CRUISING FLEET UPDATE & NEWS
2025-03-30

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AQUA VERDE ⚓ 25° 31'.3666' N 111° 04'.4283' W just a lil ' south of Loretto, BC MEXICO 🇲🇽
MV DELTA SWIZZLER 🇺🇸 Mark & Cindy - Vantare 58'

"The ocean is everything I want to be.
Beautiful, mysterious, wild, and free."

— Unknown

THIS WEEK

• Pictures Of The Week 📷
• Meet The Fleet SY Morning Stars 🇨🇦
• Must-see Turkey 🇹🇷 Göreme
• Update ⛵ SY Jubel
• xJoin The Ocean Posse for Perks, Discounts, Info a.m.o.
• Ocean Posse Captain Ron Award Entry
• Why Go To Cannes' 🇫🇷 Yachting Festival
• Marina Salina 🇮🇹 Italy
• Aeolian Islands Il Postino & Pablo Neruda
• Cruising The Tuamotus 🇵🇫 French Polynesia
• Yacht Insurance Seminar
• Attempted Piracy ☠️ Honduras
• Ongoing Outboard Theft🥷🏻 Incidents In Panama
• Meet The South Pacific Cruising Fleet
• Yachts For Sale In Pacific Mexico
• Montego Bay Yacht Club 🇯🇲 Jamaica |
• Floating The Anchor Chain ⛓️ To Protect 🪸 Coral
• Good Nautical Isla El Tigre 🇭🇳 Honduras
• Delta Mike ⚙️
• Long Line🪝 Locations
• Meet The Sea Turtles 🐢
• The Smallest Vessel Ever 🚣to Cross The Panama Canal

1) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

we have set sail for Nuku Hiva! Following the rainbow 🌈

SY HORIZON 🇺🇸 Stephanie Tayana 55'

just crossed the equator today!!! 4 more shellbacks on the ocean! :)

SY CAROSY 🇰🇾 Hugh & Carole - Robertson and Caine 45'

No wind to speak of, overcast, confused sea state, lots of rain and some lightning.

I expected to get a period with absolutely no wind and sea like glass, but that never happened

I am sure that it is slightly different every time. Please share your experience when you get there.

The sky is blue again and the wind is back. Zedna is enjoying the tradewinds after 2 days in the doldrums.

SY ZEDNA 🇸🇪 Trevor & Lena - Robertson and Caine 38'

Pathfinder is thrilled to announce that I finally have my French Long Stay Visa in my hand!! We plan to sail out of Marina Buenaventura today around 15:00 at high tide towards the Galapagos for our first stop then onto French Polynesia.

Hoping to slingshot out of Panama after Punta Mala late this evening/early tomorrow morning 🙌

SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸 J.P. & NICOLE - Lagoon 39'

2) MEET THE FLEET
SY MORNING STARS 🇨🇦

🇨🇦 Jason, Amanda and Dylan - Bristol 45'

We are on Morning Stars, but not the boat we started our adventure on. We purchased her at Shelter Bay Marina last August. Check out our blog svstarship1.ca for the whole story.

We are currently on the Pacific side of Panama preparing for our crossing over to French Polynesia. San Blas islands and Exumas have been our favorite spots

Sailing has been in my blood since I was born. I have sailed all my life and knew that one day I would cross an ocean. Not if but when. I met my wife at our yacht club back home and we have cruised Lake Winnipeg every year the past 30 years. This jump has truly been a culmination of 30 years of hard work and taking a chance to step out of the ordinary.

Sailing is definitely a shared adventure. I would have crossed oceans myself on others boats but it is so much better on my own vessel with my family. The joy of accomplishment in putting miles under the keel and coming out the other side is exhilarating. Sharing that experience with my family is priceless.

"The unexpected lesson learned on board ?"

Just how hard this lifestyle really is. Land life is easy in comparison.

Our best way to interact with the cultures and local communities is to just start walking. We are always surprised and humbled when we have people stopping to see if we are ok. Stop worrying about budget and eat out locally, not the resorts. Best of all say Hi to everyone. The most amazing experience we had was with a taxi driver in Nassau. Every trip with her was a history less of her island and family. It was wonderful

Small things are now left on our bucket list - like diving Great Barrier Reef.

As we like to say "Death is once in a lifetime, life is every day so go live it."

SY MORNING STARS 🇨🇦 Jason, Amanda and Dylan - Bristol 45'

3) MORE PICTURES 📷 OF THE WEEK

Here are eight Ocean Posse members at Ibin’s restaurant on Banedup in the Holandes Cays in San Blas. We had Rob and Debra on Avant, Karl and Natalie on Remedy, Colleen and Jeff on Rawhiti, and Mark and Sarah from Galatea.

SY GALATEA Sarah& Mark - Morgan 46'

SY FELICITA 🇺🇸 Gretchen & Tim - Catalina 42

Downshifting is at Kauehi, Tuamotus

MY DOWNSHIFTING 🇺🇸 Carine - Nordhavn 47'

MY TIDINGS OF JOY and SY CARINTHIA @ Red Frog Marina and Resort

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

4) MUST-SEE
TURKEY 🇹🇷 LANDTRIP GÖREME

The Rock Sites of Cappadocia is a vast area packed full of stunning sights. There are over 200 underground cities, hundreds of churches, chapels, and hermitages, and countless valleys of strangle twisting shapes and towers.

Karen & Darren @ Göreme National Park

A cluster of hills and plateaus formed by Mount Erciyes and Mount Hasan, a pair of nearby volcanoes that covered the landscape with ash that hardened into volcanic tuff. Volcanic tuff is a soft stone, easily eroded by wind and rain. Over the course of millennia, the hills of tuff were carved by the elements into towers, cones, and stunning walls of white powder resembling great drifts of windswept snow.

SY SMALL WORLD III 🇻🇮 Karen & Darren - Bristol 47.7'

5) LAND FALL AND UPDATE FROM SY JUBEL

Anchor down in Tahanea Tuamotus

Rainy and stormy, but still beautiful

Anchorage 16°50.9483' S 144°41.6133' W

SY JUBEL 🇨🇦 Leah & Kyle - Gulfstar 44'

6) JOIN THE OCEAN POSSE
PERKS AND DISCOUNTS

SAVE MONEY AND HAVE FUN CRUISING

BENEFITS OF JOINING

SAVE TIME – SAVE MONEY – and get the best and most up to date INFORMATION !

7) OCEAN POSSE
CAPTAIN RON AWARD ENTRY

San Bank in Bocas ⚠️ 09° 19.8323' N 082° 14.9134' W

This is a Captain Ron learning experience. Jeariene and I got to Bocas del Toro South Anchorage. I wanted to use the automatically adjusting anchor marker buoy that I purchased. So I tied the strap to the anchor before setting it. That was our first mistake. This area is a panga super highway. In broad daylight, I fortunately waved off a panga that was going to run right into it. Even though it is big (14 inches diameter, 7 inches above the water line), white with reflective tape. He missed it by inches. When it gets dark, it would be a definite goner. So we hung a flashing Luci light on it, which helped it survive until the next day. The next day, we hauled up the anchor, untied the buoy and set the anchor back in 12 feet with a 5 to 1 scope, backing down so I knew it was set.

That night and the next morning heavy rains and winds caused our anchor to drag. I contacted the boat that we had moved closer to, and he indicated that the winds were dying down and I don’t need to worry about anymore dragging. BUT, a change in direction of the winds was devastating.

So Sunday mid-morning, a nice couple on s/v Rise, anchored near us, got in their dinghy and came over to say hi and to ask a question. “Are you aground?” I finally looked around and saw that my boat wasn’t facing the way everyone else’s boat was, and the wind was on my beam and not my bow. Yes, after dragging, we had swung into a shallow area and the tide was going out, so matters got worse by the minute. Our boat was stuck on a sand bar!! This great couple tried to help by pulling a very long line from the top of my mast, to heel us over. They didn’t have the power in their dinghy, so we were unsuccessful.

By the time low tide had hit (around 1:15 PM), we were heeled over about 15 degrees. The next high tide was 7:30 PM and it was going to be no higher than when we first ran aground. So we (actually I) thought that we wait through the next low tide (which wasn’t going to be as low) until the real high tide at 6:38 on Monday morning. We wern’t looking forward to sleeping like that.

Fortunately Jeariene had contacted our Ocean Posse friends, Kevin and Karen, on their catamaran “Feel N Froggy”, who were on their way back to Red Frog Marina, and only minutes away from sailing right by us. They were awesome! They anchored and came over to us in their dinghy. They circled us, checking the depth and re-positioned our anchor so we could pull Knot Right into deeper waters. Then they took that long line out from our mast top to tip us over. We unfurled the main so the wind on the beam could also help to tip us over enough so we could rock the keel off of the sandy bottom. All the while, I would be using the windless to take up slack in the anchor chain to kedge us off. Unfortunately, their dinghy wasn’t powerful enough. Then two gentlemen on a power boat came over to offer help. They had two outboards of 150 HP each. They huffed and puffed, put my rail into the water, I took in the anchor chain slack, and voila... we slid off the sand bar and popped up straight in 20 feet of water. There was an audience of people watching this fiasco from one of the floating bars 300 yards away, and you could hear the cheers! Apparently, the two gentlemen came from that floating bar, so everyone there was watching our Captain Ron experience. We celebrated by having dinner with Kevin and Karen at the other Floating Bar.

The moral of the story is: Just like when you ask the question of yourself, “should I reef”, that is when you should reef. “Should I re-anchor”, Hell Yes and NOW!”

SY KNOT RIGHT 🇺🇸 Walt & Jearine - Beneteau 47'

8) OCEAN POSSE
AWARD CATEGORIES

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR
• YODA OF THE YEAR
• SPEEDY AWARD
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD
  sponsored by NOVAMAR
• COURAGE AWARD
• CLEAN OCEAN AWARD

• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION AWARD
  sponsored by PREDICT WIND
• GALLEY GOD(ESS)
• GOOD SAMARITAN
• BOAT YOGA POSE
• SANDCASTLE OF THE YEAR

FLOR DE CAÑA SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

9) WHY GO TO CANNES' 🇫🇷
YACHTING FESTIVAL THIS SEPTEMBER

The Cannes Yachting Festival (Sept 10-15, 2024) is one of the world’s premier boat shows, and Ocean Posse participants and cruisers might find it worth attending for several reasons:

Over 700 Yachts on display with Cutting-Edge Yacht Tech & Equipment

See the latest in bluewater cruising yachts Catamarans, Monohulls and Powerboats and expedition boats. in 2 marinas connected via aquaferry. Explore new gear, anchoring solutions, and energy-efficient systems (solar, lithium, hydro-gen tech).

Awesome Networking with Cruisers & Industry Experts

Connect and meet up with other long-distance cruisers, yacht owners, and industry pros.

Share your knowledge and tips about global cruising routes, including the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific crossings.

The Location – It’s Cannes!

One of the most glamorous settings for a yacht show, with fantastic food, scenery, and a chance to unwind. Ideal stopover if you’re currently cruising in the Med before heading westward.

SPECIAL OCEAN POSSE EVENT IN CANNES

SPECIAL EVENT OCEAN POSSE & BEN TAYLOR

Networking and Fun

@ 🇫🇷 Cannes Yachting Festival

Captains & Yacht owners

have fun at the most casual Marine Industry Networking event

@ LUPITAS on THU SEP 11th ’25 18:00 – 21:30

LEGENDARY FREE Flor de Caña Rum Cocktails

and Special Tacos courtesy of Ocean Posse & Taylor Media

10) INTRODUCING A NEW
PARTNERSHIP MARINA
IN THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS

MARINA SALINA 🇮🇹 ITALY
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

38° 33.34′ N 014°52.029′ E

We are pleased to support the Ocean Posse participants with a 10 % discount at our marina.

CONTACT

Mobile (+39) 090 3692561

VHF CH 11

HOURS VHF: 08:30 20:00

• Berths with water and electricity (220
• 380 v, 63A)
• Mooring attendants from 8:00 to 21:00
• Fire services
• Dock lighting
• Video surveillance
• Water and electricity on the dock
• Hauling with a max. 8 m slide
• Launching with a max. 8 m slide

• Fueldock and Bunkerng nearby
• ATM 200 m away
• Mini market
• Bar
• Wine shop
• Ice cream shop
• Laundry on request
• Taxi / Car rental / Scooter rental / Bikes
• Dinghy rental / Diving / Excursions
• Catering on board

NEARBY:
Pollara Bay & Cliffs

One of Salina’s most breathtaking locations, Pollara Bay is set in a massive volcanic crater that has eroded into the sea. The cliffs, rock formations, and crystal-clear water make it an iconic spot, especially at sunset. It’s also famous as a filming location for Il Postino.

SAILING AND CRUISING IN THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS
JUST GOT A LOT EASIER & AFFORDABLE

11) EOLIAN INSPIRATION
📜
IL POSTINO | PABLO NERUDA

Watch the full movie for free here ▶

l Postino (The Postman, 1994) is a poetic Italian film set in the 1950s on a small Mediterranean island. It tells the story of Mario Ruoppolo, a shy and uneducated fisherman’s son who takes a job as a postman, delivering mail to the island’s only notable resident—exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

At first, Mario is intimidated by Neruda’s fame and literary prowess, but as he delivers letters to the poet, he becomes fascinated by poetry and its power to express emotions. With Neruda’s guidance, Mario learns to use metaphors and poetic language, which helps him win the love of Beatrice, a beautiful barmaid.

As Mario grows in confidence and finds his own poetic voice, the film subtly weaves in themes of love, longing, political change, and the power of words. However, as Neruda eventually leaves the island and political tensions rise, Mario’s fate takes a poignant turn, leaving a lasting impression of his deep connection to poetry and its ability to transform a simple life into something profound.

The real Nobel prize winning Pablo Neruda wrote many poems about the sea.One of his most famous sea-themed poems is "El mar" (The Sea)

https://fernandogros.com/el-mar/ ▶

12) CRUISING THE TUAMOTUS 🇵🇫 FRENCH POLYNESIA

Beautiful Kauehi, Tuamotus

The lagoon is rich in marine life, making it a great spot for diving and snorkeling.

The atoll is not as developed as Fakarava, making it a peaceful, untouched paradise.

Polynesian traditions remain strong, with Tahitian and Tuamotuan cultures influencing daily life.

Kauehi is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia, known for its pristine lagoon, pearl farming, and remote charm.

TRAVERSING FRENCH POLYNESIA WITHOUT A LONG STAY VISA ▶

For those without long stay visas you can follow this trade wind optimized route to maximize your exploration of the Tuamotus FP

TIDE STATIONS NEARBY

• Rahiroa (Rangiroa) Island
• Hao (Bow or La Harpe)
• Mangareva Island

MY DOWNSHIFTING 🇺🇸 Carine - Nordhavn 47'

13) OCEAN POSSE
YACHT INSURANCE SEMINAR

OCEAN POSSE YACHT INSURANCE SEMINAR

brought to you by NOVAMAR YACHT INSURANCE >>
JOIN THE POSSE FOR SEMINAR ACCESS

SATURDAY APRIL 5th @ 1400 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME

14) ATTEMPTED PIRACY ☠️ HONDURAS

Attempted Piracy - not successful

Date: 2025-03-20 - 14:00

Location: Honduras - Offshore10

Lat/Long: 15° 25.566' N 081° 11.814' W

Details: A catamaran with 3 persons onboard departed Isla San Andres, Colombia for the Rio Dulce, Guatemala. At 1400HRS and position 15-25.6N 081-11.8W, approximately 125nmile off The Honduran coast and about 25nmiles south of the Thunder Knoll fishing shoals the crew observed 4 fishing boats approaching rapidly. The yacht altered course, putting on all sail/speed. The crew was monitoring VHF and there were no communications.

The crew had discussed their plan before departure and gathered and then displayed multiple flare guns, a paint ball type weapon, a spear gun and a large fishing gaff. Three of the pursuing vessels were smaller, unable to keep up and fell away, coming no closer than about a ½ mile. The largest (4th) panga had 2 men wearing orange life jackets standing prominently near the bow and continued to pursue the yacht and approached to 200-300FT before they were able to see the crew’s very visible and ready preparation before they chose to end the pursuit.

The yacht continued their passage without further incident and arrived safely in Guatemala. A report was made to the Honduran Navy by phone.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/

15) ONGOING
OUTBOARD THEFT🥷🏻 INCIDENTS IN PANAMA
GOVT INCREASES PENALTIES

Details: A catamaran anchored overnight in the Chagres river and was boarded at about 0300HRS. The yacht's security video captured the masked and gloved thief, armed with a knife as he rummaged the cockpit area. Nothing was taken, but when the dinghy davit lines were cut the loud noise scared the thief off. The dinghy was chain locked to the yacht.

Secured: Locked Weapons: Knife

16) SAVE THE DATE

MEET THE SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISING FLEET

SAT AUG 30 ’25 🇫🇯 FIJI

https://oceanposse.com/nimrsvp/ ▶

Nawi Island Marina - Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji

17) YACHTS FOR SALE IN PACIFIC MEXICO

1985 DeFever 44 Trawler | 44ft Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1985-defever-44-trawler-9694624/

1986 Custom Pinta Exception 53 | 53ft Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1986-custom-pinta-exception-53-9638175/

2006 Saga 43 | 43ft Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2006-saga-43-9715637/

16) MONTEGO BAY YACHT CLUB 🇯🇲 JAMAICA SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

38° 55.6433′ N 008° 43.1933′ E

We offer a 10 % discount for the active Participants in the Ocean Posse

Montego Bay Yacht Club

Montego Freeport,

P.O.Box 1133, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Office Tel: +1 (876) 979-8038

• WATER
• FUEL
• GASOLINE
• RESTAURANT
• BAR
• LAUNDRY
• WEATHER
• T.V. in the Clubhouse
• PROVISIONING
• TAXIS AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION

If you are in Montego Bay, there is no shortage of dive sites either. The name Widowmaker's Cave may not be the most appealing, it's definitely an exciting site for all levels of divers.

17) FLOATING THE
ANCHOR CHAIN TO PROTECT 🪸 CORAL

Where and why we float the chain: At anchorages with (lots of) coral heads to avoid the chain tangling on those coral heads. If the chain would tangle on the coral heads it would have a couple of adverse effects: the catenary effect of the chain is reduced (or even eliminated if tangled very close to the bow of the yacht), lifting the anchor might be difficult or even impossible without diving, the galvanization of the anchor chain chafes off faster, more coral gets destroyed. The adverse effect of floating the chain is obviously to loose the friction of the part of the chain which is floating. The way we position / deploy the buoys we end up with some 10m chain on the seabed. There is obviously a residual risk of even that chain tangling, but less likely given of the length of the chain thereafter and rather stable wind direction of the trade winds.

Which buoyance devices we use: When we arrived in the Tuamotus we started off with fenders as we did not carry anything else. The disadvantage of fenders is that they compress if they submerse, one gets growth on them, etc. Those hard plastique pearl farm buoys are much better. Some people say, they are washed ashore everywhere in the Tuamotus. Well that was not our experience. Kauehi was our first atoll and in any reasonable distance from the village the shore line was cleaned by the locals. Nevertheless, many villagers have their stash of pearl farm buoys in their gardens. So we simply walked to one obviously very friendly fellow and asked whether we could have four of them. He actually picked the four nicest he had, of the same color, including lines attached to them and did not even want to have anything in return. We put on clips/little carabines to the ends of the lines for fast attachment / detachment to/from the anchor chain and were ready to go.

What kind of clips we use: We use little stainless steel carabiners, the size is basically driven by the diameter to fit through a chain link, i.e. it needs to be sufficiently thin (we have a 10mm DIN chain, so carabiners end up being like 4-5cm in length), we use different sorts, i.e. whatever we found in our related spare part bag

Where we position the buoys: Our approach is to put the first buoy typically / normal conditions at 10m plus water depth from the anchor, then a buoy every 5m of chain, after the fourth we let out another 7-8m of chain and then hook the bridle. There are other recommendations which take a multiplier to water depth (like 1.5x or 2x water depth), but we just find that not suitable to accommodate for all ranges of water depths. The 10m basically decides how much chain ends up on the seabed, one could do less if the sandy patch is really small or more if there is a larger sandy patch to anchor (in case one sees that at all).

With this approach we end up with a few meters more chain out than based on our non-floating chain length rule under normal conditions (we apply waterdepth plus 30m) – in bad conditions we obviously deploy more in both cases (non-floating and floating).

How we deploy the buoys: First we explore to find the spot we want to anchor as usual. If possible we would look for a sandy patch for the anchor itself, but despite the clear water, when anchoring in deeper water we are not able to see for good and/or be able to drop the anchor that accurately. We put out as much chain as we feel comfortable to “drive in” the anchor. Then we pull up the chain again to the first spot for the first buoy (the 10m + water depth), then put out 5m chain, attach a buoy, etc. (lifting the anchor is as usual, just stopping at every buoy and unclipping it, it does not really delay the process once one gets the hang of it).

How we clip on the clips: For us it is exactly the same as putting the chain hook / bridle on. So in our case we have to bend over the pull pit and downward to clip them on, but as said, that’s the same as we do with the bridle as well and “normal procedure” for us. If we had a set-up where the chain hook would come through the bow roller, the clips could go through as well as they are way smaller than our chain hook and in our case it would be easy to get a clip and line from the front through the bowroller back on deck. Difficulties I could only see arising if it was – due to bow design / set-up – tricky to get to the chain outside of the bow or the clip from the front through the bowroller back on deck or into the chain locker, but that’s set-up specific, hard to comment in general (in the worst case I would deploy by dinghy).

General experience: In general, the boat swings easier than with a non-floating chain, due to the missing friction of the chain length towards the yacht. In places where the wind is dominant anyways and is stable trade wind from the same sector all the time, that’s no issue at all. In places, where swinging is dominated rather by current or tide, one obviously has to check for the space.

In our case only the buoy closest to the yacht is floating on water level in a low wind situation, the others are submersed. We actually measured in one instance the depths of the clips on the anchor chain on an anchorage where the anchor was at 11.5m depths: the clips of the buoys were at 7m, 4m, 2m and 0m water depth respectively (starting from the anchor) at low wind.

Practical application on board using fish net floats

20) GOOD NAUTICAL ⚓

ISLA EL TIGRE 🇭🇳 HONDURAS

Isla del Tigre, located in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras, offers a well-protected anchorage near the town of Amapala on its northern side. This anchorage is favored for its shelter and proximity to the town's amenities. However, mariners should approach during daylight hours due to the presence of rocks and shallow areas that require careful navigation

Tides: The Gulf of Fonseca experiences a moderate tidal range of 2 to 3 meters, with semi-diurnal tides. Currents can be strong, especially near the entrance to the Gulf and around the islands. Timing your arrival and departure with the tide schedule is important. There is also a Papagayo Winds Spillover effect which can trap folks in the south anchorage for a few days.

⚓ 13° 17.7542' N 087° 39.1268' W

Winds: During the dry season (November to April), prevailing winds are typically from the northeast and are generally mild. In the wet season (May to October), winds can shift and intensify, often coming from the south or southwest, with squalls and sudden wind shifts being common. ​

If entering Honduras through the Gulf of Fonseca, you'll need to check in with customs and immigration. Checking into the country via sailboat at Amapala is straightforward, with both port captain and immigration offices located at the end of the pier, and the process is free. ​

20) DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY 🔱
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

https://oceanposse.com/delta-mike/

Authorized Dealer, we offer engines, support and original products with factory warranty.

Delta Mike Marine Supply is a company founded in Jan 2020 with a management that have over 15 years experience in maritime business.

As Yanmar Authorized Dealer, we offer engines, engine services, spare parts, lube oils and all types of Marine products for you all necessities.

Our work site is in Colón, in the Atlantic side close to The Panama Canal but covering all the Country.

22) OCEAN POSSE
LONG LINE LOCATIONS

Long lines, driftnets, ghostiest, and other illegal fishing techniques are the main source of microplastics pollution in the Pacific Ocean. Further these environmentally damaging fishing systems increase the percentage of by-catch, causing many millions of tons of fish to be discarded yearly.

Panama Posse participants are advised that Longlines along the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Panama create risk for your voyage. For this reason we have created this page https://panamaposse.com/longlines to help located longlines that can disable your vessel. Most countries have jurisdiction over the waters within 200 nautical miles of their shores, called the exclusive economic zone, set by the Law of the Sea, however enforcement is very limited.

What are Long Lines?

Long lines are an efficient and well administered, yet illegal, method of over-fishing practiced by commercial fisherman all over the world. The fishing technique uses a long main fishing line that extends sometimes dozens of miles. The line contains branch lines (snoods or gangions) which clips onto the main line. These branches of lines contain hooks for randomly catching fish that are in the area. Main line with its branches can contain as many as 3,000 hooks which target swordfish, tuna, halibut, sablefish and of valuable species. Longlines attached at the surface catch Tuna or Swordfish whereas those attached at the sea floor target ground fish such as halibut or groupers or cod.

Longline fishing is a prevalent form of commercial fishing and allows for massive fish yields. Longlines can be used near the surface (pelagic longlines) to catch open-water fish such as tuna and swordfish, or near the seafloor (demersal longlines) to catch bottom-dwelling fish such as cod or halibut. Longlines consist of a very long mainline (up to 60 miles long) that is set and dragged behind a boat. The mainline has thousands of attached branchlines, each containing baited hooks used to lure and capture target fish. An unfortunate consequence of the longline design is that it attracts and easily snags non-target marine life (known as bycatch). A wide range of animals such as sea turtles, sharks, seals, seabirds, and marine mammals can get caught on hooks or entangled in fishing line (Fig. 1). Interactions with longlines can cause non-target animals, many of which are endangered, to suffer injury and even mortality.

23) SEA TURTLES 🐢
ALONG THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PACIFIC COAST

The Central American Pacific coastline, stretching from southern Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, is home to some of the world's most important sea turtle nesting sites. These waters and beaches host a variety of sea turtle species that play a crucial role in maintaining marine ecosystems. Despite their ecological significance, sea turtles face numerous threats, including habitat destruction, climate change, and poaching. Conservation efforts across the region have been working to protect and preserve these ancient mariners for future generations.

Several species of sea turtles frequent the Pacific waters and beaches of Central America. Among the most commonly encountered are the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Green (Chelonia mydas), and Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. Each species has distinct characteristics, nesting habits, and conservation challenges.

Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

One of the most abundant sea turtle species, the Olive Ridley is known for its mass nesting events called "arribadas," where thousands of females come ashore simultaneously to lay their eggs. Nicaragua's La Flor Wildlife Refuge and Ostional in Costa Rica are among the most famous arribada nesting sites. These turtles are relatively small, averaging around 70 cm in shell length, and primarily feed on jellyfish, crustaceans, and fish.merica can continue to be a vital sanctuary for these remarkable creatures.

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

The largest of all sea turtles, the Leatherback can reach lengths of over 2 meters and weigh up to 900 kg. Unlike other sea turtles, the Leatherback has a unique soft, leathery shell instead of a hard carapace. These turtles migrate vast distances, often crossing entire ocean basins, and primarily feed on jellyfish. Playa Grande in Costa Rica's Las Baulas National Park is one of the key nesting sites for this critically endangered species along the Pacific coast.

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Named for the greenish color of their fat rather than their shell, Green Turtles are herbivorous and primarily feed on seagrasses and algae. Though more commonly associated with the Caribbean, they do nest along the Pacific coast, particularly in protected areas such as the Gulf of Fonseca and Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Green Turtles are important for maintaining healthy seagrass beds and marine habitats.

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

While more prevalent in the Caribbean, some Hawksbill Turtles also nest on the Pacific shores of Central America. They are smaller in size and recognized for their beautiful, patterned shells, which unfortunately make them targets for illegal trade. Hawksbills primarily feed on sponges and play a vital role in coral reef health by preventing sponge overgrowth.

## **Nesting Habits and Life Cycle**

Sea turtles have a complex life cycle that spans decades. Females return to the beaches where they were born to lay eggs, often traveling thousands of kilometers to reach these sites. The nesting season varies by species but generally occurs between June and December. A single female can lay multiple clutches of eggs during a season, each containing around 50 to 150 eggs. After a two-month incubation period, the hatchlings emerge and make a perilous journey to the sea, facing numerous predators along the way.

The survival rate of hatchlings is exceedingly low—only about one in a thousand reaches adulthood. Those that do survive can live for decades, with some individuals surpassing 50 years of age. Once mature, they return to their natal beaches to continue the cycle.

## **Threats to Sea Turtles**

Sea turtles along the Central American Pacific coast face an array of threats, many of which are human-induced. Some of the most pressing issues include:

### **1. Habitat Destruction**

Coastal development, including tourism infrastructure and urban expansion, has led to the destruction of crucial nesting habitats. Artificial lighting disorients hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean, and human activity can compact sand, making it difficult for females to dig nests.

### **2. Climate Change**

Rising global temperatures impact sea turtles in several ways. Warmer sand temperatures can skew sex ratios, producing more females and threatening genetic diversity. Additionally, stronger storms and rising sea levels can erode nesting beaches and destroy nests.

### **3. Fisheries Bycatch**

Unintentional capture in fishing gear, known as bycatch, is a significant threat to sea turtles. Longline and gillnet fisheries often entangle turtles, leading to drowning or severe injuries. Efforts to introduce turtle-friendly fishing gear, such as TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices), have helped mitigate this threat.

### **4. Poaching and Illegal Trade**

Despite protective laws, sea turtle eggs, meat, and shells remain valuable in illegal markets. In some coastal communities, turtle eggs are considered a delicacy, and Hawksbill shells are sought after for jewelry and ornaments. Enforcement of anti-poaching laws remains a challenge in many regions.

## **Conservation Efforts and Community Involvement**

Across Central America, numerous conservation initiatives are working to protect sea turtles through research, education, and community involvement. Some of the key conservation strategies include:

### **1. Nesting Beach Protection**

Many organizations work to safeguard nesting beaches by patrolling against poaching, relocating nests to safer locations, and reducing artificial lighting. Protected areas such as Ostional Wildlife Refuge (Costa Rica), La Flor Wildlife Refuge (Nicaragua), and Las Baulas National Park (Costa Rica) have been instrumental in preserving nesting populations.

### **2. Community-Based Conservation**

Local communities play a vital role in protecting sea turtles. Ecotourism initiatives provide alternative livelihoods to former egg poachers by involving them in turtle conservation efforts. Guided turtle-watching tours generate revenue while raising awareness about the importance of conservation.

### **3. Sustainable Fishing Practices**

Efforts to reduce bycatch include promoting the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and educating fishers on best practices. Regional agreements and regulations, such as those under the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC), have been critical in addressing fishing-related threats.

### **4. Rehabilitation and Research**

Sea turtle rescue centers rehabilitate injured turtles, often victims of fishing gear entanglement or boat strikes. Scientific research, including satellite tracking and genetic studies, enhances understanding of turtle migration patterns and informs conservation policies.

## **The Future of Sea Turtles in Central America**

While significant progress has been made in protecting sea turtles along the Central American Pacific coast, challenges remain. Strengthening enforcement of conservation laws, addressing climate change impacts, and promoting sustainable coastal development are key to ensuring the survival of these species. Continued collaboration between governments, conservation organizations, and local communities will be essential in safeguarding sea turtles for generations to come.

Sea turtles have roamed the world's oceans for millions of years, playing an essential role in marine ecosystems. Their survival depends on the collective efforts of individuals and communities committed to their protection. By fostering conservation awareness and implementing effective strategies, Central A

Nesting Habits and Life Cycle

Sea turtles have a complex life cycle that spans decades. Females return to the beaches where they were born to lay eggs, often traveling thousands of kilometers to reach these sites. The nesting season varies by species but generally occurs between June and December. A single female can lay multiple clutches of eggs during a season, each containing around 50 to 150 eggs. After a two-month incubation period, the hatchlings emerge and make a perilous journey to the sea, facing numerous predators along the way.

The survival rate of hatchlings is exceedingly low—only about one in a thousand reaches adulthood. Those that do survive can live for decades, with some individuals surpassing 50 years of age. Once mature, they return to their natal beaches to continue the cycle.

Overall threats to Sea Turtles

Habitat Destruction

Coastal development, including tourism infrastructure and urban expansion, has led to the destruction of crucial nesting habitats.

Climate Change

Rising global temperatures impact sea turtles in several ways. Warmer sand temperatures can skew sex ratios, producing more females and threatening genetic diversity.

Fisheries Bycatch

Unintentional capture in fishing gear, known as bycatch, is a significant threat to sea turtles. Longline and gillnet fisheries often entangle turtles, leading to drowning or severe injuries

Poaching and Illegal Trade

Despite protective laws, sea turtle eggs, meat, and shells remain valuable in illegal markets. In some coastal communities, turtle eggs are considered a delicacy, and Hawksbill shells are sought after for jewelry and ornaments.

Conservation Efforts and Community Involvement

Across Central America, numerous conservation initiatives are working to protect sea turtles through research, education, and community involvement.

• Nesting Beach Protection
• Community-Based Conservation
• Sustainable Fishing Practices
• Rehabilitation and Research

Sea turtles have roamed the world's oceans for millions of years, playing an essential role in marine ecosystems.

24) THE SMALLEST VESSEL 🚣 EVER
TO CROSS THE PANAMA CANAL

The smallest vessel ever to transit the Panama Canal was a swimming trainer’s paddleboard—yes, a swimmer!

In 1928, Richard Halliburton, an American adventurer and travel writer, swam the entire length of the canal in 10 days. He was officially classified as a vessel and paid a toll of just 36 cents—the lowest toll ever recorded!

If we’re talking about actual boats, the smallest was likely a tiny canoe or kayak, though records on that are murkier. However, many small sailboats and even personal rowboats have made the journey over the years.

25) OCEAN POSSE CANAL AGENT

To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact our dedicated Panama Canal agents and sponsors of the Panama Posse and the Pacific Posse

CENTENARIO CONSULTING

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick Gálvez

26) OCEAN POSSE FLEET IS 🛰️ TRACKING

Tracking the Ocean Posse ... MORE ▶

Please be on the lookout for John Jones, single handing on Quiet, a Tayana 37, lost his mast about January 27 after departing El Salvador. He has fashioned a jury rig and is making for Nuku Hiva, FP. His AIS is non functional, but his tracking link works at: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Quiet/
To conserve power he does not run his tracker 24/7.

Underway making way for over 60 days now -
His Last known position as of
Last Update 2025 MAR 22 @ 19:08

Boat Speed: 1.9 kts

Location: 10 21.990 s 125 46.230 w

John Jones' Slow Odyssey

27) MEDIA PARTNERS

LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

OCEAN POSSE HAS A SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION RATE
FOLLOW THIS LINK ▶

28) SPONSORSHIP MARINAS
WITH OCEAN POSSE DISCOUNTS

1. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor Ventura Isle, Ventura CA, USA
2. 🇺🇸 Vintage Marina , Oxnard, CA, USA
3. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay - Chula Vista, CA, USA
4. 🇲🇽 ECV Marina - Ensenada Mexico
5. 🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas - Mexico
6. 🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo - Mexico
7. 🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes - Mexico
8. 🇲🇽 Marina el Cid - Mazatlan - Mexico
9. 🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta - Mexico
10. 🇲🇽 Marina Puerto de La Navidad - Barra de Navidad - Mexico
11. 🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa - Mexico
12. 🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco - Mexico
13. 🇲🇽 Vicente's Moorings, Acapulco - Mexico
14. 🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas - Mexico
15. 🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela - Guatemala
16. 🇸🇻 Marina Bahia del Sol - El Salvador
17. 🇸🇻 La Palma Moorings - Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
18. 🇳🇮 Marina Puesta del Sol - Nicaragua
19. 🇨🇷 Marina Papagayo - Costa Rica
20. 🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina - Costa Rica
21. 🇨🇷 Flamingo Marina - Costa Rica
22. 🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad, Ecuador
23. 🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina - Panama
24. 🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina - Panama
25. 🇵🇦 Flamenco Marina - Panama
26. 🇵🇦 La Playita Marina - Panama
27. 🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina - Panama
28. 🇵🇦 Bocas Marina - Panama
29. 🇵🇦 Solarte Marina - Panama
30. 🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina - Panama
31. 🇵🇦 Turtle Cay Marina - Panama
32. 🇵🇦 IGY Red Frog Marina - Panama
33. 🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena - Colombia
34. 🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena - Colombia
35. 🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero - Colombia
36. 🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta - Colombia
37. 🇨🇴 Manzanillo Marina Club - Colombia
38. 🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club - Jamaica
39. 🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina - Jamaica
40. 🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club - Jamaica
41. 🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina - Cayman Islands
42. 🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina - Roatan - Honduras
43. 🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina - Roatan - Honduras
44. 🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan - Honduras
45. 🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort - Guatemala
46. 🇧🇿 Hummngbird Marina - Placencia - Belize
47. 🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club - Belize
48. 🇧🇿 Hakim Marina & Boatyard - Belize
49. 🇲🇽 Marina Makax - Isla Mujeres - Mexico
50. 🇲🇽 Marina V&V - Quintana Roo - Mexico
51. 🇲🇽 Marina El Cid - Cancún - Mexico
52. 🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo - Cuba
53. 🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard - Turks and Caicos
54. 🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina - Bahamas
55. 🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina - Bahamas
56. 🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina - Bahamas
57. 🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina - Bahamas
58. 🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia - Dominican Republic
59. 🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina - Dominican Republic
60. 🇻🇮 ST. Croix Yacht Club - USVI
61. 🇻🇮 Geen Cay Marina - USVI
62. 🇻🇬 Virgin Goda Yacht Harbour- BVI
63. 🇵🇷 Marina Pescadaria - Puerto Rico
64. 🇸🇽 IGY Simpson Bay Marina- Sint Maaarten
65. 🇩🇲 Dominica Marina Cente - Dominica
66. 🇰🇳 Port Zante Marina - St Kitts & Nevis
67. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor - Marathon, FL, USA
68. 🇺🇸 Pier 66 Hotel & Marina - Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
69. 🇺🇸 Titusville Marina - FL, USA
70. 🇺🇸 Port 32 Marinas - Jacksonville, FL , USA
71. 🇺🇸 Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor Marina - FL , USA
72. 🇺🇸 Morningstar Marinas Golden Isles St. Simons Isl. - Georgia, USA
73. 🇺🇸 Windmill Harbour Marina - Hilton Head South Carolina , USA
74. 🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina - Savannah Georgia , US
75. 🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine - Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA
76. 🇺🇸 Holden Beach - Town Dock, North Carolina , USA
77. 🇺🇸 Portside Marina - Morehead City, North Carolina USA
78. 🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, VA USA
79. 🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, VA USA
80. 🇺🇸 York River Yacht Haven - Virginia , USA
81. 🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing - VA USA
82. 🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina - Deltaville, VA USA
83. 🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina - Topping, VA US
84. 🇧🇲 Pier 41 Marina - Bermuda - Bermuda
85. 🇧🇲 Caroline Bay Marina - Bermuda
86. 🇵🇹 Marina De Cascais - Portugal
87. 🇵🇹 Marina Funchal - PORTUGAL
88. 🇪🇸 Alcaidesa Marina - Spain
89. 🇪🇸 Marina Del Odiel - Spain
90. 🇪🇸 IGY Málaga Marina - Spain
91. 🇮🇹 Marina dei Presidi - Italy
92. 🇮🇹 Marina di Balestrate- Italy
93. 🇮🇹 Marina di Brindisi- Italy
94. 🇮🇹 Marina di Chiavari - Italy
95. 🇮🇹 Marina di Forio - Italy
96. 🇮🇹 Marina di Teulada - Italy
97. 🇮🇹 Marina di Policoro - Italy
98. 🇮🇹 Marina di Vieste - Italy
99. 🇮🇹 Marina de Procida - Italy
100. 🇮🇹 Marina de Villasimius- Italy
101. 🇮🇹 Marina Molo Vecchio - Italy
102. 🇮🇹 Marina Salina - Italy
103. 🇹🇳 Marina Bizerte - Tunisia
104. 🇪🇸 Puerto Sotogrande - Spain
105. 🇪🇸 Yacht Port Cartagena - Spain
106. 🇬🇮 Ocean Village Marina - Gibraltar
107. 🇨🇻 Marina Mindelo - Cape Verde
108. 🇨🇱 Roaring Forties Marina - Chile
109. 🇳🇺 Niue Yacht Club - Niue
110. 🇫🇯 Copra Shed Marina - Fiji
111. 🇫🇯 Nawi Island Marina - Fiji
112. 🇫🇯 Denarau Marina - Fiji
113. 🇫🇯 Musket Cove - Fiji
114. 🇫🇯 Royal Suva Yacht Club - Fiji
115. 🇫🇯 Sau Bay Moorings - Fiji
116. 🇫🇯 Vuda Point Marina - Fiji
117. 🇳🇿 Gulf Harbour Marina - New Zealand
118. 🇳🇿 Marsden Cove Marina - New Zealand
119. 🇹🇴 Vava'u Boatyard - Tonga
120. 🇻🇺 Yachting World - Vanuatu
121. 🇦🇺 Rivergate Marina - Australia

Check this map for 120+ Ocean Posse friendly marinas near you

29) OCEAN POSSE SPONSORS

• ABERNATHY - PANAMA
• BELIZE TOURISM BOARD
• BOAT HOW TO
• CABRALES BOAT YARD
• CENTENARIO CONSULTING - PANAMA CANAL
• CHRIS PARKER – MARINE WEATHER CENTER
• DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY PANAMA
• DIGITAL YACHT
• DOWNWIND MARINE
• EL JOBO DIST. COSTA RICA
• FLOR DE CAÑA
• HAKIM MARINA AND BOAT YARD
• HERTZ RENTAL CARS MEXICO
• HOME DEPOT PRO MEXICO
• LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES
• MARINA PAPAGAYO

• NOVAMAR YACHT INSURANCE
• PANAMA YACHT BROKER
• PREDICT WIND
• SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
• SAN DIEGO MARINE EXCHANGE
• SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
• SHAFT SHARK
• SUN POWERED YACHTS
• WIKUS MARINE AUTO
• WESTMARINE PRO
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS

30) STRATEGIC PARTNERS

• SSCA
• Coconutz – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica
• Advertising Partners – Summerlin, LV - USA
• Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

Sea of Cortez 🇲🇽 MEXICO