
• ⚠️ Security Alert:  MAKE PANAMA 🇵🇦 SAFE(R) FOR CRUISERS
• ⚠️VESSEL WATER'S DAUGHTER BEACHED IN CALETA DE CAMPOS 🇲🇽 
• MUST SEE GRANADA 🇳🇮  NICARAGUA

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Sunset over Changres River,  🇵🇦  Panama

SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸   Jean-Philippe & Nicole - Lagoon 39′

Spinnaker Sailing  QUESO GRANDE II

SY QUESO GRANDE II 🇺🇸  Lance & Sherri - Seawind 41′

Getting the salt off in Oaxaca, Mexico

SY JUBEL, SY FICKLE, SY REVERENCE, SY ROCHAMBEAU, SY SALACCIA

2) SAVE THE DATES: 
PANAMA POSSE 🇵🇦 AWARDS PARTY

SUNDAY MAY 21, 2023 17:00

VISTA MAR MARINA

End of season award celebrations will be held at Vista Mar Marina, our Panama Pacific Headquarters, on Sunday May 21st

AWARD DETAILS:

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

*no bill-fish entries   ✔winner announced already

ENTRY INTO BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT 

SY SPLINTERS 🇺🇸 Eric & Kim  - Grand Banks 42′

Vista Mar Marina: The place we will have a great “End of Season” Party.

VISTA MAR MARINA 🇵🇦 
SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE - PACIFIC HQ MARINA

3) MARINE EXPO

BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA

SAT. APR. 22 ’23

12:00 – 20:00 PM

We would like to invite you and the Posse members to the marina Expo happening

April 22, 2023 At Marina Buenaventura. 

We
will have Food & Drinks, and music. Various vendors and companies
would like to offer their products and services to anyone that has a
boat.  The Posse will have a table to sign up members and let
Buenaventura Residents and Friends know a little more about the Posse.
We will also have a Space to do a Swap/Meet. So if anybody wants
to bring some of the treasures they want to sell, the table cost is $15.
We still have 4 tables available.  Please let us know soon
as possible if you will like to join us.  The goal of Expo Marina
is to connect all people that enjoy Boats and everything that is done on
and around them: Fishing, Cruising, or just out on a Fun Day.

P.S.  We will have a courtesy bus down from Vista mar marina and back.

BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦 
SPONSORS DE PANAMA POSSE 

4)  MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK 

Poolside at Chiapas Marina, Puerto Madero,  🇲🇽  Mexico

SY REVERENCE Mike and Leah  🇺🇸 Tayana 58'

Buddy Boats Maison de Sante and Avogado reunite in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

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

SY AVOGADO  🇺🇸  Richard & Katherine - Amel 53'

Sunset on a multi day passage down the Sea of Cortez,  🇲🇽 Mexico

SY WHIRLWIND  🇺🇸 Maurisa, Mike, and Crew - Alajuela 48

After 4900nm this Burgee is ready to retire in 🇵🇦 Panama 
and the rum bottle is empty too .

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

5) MEET THE FLEET 
(COUNTER) ☸️ PANAMA POSSE 

 Robin
And Tad I hope that was to celebrate the working windless and finally
get their Baul de Matin! Farewell to Costa Rica today!

Cruising
since 2014, we sailed down the west coast of France, Spain and Portugal
into the Mediterranean. Spent 4 seasons in the Med then crossed the
Atlantic in December 2017.  Cruised the Eastern Caribbean until
June 2018 and then again from January 2019 until March 2019.
Cruised to the ABCs, Colombia and Panama until July 2019. Got
stuck in Panama until now and are finally heading up the coast on the
(Counter) ☸️ Panama Posse

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

6) FLOR DE CAÑA SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

7 YEAR OLD FASHIONED 
THE PROPER POUR 

7) CRUISERS FIELD TRIP

OAXACA, 🇲🇽 MEXICO

Cruisers Field Trip from Bahia Maguey in Huatulco, Mexico

A windy, bumpy road trip into the mountains of Oaxaco led to magical waterfalls and hot springs.  

SY JUBEL, SY FICKLE, SY REVERENCE, SY ROCHAMBEAU, SY SALACCIA

8) SOMETIMES THE TINIEST OF ISLAND BRING THE GREATEST OF PLEASURES

ISLA CEDROS AND ISLA JESUSITO,  🇨🇷 COSTA RICA

MY SEEKER 🇺🇸 John & Tammy - Selene 62′

9)  LA PLAYITA MARINA 🇵🇦 

SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
08° 54.7319′ N 079° 31.565′  

We welcome the Panama Posse with a special welcome deal.

If the boat stay more than 1 day, it gets the first night at no cost(free)

 

CONTACT

 +507 314-1730

laplayita@siwireless.com
 https://panamaposse.com/la-playita-marina

•     Showers
•     Potable Water
•     30/50 AMP Electricity
•     Dinghy Dock ($10 paid access, if anchored out )
•     Security / Video Surveillance
•     Internet / Wifi
•     Cell Phone coverage 4G
•     Panama Canal Vessel Length Measuring
•     Fuel Dock
•     Ice
•     Boat Cleaning / Bottom Cleaning
•     Laundry
•     Trash & Recycling
•     Shop
•     Boat Rentals
•     Support access for Service Providers
•     Fumigation
•     Galapagos Prep Hull Cleaning
•     Ferry Terminal
•     Uber / Taxi pick up
•     Parking
•     Resort with Air conditioned rooms
•     Walking distance to shops and Chandleries
•     Restaurant
•     Bar
•     Pizza

10) METEROLOGY TROPICAL WAVES

Tropical waves spin with energy in the atmosphere and spread from Africa across the Atlantic.

A
tropical wave (also called easterly wave, tropical easterly wave, and
African easterly wave), in and around the Atlantic Ocean, is a type of atmospheric trough,
an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to
south, which moves from east to west across the tropics, causing areas
of cloudiness and ..

Tropical
waves in the Atlantic basin develop from low-pressure disturbances,
which develop as far east as Sudan in east Africa, and drift across the
continent into the Atlantic Ocean. These are generated or enhanced by
the African Easterly Jet. The clockwise circulation of the large
transoceanic high-pressure cell or anticyclone centered near the Azores
islands (known as the Azores High) impels easterly waves away from the
coastal areas of Africa towards North America.

They are often monitored for development into a tropical storm or hurricane.

Tropical
waves are the origin of approximately 60% of Atlantic tropical cyclones
and of approximately 85% of intense Atlantic hurricanes (Category 3 and
greater) 

Tropical
cyclones can sometimes degenerate back into a tropical wave. This
normally occurs if upper-level wind shear is too strong. The storm can
redevelop if the upper-level shear abates.

Hurricane
Irma was an extremely powerful hurricane that caused widespread
destruction across its path in September 2017. Irma was the first
Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record.  Irma
started off the east coast of Africa and was predicted to become a
hurricane whose path crossed over the Carribean en route to southern
Florida for several weeks before Irma actually hit.

11) GOOD ANCHORAGE 
⚓
 GOOD NAUTICAL 

Punta ( Ensenada) Naranjo 🇵🇦 Panama

Three
Panama Posse boats are now anchored in beautiful Ensenada Naranjo on
mainland Panama. Holding is good, all 3 boats held fast on the first
try. Depths are different from what navionics portrays. There is a
gradual slope towards the shore and a large flat area in the 20 foot
range. The site is beautiful and there are a few pangas about. There is a
light breeze that keeps us cool and no swell at this time. Great
location.

SY PILIALOHA 🇺🇸   Rick & Maria - Beneteau ’37

12) Simón Bolívar (1783-1830)

ALSO KNOWN AS: EL LIBERTADOR

-

Simón
Bolívar is a vital figure in the history of independence in South
America.  He is and was loved and loathed by many as he spent
almost half his life engaged and entrenched in the fight for
independence against the Spanish Empire in the continent of South
America during the early 1800's.  He was very influential in
gaining independence for Bolivia, Panama, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, and
Ecuador.

Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas, now Venezuela, to a wealthy family in 1783.  

By
his mid 20's Simón Bolívar had travelled from Caracas to Spain,
England, France, and Italy.  He mingled among the elite and the
leaders.  He learned about many struggles and revolutions whereby
people were fighting for their independence from external rule and
taxation.  In 1807, around the same time Napolean and his army
invaded Spain, Bolivar returned to his home country, joined a resistance
movement, and began his quest to free Latin America from Spanish rule.
Simón Bolívar was but one visionary among many revolutionary
leaders.  As with many developing nations, the revolutionaries did
not always see eye to eye in their vision for the new nation and its
people.  As such, his dream to unite the region which proved very
difficult as there were many opposing factions and revolutionaries
fighting in many different ways for their rights within the great land
mass.  

"When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes a right."  

-Simón Bolívar

Simón
Bolívar died at the age of 47..  He is said to have died from
tuberculosis.  However, in his life, Bolívar made as many friends
as he did enemies and his illness was considered mysterious at his time
of death.  There is speculation that his death may have been more
complicated.  Nonetheless, the memory and influence of Simón Bolívar, The Liberator, is honored to this day in many locations throughout South America.

14) THE PANAMA POSSE 🌶️ PEPPER SCALE 

Ancient
indigenous people of central Mexico, discovered that peppers could be
preserved with the aid of smoke.  Below to find the most common 12
peppers found in markets in central America in order of heat using the
*Scoville heat index. 

1. Anaheim Pepper
2. Poblano Pepper
3. Ancho Pepper
4. Cascabel Pepper
5. Pasilla Pepper
6. Guajillo Pepper
7. Jalapeño Pepper
8. Chipotle (MORITA) Pepper
9. Puya Chile Pepper
10. Serrano Pepper
11. Chile de Àrbol
12. Habanero Peppers

Follow this link to learn more about these peppers:

ACCESS THE PANAMA POSSE PEPPER SCALE

14) SLOWING DOWN AMONG THE SLOTHS  

A
nature adventure near Panama City can be found at the Gamboa Rainforest
Reserve.  The best part is that you can see sloths up close!

We
spent two nights at the hotel, old school style- but so are we- and
enjoyed all the amenities…including the giant swimming pool!. 

There
are also stunning views of the Chagres River and all kinds of nature
tours including the sloth sanctuary (swooning still over the rescue
sloths). You can easily go there for the day or make a mini holiday. I
have been wanting to really see sloths up close and I got my wish.

https://www.instagram.com/gamboareserve/ 

SY PATHFINDER  Jean-Philippe & Nicole - Lagoon 39′

15) LEAVING  🇲🇽  MEXICO

WHAT IS REQUIRED? 

AND...WHAT IS ON THE SHOPPING LIST?

 

There
are distinct legal entry and exit requirements in every country.
Some are the same and some are different.  Most ports can
handle international Zarpes (exit documents). 

The requirements to exit Mexico are as follows:

• Assemble all necessary documents including: 
  • Valid TIP (Temporary Import Permit of your vessel)
    • It
      is important to decide whether your vessel under your ownership will be
      returning to Mexico within the timeframe that it is valid.  If
      unsure or not returning, include cancelling vessel TIP in your procedure
      below.
  • Vessel Documentation
  • Mexican Liability Insurance
  • Valid Visas and passports for every crew member
  • Crewlist with all names, passport numbers, age, and date of birth
  • Entrance paperwork from the Port Captain in your final Mexican Port
  • Boating
    Credential or Certification (including but not limited to State Safe
    Boating Card, Merchant Marine Documents, or Captains License)
• Visit the Port Captain, Immigration, and Customs.

1. Complete the Crew List for exiting Mexico with the Port Captain (the “Despacho”, formally known as a “Zarpe”);
2. Go to the Immigration Office to get the Crew List Stamped and surrender the FFM forms; and
3. Go
   to the Port Captain’s Office again and pay the Vessel’s Check-out fees
   and have the crew list stamped with the authorization to exist the
   country of Mexico.
4. Go to Customs office and Banjercito with
   all vessel and crew documents to cancel TIP ( 10 year temporary import
   permit ) before departure if not returning to Mexico before your 10 year
   TIP EXPIRES - if you try to re-enter Mexico with an expired TIP you
   will have a lot of issues and will need an agent $$$ to clear the prior
   TIP.

• Expect to be boarded by the Navy with Dogs for your final vessel review.  This may or may not happen, but it is to be expected.  Upon inspection vessels are expected to leave straightaway.

 

Before Leaving Mexico Shopping List

This list is heavy on all the items distinctly found in Mexico that the crew has come to question their survival without.

This List is a guideline for those  heading away from Mexican Cuisine:

• Hot Sauces
• Salsas
• Crackers / Pretzels
• Dried Chili Peppers
• Media Crema in the box
• Japones/Mafer Nuts
• Tequila
• Mescal
• If you like Mexican Beer
• Fresh Cheese, cream cheese
• Canned artichoke hearts
• Bacon
• Carnita meat packaged to go from your favorite taco stop
• Prepared bags of beans

  

16) ADVENTURE MEDIA PARTNER 
LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

16) MONKEYS ON BOATS

SV Whirlwind crew, Russell and Josea, monkeying around underway at sunset.

Monkey watching over our dinghy in Gulfo Dulce,   🇨🇷  Costa Rica

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

17) CENTRAL AMERICAN POSSE ROUTES
🛠️

HAUL OUT LOCATIONS

Traveling along the Central American Panama Posse route there are different ways in which a vessel can haul out:

• travel lift
• crane
• rail or slipway
• forklift
• careening

There
are 25 different locations along the Central American Panama Posse
route with different haul out services.  See the link below for
details and locations.

https://panamaposse.com/haulout

18) PANAMA POSSE GEAR

PANAMA POSSE SWAG ON SALE NOW

 

19)  ⚠️ SECURITY ALERT

MAKE PANAMA 🇵🇦 SAFE(R) FOR CRUISERS 

FOR A PARTIAL LISTING OF CRIMES AGAINST YACHTS IN PANAMA FOLLOW THIS LINK https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/category/reports/panama/

Panama
is currently is one of the least safe destination for cruisers in
Central America  (3 armed robberies/boardings in two months, on
both coasts) 
No other country reports more than minor thefts off of unattended boats. 

Lack of transparency 
irregular
fee collection at port captains, poor service and high fees (cruising
permits take too long, attempted bribery in Bocas, most expensive
country in Central America).

Publish fee schedule on internet, follow Panama Canal best practices for fee changes (advance notice, public comment/input, clear fee schedule).

Thanks to the Panama Marina Association
we have an ongoing dialogue to improve safety and communications for
all yachts in Panama - our next meeting is in 2 weeks - if you have any
suggestions or comments please email registration@panamaposse.com

Caribbean Safety and Security Net

21 REPORTED EVENTS IN PANAMA SINCE  2017 
AND 37 PETTY THEFTS

1    ASSAULT RESULTING IN DEATH (2019) 
5    ASSAULTS
5    ROBBERIES 
5    ATTEMPTED ROBBERIES AND THEFT
5    BURGLARY
37  THEFTS

LOCATION OF EVENTS  5 Events in Marinas | 53 Events at Anchor 

20   Bocas del Toro
16   Linton Bay 
9     San Blas
6     Portobello
3      Nombre de Dios
2      Las Perlas
1      Isla Grande

TIMING  of incidents      
 9    '17
 9    '18
15   '19 
 4    '20
 8    '21
10   '22
 3   '23*

PANAMA VS THE USA 
🕵️ CRIME COMPARISONS WITH RELATED STATISTICS >>

SAMPLE DATA 

• Panama is Ranked 40th - USA is ranked 10th for robberies.

VESSEL "WATER'S DAUGHTER" ON THE BEACH
CALETA CAMPOS 🇲🇽   MEXICO 

SY Water’s Daughter ( non Panama Posse boat ) 

Watch the  video if SY Water’s Daughter, (non Panama Posse) boat she hits the beach, due to apparent autopilot failure, reported by 

SY PACIFIC RAVEN  🇺🇸 Scott & Nacho - Hunter 40.5′

 

20)  MUST SEE GRANADA 🇳🇮  NICARAGUA

Granada
is a stunning city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and historically one
of Nicaragua’s most important cities, economically and politically.

It’s home to multiple Spanish colonial landmarks that have survived repeated pirate invasions.

Granada,
Nicaragua was the sister capital to Antigua in Guatemala. During the
colonial period, Granada maintained a flourishing level of commerce with
ports on the Atlantic Ocean, through Lake Nicaragua ( Lago Cocibolca)
and the San Juan River. As such the city was victim to many battles with
invasions from English, French and Dutch pirates trying to take
control  by sailing up the San Juan River.

Located on the banks of Lake Nicaragua, Granada is quickly becoming a central hub for excursions to other areas of Nicaragua and Central America.

You can access this world heritage site from the Marina Puesta del Sol in an easy day trip via rental car.

PANAMA POSSE - MUST SEE 

 

21)  70+ PANAMA POSSE MARINA SPONSORS 

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA

🇲🇽 Marina Coral, Ensenada – Mexico  

🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas  – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Puerto Escondido – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina el Cid – Mazatlan – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico  

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

🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico 

🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Vicente’s Moorings, Acapulco – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas – Mexico  

🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela – Guatemala  

🇸🇻 Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador  

🇸🇻 La Palma Moorings – Bahia del Sol - El Salvador

🇳🇮 Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua  

🇨🇷 Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Marina Pez Vela – Costa Rica 

🇨🇷 Marina Bahia Golfito – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica  

🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador  

🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina – Panama  

🇵🇦 Bocas Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama 

🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia

🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia 

🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica 

🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica  

🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club –Jamaica 

🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina –Cayman Islands 

🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras 

🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras  

🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort & Boatyard – Guatemala 

🇧🇿 Thunderbirds Marine – Placencia – Belize 

🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize 

🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico 

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

🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba 

🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos  

🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas  

🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas 

🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas  

🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic

🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic    

🇺🇸 Marathon Marina – Marathon Keys 

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

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , USA  

🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA  

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

🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA  

🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina – Portsmouth,  USA  

🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, USA  

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA  

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA 

🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, Virginia USA 

MARINA VALLARTA 🇲🇽 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE   

22)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

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

23) PANAMA POSSE VESSEL FOR SALE 
SY "BEATA"
2014 Beneteau Oceanis 45 

 US$315,000   Caribbean, Panama >>

2014 Beneteau Oceanis 45

Retired pilot owned. Immaculate and ready to go. One owner.

Launched
in San Diego in July of 2014.  She has sailed the California
coast, and from San Diego to Panama. The owners are finished cruising
and returning home to the USA.

Starting
with launch and for the six years prior to starting cruising, the yacht
was professionally maintained. With a bow to stern maintenance plan
executed on a quarterly schedule by Beneteau dealers in San Diego.

Ready
to go into the Caribbean or back across Panama into the Pacific. This
pristine example is available to be seen in Shelter Bay Marina in
Panama.

Contact to arrange a viewing and for additional details.

CONTACT 

Charles Badoian

PA +5 07 6378-8345

US  +1 305-735-1661

Skype: badoian

E: charles@panamayachtbroker.com

24) 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

25) STRATEGIC PARTNERS

 

SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION

Vicente’s Moorings – Acapulco – Mexico

Park Avenue Villas – San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua

Coconutz – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica

Abernathy – Chandlery – Panama

Pacific Posse 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners – Las Vegas

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WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

  LAST IMAGE

Ollie's Point is a right point break that is named after Colonel Oliver North
who   made his base there during the Nicaraguan civil war between
the Contras and the Sandanistas during the 80's. In late 1985,
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council
diverted a portion of the proceeds from the Iranian weapon sales to fund
the Contras, a group of anti-Sandinista rebels, in their insurgency
against the socialist government of Nicaragua. It's 17 nm as the crow
flies from the border with Nicaragua facing Bahia Potrero Grande a wide
and easy sloping protected bay with exposure to W, SW and S Swells.

When
this wave is at it's best, it is an excellent, fast, hollow wave.
Ollie's is at it's best at low to medium tide with a strong south swell.

There is no access road to the point and is only accessible by boat.

ocean posse llc | panama posse communications 
 @ 9811 W Charleston blvd 2262 Summerlin LV NV 89117  USA

© 2022  Ocean Posse LLC

PANAMA POSSE 
 
FLEET UPDATE

 

April 1, 2023

“The sea does not like to be restrained”

Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

TOP NEWS  

• VISTA MAR SEASON 🎆 FINALE PARTY
• MARINE EXPO BUENAVENTURA 👥   🇵🇦 PANAMA 
• POSSE MEET UP IN HUATULCO, OAXACA 🇲🇽  MEXICO
• BABY SEA TURTLES 🐢 THEIR WAY TO THE OCEAN
• EL SALVADOR 🇸🇻 CRUISING GUIDE & TOURING
• ENTRY 🫶 CAPTAIN RON AWARD
• GOOD ANCHORAGE⚓  BAHIA SAMARA 
• SEMANA 🐰 SANTA 
• THE HIGH SEAS TREATY
• ⚠️ SECURITY ALERT 
• BOAT DOG 🐶  STELLA
• LAYING A BOAT UP ⚒️ IN THE TROPICS
• NEW ANCHORAGE ⚓ CLAIMED 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA 
• MUST SEE MONTE ALBAN   🇲🇽 MEXICO
• CHIMERA CONQUERS  🇰🇾  THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Naguarchirup Island, East Lemmon Cays, San Blas 🇵🇦  Panama

MY AEGIS 🇨🇦 Ian and Mary - Nordhavn 40'

Puerto Bello Sunrise, Colon, 🇵🇦  Panama

SY AIRBENDER 🇺🇸 Mike and Colleen - Lagoon 42'

View of the Panama Canal  Locks 🇵🇦

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob and Debra - Beneteau 43.5'

The silver lining of taking care of the rig is getting great views aloft 

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

Arriving in Provencia  🇨🇴 COLOMBIA

Da MMAD Cat has dropped the pick in Guanaja, Roatan 🇭🇳 Honduras 

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

Anchorage at  16° 26.4783' N  085° 05.4136' W 
Guanaja, Roatan 🇭🇳 Honduras  is in Good Nautical 

2) PANAMA POSSE 🇵🇦 AWARDS PARTY

SUNDAY MAY 21, 2023 17:00

VISTA MAR MARINA 

End of season award celebrations will be held at Vista Mar Marina, our Panama Pacific Headquarters, on Sunday May 21st

DETAILS AND RSVP HERE >>

BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*

PICTURE OF THE YEAR

YODA OF THE YEAR

SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD

THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD

MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD

HIGHEST WIND RECORDED

SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION

2  X GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔  

GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR

BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR

COURAGE AWARD

*no bill-fish entries   ✔winner announced already

Vista Mar Marina: The place we will have a great “End of Season” Party.

2)  MARINE EXPO 

BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA 

SAT. APR. 22 ’23

12:00 – 20:00 PM

We would like to invite you and the Posse members to the marina Expo

happening next April 22, 2023. At Marina Buenaventura. 
  

We will have Food & Drinks, and music. Various vendors and companies

would like to offer their products and services to anyone that has a boat.

The Posse will have a table to sign up members and let Buenaventura Residents and Friends know a little more about the Posse.

We will also have a Space to do a Swap/Meet. So if anybody wants to bring

some of the treasures they want to sell, the table cost is $15.  We

still have 4 tables available.  Please let us know soon as

possible if you will like to join us.

The goal of Expo Marina is to connect all people that enjoy Boats and

everything that is done on and around them: Fishing, Cruising, or just

out on a Fun Day.

P.S. 

We will have a courtesy bus down from Vista mar marina and back. 

Eng. Emilio Lau

Marina Manager

emilio@bv-marina.com

Mobile: +507-6616-7531

www.bv-marina.com 

Buenaventura Marina

3)  POSSE GATHERING IN HUATULCO 🇲🇽  MX

Bahia Chachcual, Playa La India, Huatulco 🇲🇽 Mexico

SY JUBEL, SY FICKLE, and SY REVERENCE Stern tie in Playa La India

While SY ROCHAMBEAU, SY SALACCIA, SY WHIRLWIND, SY VIA, & SY KARUNA  anchor in Bahia Chahcacual 

4)  BONUS: PARTY CRASHERS AT THE HUATULCO 🇲🇽  MX POSSE GATHERING 

The
two main beaches in Bahia Chachacual are lined with turtle tracks and
nesting locations.  Presently, in the dark hours between sunset and
sunrise there are mother turtles returning to these beaches to lay her
eggs deep in the sand.  

Meanwhile,
there are baby turtles hatching from the depths in other nests.
It is said that once baby turtles hatch they can spend up to a
week digging themselves up and onto the sand.  

This
evening, while the bonfire was burning to coals a clutch of baby
turtles made their way from their nest buried deep up to the sand,
crashed the party, and went straight to the water for their first
splash.  It was such a special experience!

SY JUBEL  🇨🇦 Leah & Kyle – Gulfstar 44′

5)  EL SALVADOR 🇭🇳 CRUISING GUIDE

DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE 

SY Wild Blue crosses the bar into  Bahia del Sol 🇸🇻 El Salvador

Entering
Bahia Del Sol requires a well timed and piloted river bar crossing.
Once inside the bay, vessels and crew are enveloped in a calm and
beautiful estuary lined with mangroves and spotted with volcanoes.
Many Salvadorians work the bay in a variety of boats from
motorized fiberglass boats to dugout canoes.

In
the Past decade Puerto Bahia del Sol has developed into a desirable
cruising destination.  It has services important to cruisers such
as marinas, moorings, free anchoring with good holding, restaurants, and
easy access to transportation, tours, and shopping.  A plus for
the area is that you can interact with the friendly locals and
experience the Salvadoran lifestyle at various levels. 

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE TO EL SALVADOR HERE >>

6)  SY ASTA SHARES THEIR ACCOUNT 
 TOURING 🇸🇻 EL SALVADOR

SY ASTA had a great trip up the coast to Bahia del Sol.  

 They were treated to dolphins and sunsets and a 12kt surf over the bar into Bahia del Sol  

Upon arrival in Bahia del Sol ASTA and crew quickly settled in for a great adventure.  

They
spent time enjoying the bay, the hospitality and moorings offered by
Bill and Jean, and touring some of the countries great places.

El Salvador has beautiful volcanoes and hikes one can do and a variety of city life to explore.

San Salvador El Salvador

Check out their full blog post here https://svenssonsegling.net/

SY ASTA 🇸🇪 Annika & Thomas – Bowman 45′

7)  ENTRY INTO CAPTAIN RON AWARD

Our valiant crew made an unexpected stop in Ponce, Puerto Rico last Saturday when Lady Slipper lost her prop.

With
top-notch assistance from parts dealer Lilly at Boat Tech Performance,
and the help of a local diver, repairs are quickly being completed.

After
several days of hardship (see photos below) Lady Slipper and crew will
soon be back en route. The unplanned detour led to some reconfiguring,
so the plan is now to skip the stop in Jamaica and sail directly to
Panama. Fortunately, new crew member Jim Quigley was able to change his
arrangements and join the crew in Puerto Rico. 

SY LADY SLIPPER  🇺🇸  John & Kathryn - Dufour 41′

8) GOOD ANCHORAGE 
BAHIA SAMARA  🇨🇷  COSTA RICA

Located
about midway along the Nicoya Penninsula in Costa Rica, Bahia Samara
offers a small bay of protection behind a reef off the ocean.

Clouds build and foretell rainy season is nearing in Bahia Samara  🇨🇷  COSTA RICA 

The long gentle Beach in Bahia Samara  🇨🇷  COSTA RICA 

Bahia Samara  🇨🇷  COSTA RICA is in GOOD NAUTICAL

9) SEMANA 🇲🇽 SANTA MEXICO 

Holy
Week, also known as Semana Santa, is a busy week (or two) in Mexico and
all over Latin America.  Semana Santa is a very festive and
important time of year from both a religious and cultural perspective.
This time of year is preceded by several observances such as Lent
and Carnival, as well as an observance of a day dedicated to the Virgin
of the Sorrows, as well as a Mass marking the abandonment of Jesus by
the disciples. 

Holy
Week proper begins on Palm Sunday, with the palms used on this day
often woven into intricate designs.  In many places there are
processions, Masses and other observances than happen all week.
Events are most common on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy
Saturday and Easter Sunday.  There are gatherings big and small in
just about every community marking the crucifixion of Jesus in some way
on Good Friday.  Holy Saturday is marked by the Burning of Judas,
especially in the center and south of Mexico.  Easter Sunday is
usually marked by a Mass as well as the ringing of church bells.
Mexico's Holy Week traditions are mostly based on those from
Spain, brought over with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
Having said that, observances throughout the region are not
identical.  Rather, there are variations in different parts of the
country due to the differences between the evangelization process in the
colonial period and indigenous practices. 

Several
locations have notable observances related to Holy Week including
Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende and San Luis
Potosí. 

Holy
Week in Taxco involves one of the most moving and impressive liturgical
ceremonies to be found in Mexico. This public procession is a
fascinating and creative religious syncretism merging both Spanish
Colonial and Mexican Indigenous traditions.

Holy
Week in Taxco has been celebrated this way since 1598.  The
ceremonies are  thought to have evolved from the amalgamation of a
particular celebration in Cadice, Spain and the indigenous Mexicans,
used to celebrating the great sacred feasts of their ancient religions.
The indigenous are said to have embraced with extraordinary energy
and fervor the public representations of the Catholic Church, combining
them with their rites and beliefs, thus producing a fascinating and
creative religious syncretism.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of
Holy Week are dedicated to the processions performed by three great
religious confraternities:

Celebrations
of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, in a place like San Miguel de Allende.
Beginning with several processions on Palm Sunday, there are processions
most days throughout the week.   

Blowing Up of the Judases San Miguel de Allende 🇲🇽  MEXICO

These
are paper mache figures of 'people that need to go'.  Some many
find it barbaric, others cathartic, others exhilarating.  None the
less, people make the figures and people come to watch these figures
blow up one by one in this annual observance that is a part of Semana
Santa. 

10) THE HIGH SEAS TREATY 🐟

A landmark treaty to protect marine life and international waters was signed on March 5th, 2023 by nearly 200 countries.

“It’s
a relief that the treaty is finally agreed. A lot of hard work has gone
into it by a great many people over a lot of years,” says Jonny Hughes,
head of policy at the Blue Marine Foundation. “However, it is important
to realize that the treaty doesn’t protect parts of the high seas—it
simply means that this can now be done.”

https://impact.economist.com/ocean/biodiversity-ecosystems-and-resources/high-seas-treaty-a-global-deal-decades-in-the-making

Implications for the Panama Posse  

•     Fisheries regulations  The
  treaty establishes rules for the sustainable management of fisheries in
  the high seas, including the establishment of catch quotas and other
  measures to prevent over fishing. Be aware of these regulations and
  ensure they are complying with them, especially if engaging in fishing
  activities during their journey.
•     Marine protected areas The treaty allows for the creation of marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
  The Panama Posse may need to be aware of any such protected areas and
  ensure they you are not engaging in activities that could harm the
  protected areas, such as fishing or anchoring.
•     Navigation and transport regulations  The treaty sets out rules for the regulation of navigation and transport on the high seas, including the freedom of navigation subject to certain conditions.
  Panama Posse   will comply with these regulations while
  traveling through the waters of any of these treaty signatory countries.
•     Marine scientific research regulations
  The treaty provides a framework for the regulation of marine
  scientific research in areas beyond national jurisdiction.  Overall,
  the new high seas treaty may have restrictive implications for the
  participants of the Panama Posse and to ensure that we are complying
  with these new rules while protecting the ocean's resources.

A Dorado / MahiMahi swimming wild and free

11)  ⚠️ SECURITY ALERT
LAS PERLAS 🇵🇦 PANAMA

The National Aeronaval Service (SENAN)
confirmed that on Monday night a group of four people violently
assaulted US citizens who were in a US-flagged vessel anchored in the
area near San Miguel Island. Wielding machetes and firearms they stole
cell phones, cash, and a camera.

It
is the second assault with similar characteristics in Las Perlas On
February 9, a 75-year-old man was also robbed on his sailboat with the
United States flag, when he was off the island of Espiritu Santo.

The
authorities are patrolling the area to find the criminals. "We deployed
personnel to intensify verification in ports, air and sea patrols,"
Major Walter Hernández, SENAN's head of Plans and Orders, told La
Prensa. Hernández clarified that there is still no pattern to determine
if it is an organized group or common robberies, without any connection.

Las
Perlas is the first stop for yachts after transiting through the Panama
Canal. It is also a tourist destination where hundreds of sailboats
pass with passengers who want, to visit or spend a few days in the area.

An
alert circulated among sailors anchored in the Causway: "If you are in
the Las Perlas area, we urge you to leave." “They are assaulting the
sailboats with an armed force and it is very, very sad. They are going
to affect the marketplace (plaza) badly.”

THE LOCATIONS OF THE ATTACKS ARE AS FOLLOWS 

 

Isla del Espirito Santo

08° 25.7319' N 078°51.25' W

Mina Island

08° 29.3533' N 079°00.7016' W

UPDATE ONE THE LAS PERLAS 🇵🇦 PANAMA 

 

1)
The Panamanian government is committed to providing the safest
possible environment for tourists, in particular those who go off
the beaten paths  

2) Authorities believe  the perpetrators to be islanders, (young males) not a group of organized criminals

3) Authorities are committed to identifying the culprits and prosecuting them code name Operation Proteus

4)
Authorities  are conducting an extensive search using  Air
Commands of the Marine Corps to conduct aerial reconnaissance flights,
Naval Commands of the Marine Corp are utilizing speed boats and
boots on the ground in coordination with the Public Ministry looking at
locations which digital tracking indicate, for the items which were
removed from the vessels 

5)
For vessel considering visiting the Perlas Islands, Authorities
have increase surveillance and the population is aware of the
negative results of these thefts 

6)
Through intelligence personnel, they have already registered raids in
San Miguel, Ensenada Casaya, Caseyeta, Saboga, and other places where
they are identifying possible lawbreakers  

7) If encounter any suspicious activity the emergency number for the Servico Areo Naval (SAN) is 108  

The number for the Panamanian Navy if using a non Panama Phone (Servicio Aeronaval) is +507-520-6200 

or visit http://www.aeronaval.gob.pa/?op=contactenos

8)
SENAN will be present on Tuesday at specially convened meeting by the
Panama Posse / Marinas & Tourism meeting to provide an update on the
case

NOTE
IF YOU DECIDE TO STAY IN THIS VICINITY YOU AND YOUR CREW INCREASE YOUR RISK OF 
BECOMING VICTIMS OF A VIOLENT CRIME

THE CIRCLE IS NOT A SAFETY BORDER 

ANYONE IN THIS AREA,  ANCHORING BY THEMSELVES 
IS A POTENTIAL TARGET 

DO NOT VISIT THE LAS PERLAS PANAMA UNTIL THE AREA
 HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE AUTHORITIES  

 

12) PANAMA POSSE 
BOAT DOG: STELLA

"Stella" from SY CONSTELLATION, 6 months of pure cuteness

LOST AND THEN FOUND ON AN UNINHABITED ISLAND !!  PHEW!!

LOST @ 08 °28.9833'N 079°00.0533' W 
Monday, March 27, 2023

FOUND @ Isla Mina

Saturday, April 1, 2023

AND FOUND 

#aeronaval Panama found her - she was a bit thirsty - the hunt continues 
#senanpanama

 Once
our units locate Stella dog Una, after being gone for 5 days, they
proceed to hydrate her 💧 and give her first attentions.

STELLA GOT HER POSSE BACK !!! 

Thanks to the ongoing search by SENAN ( SERVICIO NACIONAL AERONAVAL )

"Stella" was reunited   after SY Constellation made it through the Panama Canal.

There is an ongoing operation to search for the perpetrators going on in the Las Perlas.
For updates follow  @SENANPanama  on Twitter

SY  CONSTELLATION  🇺🇸 Cory & Chris& Stella  - Freedom 45′

13) LAYING UP ON THE HARD OR IN THE WATER:

THE DETAILS TO CONSIDER

SY AVANT  🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5′

We’ve
had Avant offshore for a few years now and have developed a routine for
laying her up for the off season. It’s a fair amount of work, but pays
dividends in letting us come back to a vessel that’s not suffering from
mold or mildew, and hasn’t degraded (much) from the weather when we’re
away. We have set Avant up to wait for us on the hard and in the water,
and each has its unique requirements.  Preparing the boat takes a
few days, but the effort pays dividends on our return.

MOLD

Mold
is perhaps the most pernicious hazard for a laid up boat in the
tropics. If it gets a foothold, the warm, moist interior of the boat is
the perfect environment for it to grow, and it will grow everywhere, on
any surface. To forestall its growth, we clean the interior aggressively
and then spray all surfaces with a mixture of straight vinegar mixed
with a drop of dish soap per litre/quart (the dish soap is a surfactant
and stops the vinegar from beading), wipe them with a cloth wet with the
same mixture and allow the vinegar to dry in place. The ph value of
vinegar is antithetical to mold growth, and it simply won’t start where
there is vinegar on the surface. The smell is overwhelming on
application, but fades in an hour or so, and is undetectable on our
return. We also mist curtains and cushions with the same mixture, spray
liberally in the bilge, and leave a few bowls filled with just vinegar
(no soap) in various places around the boat to evaporate while we’re
away. We use at least a couple for gallons for this process.

View under the sun shade awning as we start to ‘gift wrap’ the rig with aluminum foil.

TARPS

Tarps
are used for a couple of things: to keep sun off the decks and thus
control heat, and to keep the rain off portions of the deck. We use
them, but under the tarps we do get algae on deck. 

BUGS

Of
course, we live in fear of a bug infestation of some sort while away.
We buy cockroach bait (apparently the kind that comes in a tube like
toothpaste is best) and roach hotels and place them around the boat. We
use the whole tube, as this is not the place for half measures. We have
found two dead roaches and no live ones aboard on our return in the 14
years we’ve been laying up. We shudder to think how many we might have
found without the poison set out.

FOOD

The
temperatures in the interior of the boat will be extreme: in the Sea of
Cortez, interior temperatures of 140°f/60°c are typically reached daily
for a boat on the hard for weeks at a time, and 120°f/49°c for a boat
in the water. We have had cans of food explode from the heat, and an
unopened bottle of ketchup left aboard cooked in the heat to turn the
rich dark brown colour of bbq sauce. For unopened food we want to try to
keep, we get small plastic bin liner bags and after emptying and dosing
the interior of the lockers with their vinegar wipe-down, we double bag
the food in small batches and stow back in the lockers. If a can
explodes it will do so inside the bag and the mess will be contained to
the ½ dozen or so items sharing the bag with it.

PLASTIC

Items
made of plastic do not fare well. The heat and UV bake them. For items
below decks, we wet out a cloth with ArmorAll, Aerospace 303 or a
similar plastic treatment (easily found at auto stores) and wet wipe
them down. For items on deck that can’t be removed and brought below, we
treat them with protectant, wrap them in a layer of paper towel, wrap
aluminum foil over that (two layers of cheap tin foil seems to work
better than a single layer of thicker expensive stuff) and then secure
the tin foil with liberal amounts of duct tape (being very careful the
duct tape only adheres to the tin foil and not to anything under it). On
our return we find the duct tape has usually been reduced to a skeleton
of the reinforcement fabric and is easily removed.

We
also wrap winches, blocks and all other deck hardware in a similar
fashion. UV will destroy the ball bearings in ball bearing blocks.

ZIPPERS AND SNAPS

Zippers
and snaps like to corrode shut while the boat is laid up. We rub them
with cheap dollar store chapstick or lip balm (cheap lip balm is usually
a mix of waxes and petroleum oils like Vaseline) to increase the
chances they will work when we return.

ELASTIC

Elastic
will no longer be after a season of baking in the heat. Shock cords
should not be used to secure anything as they will perish. Elastic in
clothing and swimming suits may not be elastic on your return.

LIGHTNING

Grounding.
Most vessels are poorly grounded, and their grounding is ineffective
when hauled (yes, you can be struck by lightning when on the hard). You
can ground your boat quickly and simply with a set of jumper cables (or
add these to increase the grounding)

If
in the water, we buy a set of cheap but fairly thick jumper cables.
Separate into two wires. Remove one clamp from each wire, strip back a
couple or six inches of insulation and ‘fray’ the end (or keep the clamp
and clamp it to a 1’x1’ metal plate) to make a better ground connection
with the water. We attach remaining clamp to a top shroud or other bit
of metal that connects to near the masthead and throw the frayed/plated
end in the water. One cable on the port side, one cable on the starboard
side.

If
on the hard, separate cables and attach one to the top shrouds and Jack
stands on the port side, the other to the same points on starboard.

In
either case, the cables will be trash at the end of the season, as they
are not designed for continuous outdoor use. Brushing clamps with wax,
Vaseline or any other topical protectant helps them rust less and look
better longer. Even if you *think* your boat might be/is well grounded,
these jumper cable tricks will ensure/increase the protection.

We
gather up all portable and easily de-mounted electronics (hand held VHF
and GPS units, epirbs, led flashlights, portable radios, etc.) and wrap
them in paper towel, then in tin foil, then in plastic food wrap
(secured with masking tape), and then place them in the oven as a kind
of double faraday cage. We disconnect all antennas and easily unplugged
items like chartplotters, AIS, VHF, etc. and leave them disconnected and
just hanging to disrupt possible paths for lightning.

BATTERIES

Small
batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, silver cells like A76, CR2025 and CR2032,
etc.) are removed from whatever they are powering, gathered,
inventoried and given away. They won’t be any good when we come back,
and we need to know how many and of what type we will need to bring when
we return.

The
ships batteries (house and starting) we leave connected to our solar
array for charging while we’re away, to make sure power is available to
our bilge pumps. We disconnect (switch off at the panel) the shore side
charger as superfluous.

BILGE PUMPS 

We
inspect and test our bilge pumps. Avant will take on a bit of water
through the mast, and other leaks may appear over the season. We want a
bone-dry bilge to keep interior humidity down. We know of several
cruisers who have had a battery die due to bilge pump pumping, and
another couple who lost their boat to flooding while on the hard (their
cockpit drains blocked and water flooded in the companionway in a
tropical storm). If your boat has a garboard plug, you can leave it out
if you’re on the hard, and if it doesn’t and the concept works for your
hull form you can consider adding one.

THROUGH HULLS

We
close all through hulls and tank vents and stuff stainless steel
scrubbies or rolled up green scrubbies in them if we’re on the hard. The
scrubbies prevent bugs from nesting in the holes. Some cruisers use
bromine tablets (for hot tubs) in their raw water strainers to
discourage growth there.

HEAD AND HOLDING TANK

We
empty the holding tank and pump in 1 – 1½ gallons or so of vinegar and a
liberal amount of Pinõl or Lysol type cleanser. Better to have that
bake in the heat than what was in there before, and a completely dry
tank will form concrete-like deposits.

SAILS AND CANVAS

Sails and canvas are removed, inspected, repaired, cleaned, and neatly folded to be stowed below.

ENGINE

Our
engine enjoys an oil change, fluid top up and wipe-down with an oily
rag before we go, and we leave the compartment door ajar so air can
circulate there too.  Many cruisers do a freshwater flush of the
exhaust as well, but we don’t bother.  Outboards are freshwater
flushed, given their annual service, and run dry of fuel before stowing
below.

FUEL TANKS

Diesel
tanks are filled to the top and treated with biocide (BioBore or
similar). Gas tanks are emptied, the gasoline given away, and the
plastic tanks are treated with ArmorAll or similar. We don’t bother
trying to ‘stabilize’ gasoline for storage, the quantity doesn’t justify
it. Jerry cans are emptied and treated with ArmorAll or similar. The
empty jerry cans and gas tanks are stored below.

PROPANE

We simply shut off the propane at the tanks.

WATER TANKS

Water
tanks are emptied. When we return, we treat them as if contaminated as
recommended in this article. The water pump (and all other breakers save
the bilge pumps) is shut off.

MOORING LINES AND FENDERS

If
we’re in the water, we double all mooring lines and add chafe guard (we
use fire hose) at all chafe points. We buy cheap children’s T-shirts
and slip them over our fenders as extra chafe guard/ UV protection,
securing them at the top end with small line or zip ties.

Even
if you have a hired ‘boat watcher’ they’re unlikely to be 100%
available to come to your aid in a storm. They may be looking after
multiple boats, or the roof may be blowing off of their house (or their
mother’s house) in the same storm that threatens your boat. You need to
be secured for a storm.

Dinghy

We
have a RIB inflatable dinghy, and some years we have been able to
secure covered storage for it at the marina or yard we’re at, which is
best. Other years we secured it to the deck upside down, inflated to
about ¾ normal pressure, spaced off the deck with dollar store pool
noodles and covered with a tarp. Protection from the sun while ensuring
its wrapping can’t hold water against the fabric are the keys to
success. If you can deflate yours and stow it below, that’s even better.

BOTTOM CLEANING

If
you store in the water, you will need to arrange for regular bottom
cleaning. The interval will be determined by local conditions. Make sure
the cleaner is reliable, has references, and sends pictures or other
proof the job is being done: we know cruisers who found their cleaners
simply cashed the payments and didn’t do any cleaning until just before
their return.

CONTACT INFO

Post
a card in the window with local contact information for your
boat-watcher (if you have one) and your contact info back home: name,
email, phone numbers.

When
we return, we find Avant fresh and dirty, needing a good wash after we
enjoy a Christmas-like morning: like an unwrapping party of all her
tinfoiled appurtenances. After some reassembly, we’re ready to cruise
another season.