FLEET UPDATE 2018-02-02

1) Fred Again
Hola.  Fred Again III is In Huatulco at Marina Chahue- waiting for our Tpec window.  We had no problem getting a slip (we heard others did).  We were told that our late in the day Sunday arrival was likely beneficial.  We expect to leave for Chiapas on Sunday with Volante.   Also- received my replacement credit card which was mailed to Huatulco resident Lee Burnette from the boat Que Sera.  (Thank you Lee and to Dee Dee for arranging).  All is well that ends well, and I will be much more careful about where I use my credit card going forward.

2) WELCOME to the Panama Posse  GAVIA
We truly appreciate all the time and energy youโ€™ve expended in gathering all this very useful (and fun) information for our travel to Panama, arranging special discounts for the Posse, and creating opportunities of comradery among our fellow cruisers.   
We look forward to meeting you!


A hazy cell phone photo of the Supermoon from Marina Chiapas, moments before the eclipse commenced.


Our warm regards, Bruce and Lila

Gavia
Moon

3)  WELCOME to the Panama Posse SV Colmena

Thanks for adding me. I am already on my way, so I guess I am a 2017 boat. I am in Zihuatanejo, continuing south in a couple weeks.

-Kevin   



4) CrossRoads – Costa Rica

  CrossRoads is OK! see where I am located.
https://fms.ws/sF3X3/9.77727N/84.89587W




5) MYLA
We have our Zarpe in hand and we’re leaving Mexico. We came down with the Ha Ha in 2015 and have been here since, except for some visits to the states for a few months. This is a big moment for us, but we’re excited. It helps having fellow cruisers around to share the adventures.  
We are currently in Chiapas where we just returned from a 4 day inland tour of some Mayan ruins and a colonial town in the rainforests and mountains of Chiapas, Mexico.  We went with fellow Panama Possee boats Sarafina, Aneila, Interlude, and Apurna. We are also all leaving tomorrow for Bahia del Sol, El Salvadore.
The land cruising was a great experience, and I suspect other members of our happy cruising and touring band will have already written something. While the drive there was arduous, the payoff with three different Mayan sites, water falls, and a colonial town made up for the transportation issues. I’ll never whine about standing watch again! You can use the bathroom whenever, you can get up and move…you get the idea! Ten hours in a van can be trying.
If I was to do the trip again, I might narrow it down a bit with a trip to San Cristobal, the colonial town, for at least one, if not two nights so you can really relax and explore. There’s an indigenous village nearby that we didn’t visit because we had some travel issues that cut down our available time, but that would have been cool to see. I’d then travel to the water falls, Agua Azul. They’re on the way to Pelenke, the site of some of the most amazing Mayan ruins and a museum. There are several other sites that are amazing, but the travel time, let alone the roads, make it a little daunting.  We had an amazing driver, Jose, and our wonderful tour guide, Luis Sanchez at 962-216-6611.
I’d also ask to have a list of the expenses upfront. There were costs for entries into park areas, then another entry for a bus ride to another area of a park, then another for a park pass….etc., etc., etc.  It would be a lot easier if the guide company just included it in the price. We went to a lot of sites and probably paid somewhere to the tune of 500-700 pesos for all the entry fees. I’d also recommend packing drinks and food for the trip. Oxos aren’t known for their healthy selection or their speed in service. Just one cruiser’s opinion. and very glad we went.
We’re looking forward to our travels into Central America, which start tomorrow! Good bye, Mexico. It has been a great time and I have a feeling we’ll be back someday! Hope we get to meet more of you as we continue south.
S/V Myla
6) Serafina.

Posted 15 March, 2016
WARNING: REEF JUST OUTSIDE SHELTER BAY MARINA
From Christian and Vibe, SY Danish Blue

We want to warn other sailors of the reef just outside Shelter Bay Marina, Colon, Panama. It is not marked and it is very dangerous for sailors arriving at night.
In Shelter Bay Marina we have been told that our sailboat Danish Blue is just one out of 12-13 sailboats, which have hit the reef within the last 3-4 years. Danish Blue has now been hauled out for almost 4 months to be repaired after lying on the reef for 12-13 hours. A few days ago, another sailor hit the reef. The reef is not marked physically in any way. It can be seen in daylight, but when arriving at night, it is impossible to see the reef.
Also, we have several charts of the area around Shelter Bay Marina, one chart is Eric Bauhaus’. None of the charts state that there is a reef just outside Shelter Bay Marina. Instead, the charts state that there is 4,5-5 meters depth on the specific place of the reef.
The position of the reef is: South to north: 09 22.1895 N 079 56.7121 W – 09 22.2948 N 079 56.7436 W. East to west: 09 22.2767 N 079 56.6413 W – 09 22.2612 N 079 56.7996 W.
Be aware to follow the small green buoys parallel to the breakwater on port side when entering into Shelter Bay Marina – they are not visible on the charts and they are difficult to see at night. All the green buoys have to be followed on port side when arriving from the Panama Canal. The depth on the other side of the green buoys cannot be trusted.
On behalf of all sailors visiting Shelter Bay Marina in the future, we have asked Shelter Bay Marina to mark the reef with a lighting danger-buoy or a cardinal buoy. Also, we have asked Eric Bauhaus to update his charts with the reef and with the green buoys.


6.5 ) NOTE FROM VITESSE – BART
I do not know the lat and long of the reef at Shelter Bay. If you stay to the right favoring the breakwater, you will be fine. We cut the corner too close on the left close to shore right before the entrance to Shelter Bay. The reef did not show on the paper chart or the Navionics chart.



7) Serafina

If you are still in Mexico and want a good weather resource, here is the link to Mexico’s version of NOAA.
https://meteorologia.semar.gob.mx/
I used it to augment and corroborate the weather forecast on Windy.com for the Tehuantepec, but it covers both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. 
The Spanish is easy enough to translate considering you are reading a weather reportโ€ฆnudos is knots, rachas is gusts, olas is waves ,pies is feet.
As you can see, they update the 48 hour forecast twice a day, 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and the 72 hour forecast once a day. Look at the top of the page to make sure that the forecast is for the time period you expect. 
AND, if they donโ€™t want you to go, they tell you โ€œno favorablesโ€.
Good luck on your Tโ€™Pec crossing. Weโ€”Serafina, Myla, Interlude, Annapurna/Kyssen, and Anila, encountered very strong headwinds at Salina Cruz, but once we hit the beach and started east, it was the most exhilarating sail I have experienced in a long time! Fabulous wind and NO seas! With two reefs in and a tiny jib, it was AWESOME!
And the weather report that was provided by the site above was pretty spot onโ€ฆ.
All the best, Eliza on Serafina.


8) NEW PANAMA POSSE SPONSOR

Happy to report Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua has extended a 20% discount to the Panama Posse

– the first 2 days are 1.25 USD x foot per day
(the marina brings in the officials here to check you in our clearance fee was ~ 64 USD ) – after that it’s

80 cents – minus 20% on the dock or

50 cents per foot per day – minus 20% on their mooring – pools palalpas – restaurant – fast internet – bar and very nice and calm here

Puesta
          del Sol

email info@marinaps.com

9) JULIA MAX – COSTA RICA

Costa Rica charged nothing for our checking in at Playas del Coco, nothing for Port Captain, Immigration, or Customs at Liberia Airport.
We understand there will be charges of $58 for the International zarpe processing. Looking forward to seeing you all further down the coast.
Julia Max will depart Papagayos Marina Monday Feb 5th. We will anchor along our way towards Quepos.

While Julia Max is nestled in Papagayo Marina, George and Sue are away in volcano land: Arenal Observatory was rainy but full of magnificent birds. The zip-line was fun too. Stayed at La Mansion in Nueva Arenal on Lake Arenal. Here are some bird photos:   Saw 40 other species.

Collared
        Aracari at the Arenal Observatory feeder.

Collared Aracari at the Arenal Observatory feeder.


Rufous Motmot on the Hanging Bridges trail. Note the
            destinctive tail.

Rufous Motmot on the Hanging Bridges trail. Note the destinctive tail.


Montezuma Oropendola enjoying the melons set out at
                the Arenal Observatory feeder.

Montezuma Oropendola enjoying the melons set out at the Arenal Observatory feeder.


Summer Tanager, one of 7 different species of Tanager
            sighted.

Summer Tanager, one of 7 different species of Tanager sighted.
10)  PANAMA POSSE NET –
8294 @ 15:15 – I have had propagation issues – is anyone open to a cellphone conference call in using line.me or whatsup  ?
11) VOLANTE III   FRED AGAIN III   Octopus Garden

The
            Panama Posse amigos on the Huatulco water falls trip
            yesterday. โ€”

The Panama Posse amigos on the Huatulco water falls trip yesterday. โ€”

Mescal tasting with Fred Again 3

Mescal tasting with Fred Again 3

waterfalls

Waterfalls
in Oaxaca

11) CARINTHIA Happy February – Panama Posse

Moon

Panga, Volcano & Moon  –   Nicaragua



Keep ’em coming

Panama Posse