FLEET UPDATE 2022-04-10

April 10, 2022

PANAMA POSSE 
FLEET UPDATE 

 

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
 – Theodore Roosevelt

TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

1) PANAMA CANAL FEE INCREASES 

2) BOLO COSTA RICA REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE 

1) PANAMA CANAL PROPOSED FEE INCREASES 
2023 · 2024 · 2025 

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5′

THE PANAMA CANAL TREATY

“The Panama Canal Zone was the only Latin American territory not acquired as
a result of the war with Spain; however it was governed as if it had
been. As president, Theodore Roosevelt understood the importance of a
canal connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. It would allow the
United States to move its fleet from one coast to the other in a
relatively short time, which had been a major problem during the war
with Spain. To facilitate this he received authorization from Congress
to purchase the assets of the failed French attempt to build a
canal. 

The primary obstacle was in acquiring the necessary land to build a canal
across the Isthmus of the Americas, which prior to 1903 was part of
Colombia. When the United States showed an interest in building the
canal, the Colombian government immediately demanded a larger percentage
of the tolls than had been previously agreed upon with the
French. 

Negotiations dragged on through 1902 and into 1903. Early in 1903, the United States signed a treaty with the Colombian government, giving the United States
a strip of land 6 miles wide, from the Caribbean to the Pacific Ocean.
On August 12, 1903, the irate Colombian Senate unanimously voted down
the agreement and refused to give the United States the land. Panamanian
insurgents with the backing of the United States perpetrated a revolt
against the Colombian government, causing Colombia to lose the coveted
parcel of land north of its present border. The fledgling nation of
Panama was protected from Colombia by a dense jungle and the might of
the United States.

On November 3, 1903, after 57 years of policing Bogotá’s interests, the
United States, looking out for its own best interests, sided with Panama
against Colombia. A treaty was quickly drafted between the two new
allies, giving Panama $10,000,000 of investment money, plus $250,000 per
year in perpetuity. It also allowed the United States to purchase the
remaining French assets that had been left behind. On November 18th,
with the signing of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, the Panama Canal Zone was formed.”

― Captain Hank Bracker

President
Teddy Roosevelt famously visited the U.S.-led project in 1904. Years
earlier, France had abandoned the dream after a decade of frustration.
The new effort eventually succeeded, but not before malaria had killed
thousands of workers.

2) BOLO REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE, 
GOLFITO CR  TO PANAMA CITY AREA.  

2) Request for assistance, Golfito CR to Panama City area.  

UPDATE:
RCC Alameda has advised the report as of 4/22 is “UNREPORTED”. SV
Tlacuilo is US flagged with a hailing port of Wilmington Delaware with
Luis Ernesto García de Alba Ponce on a 2014 Hunter 33. He was sailing
from Golfito, Costa Rica, heading to Panamá Canal. Family members have
not been able to track him via satellite communication for two days via
Garmin.

Anyone with information regarding this boat should contact 

Search and Rescue Duty Officer

Rescue Coordination Center Alameda

U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area/District 11

Alameda, California, USA

Tel: 510-437-3701

Fax: 510-437-3017

Email: RCCAlameda1@uscg.mil

BOLO: Overdue SV Tlacuilo

071533Z APR 22

HYDROPAC 949/22(21,22).

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.

GULF OF PANAMA.

COSTA RICA TO PANAMA.

DNC 14.

33 FOOT S/V TLACUILO, ONE PERSON ON BOARD,

UNREPORTED GOLFITO (08-39.2N 083-10.4W) TO

PANAMA CANAL (08-57.2N 079-33.1W).

VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP

LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. 

REPORTS TO RCC ALAMEDA, TELEX: 230172343,

PHONE: 510 437 3701, E-MAIL: RCCALAMEDA1@USCG.MIL.

3) MEET  THE FLEET 

Hello Posse.  After a wonderful few months in Sea of Cortez and Western
Mexico we are making plans to return Ventana (our 2019 Beneteau Oceanis
46.1) to California in May and want to know if anyone is interested in
buddy boating from Cabo to San Diego. Ventana will be arriving in Cabo
area May 18 or so and we plan to re-provision, wait for a weather window
and head around Cabo north around May 23 or earlier, weather
permitting.  Please message me privately if you are interested in
discussing further.  Thanks!

SY VENTANA  🇺🇸  Jim –  Beneteau 48′

4) CREW  

WHAT MAKES GOOD CREW ?

• CAN PERFORM CREW DUTIES
• RESPONSIBLE
• COMMUNICATIVE
• DOES NOT LIE
• RESPECTFUL
• ABILITY TO HANDLE ORDERS
• PUNCTUAL
• FORWARD THINKING
• FOLLOWS ORDERS IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS
• DOES NOT NEED THE INTERNET ON A DAILY OR HOURLY BASIS 
• HAS BEEN ON A VESSEL BEFORE
• DOES NOT GET SEA SICK 
• HAS PLENTY OF MONEY
• HAS PLENTY OF TIME AND IS NOT ON A SET SCHEDULE
• HAS A PASSPORT WITH 180+ DAYS LEFT TO EXPIRATION DATE
• HAS INSURANCE 
• HEALTHY, DOUBLE VACCINATED WITH BOOSTERS
• HAS $ 2,000 IN CASH AS A BOND FOR REPATRIATION FEES (REFUNDABLE)
• IS LEGAL, IE NOT A FUGITIVE, RUNAWAY, MINOR OR A REFUGEE
• OBSERVES CONFIDENTIALITY
• IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PERSONALITY
• IS OF SOUND MIND 
• IS FLEXIBLE AND DOES NOT COMPLAINhttps://panamaposse.com/crew

5) SEND US YOUR UPDATES, STORIES, PICTURES, DANGERS, SUGGESTIONS, EXPERIENCES >>  

Share good service providers  

Every vessel has their own journey and along the way you have encountered
service providers – please let us know about what works and what doesn’t
we’ll publish this list and facts to the Panama Posse fleet

We all want to know the good the bad and the ugly please provide your
feedback on service providers you have used with this simple form –
we’ll update the results as soon as we get this data from you – just
takes a few seconds and helps the next yacht !-> https://panamaposse.com/service-provider

 

 

 6) GULF OF CHIRIQUÍ 
WESTERN PACIFIC 🇵🇦 PANAMA 

Lightning,
thunder and squalls every day and/or night for the last say 10 days. Or
maybe more. Between Boca Chica and Isla Gobernadora, Panama, where we
are now anchored in another squall. At least there is a free boat
wash! 

MY Red Rover in Western Panama 

Hola Posse! We just spent 5 nights at Coiba and another lovely night at
Bahia Honda. Back in cell service and wanted to share the Coiba fee
experience. We are 58 feet long and when we checked in with the ranger I
said that we were. Mistake. Fees for boats 50 to 100 feet are $160 per
night. After he told us our total for 4 nights would be $740 we said ah
no, we thought it was $60/night. And then he provided us with the fee
schedule. So we said we couldn’t do that, and he asked how much money we
had. We were able to settle at $400 total with a fishing license for
the park waters (usually $50) included. I should have gone much lower.
We passed the lesson onto a sailboat that is over 50 feet and they were
able to say they were 48.5 feet and negotiate below the $60/night rate.
We were approached by a different ranger and his crew with machine guns
in their panga twice while anchored. We gave them cokes, told them we
paid and everything was fine. We were given a fishing license but
nothing to note that we had paid. The money was put in a drawer and
there were no records other than the fishing license. No boat or
personal documents needed. It was absolutely beautiful at Coiba. Loved
it. Just a funny start.

MY RED ROVER 🇺🇸 Kevin & Alison – Nordhavn 55′

7) RETURN OF THE SQUALLS 

Squalls and Thunderstorms on display 

PREDICT WIND CAPE

CAPE
stands for Convective Available Potential Energy and is the amount of
fuel available to a developing thunderstorm. More specifically, it
describes the instability of the atmosphere and provides an
approximation of updraft strength within a thunderstorm. So CAPE is used
by weather officials to understand what the potential might be for
thunderstorms and how powerful those storms might become if they do
materialize.

The standard measurement of energy is represented as Joules Per Kilogram. A
high CAPE value might also be expressed by weather experts by using the
term “high instability”. When we talk about a highly unstable
atmosphere, CAPE values are usually in excess of 2500 J/kg’s which would
supply ample energy for strong updrafts and violent thunderstorms,
should they develop.

 

How to Interpret CAPE values using a table and relative text forecast terms.

 

Severe thunderstorms require high CAPE values and the higher the CAPE value,
the more energy available to promote thunderstorm growth. However, the
CAPE variable is not a “magic number” that will predict the certainty of
a thunderstorm. But if a thunderstorm does develop, and the CAPE value
is high, then there is a good chance for an “explosive storm”. Below is a
typical CAPE Map in the Caribbean. The Yellow/Orange areas show high
CAPE values.

Example Scrolling over the colors: Yellow 
Cape Index 1,793  Moderate Risk of Lightning

8) NEW PANAMA POSSE ANCHORAGE 

Isla Taborcillo / John Wayne Island anchorage close to Punta Chame / Panama

Isla Taborcillo is a great, calm anchorage with some island exploration to
be done. There is an abandoned hotel & Western town theme park on
the island which is worth a visit. 

Also very good kitesurfing and wingsurfing with flat water, especially at
(spring) low tides south-easterly of the island when the sandbars come
out. 

Approach from the south is safe at high tide, navionics charts are quite accurate. 

Approach from north was also easy with coming tide. 

Here is a track i saved coming and going from Punta Chame. 

Supplies available in Punta Chame village, also some restaurants,
recommendations are: a new cafe “Happy Corner” right on the beach by
some German expats and the Beachclub SOLE at Panama Kite Center with
great food and vibes. Happy Corner also organizes tours and hikes, for
example to Cerro Chame, a 580 m high “mountain” with stunning views over
the pacific coast. 

You may also learn to kitesurf with Panama Kite Center or Panama Kitehouse.

https://goodnautical.com/panama/anchorage/isla-taborcillo

Saw this little fella in the water about 300m from our boat.. 

Isla San Jose, Las Perlas 

SY OUTVENTURE   🇵🇱 Jürgen & Iris  – Lagoon 44′

9) ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF JOY THE WEEK 

Traveling is wonderful and coming home is a joy.

Lisa enjoying a cigar in Panama 

Nicole having a swim in the Mexican lakes 

Jean-Philippe on the horse riding trip in Chiapas Mexico

10) REMINDER 8 WEEKS LEFT TO ENTER AND WIN 

SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY JUNE 4th 
VISTA MAR MARINA, PANAMA 

PANAMA POSSE 22′ AWARDS 

HERE ARE THE AWARD CATEGORIES 

    BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT* ✔ 

    PICTURE OF THE YEAR ✔  

    PANAMA POSSE YODA OF THE YEAR ✔  

    SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD ✔  

    THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD ✔ 

    MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD ✔ 

    HIGHEST WIND RECORDED ✔ 

    SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION ✔ 

    GALLEY GOD(ESS) ✔ 

    GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR ✔  

    NEWLY ADDED – BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ✔

*no bill-fish entries

Every
season at the awards ceremony in Panama we give out some valuable
liquid prizes and free weeks in marinas to the winners and sometimes
even to the runners up , and of course Flor de Caña Rum. 

Dock at  Vista Mar Marina  
SAVE THE DATE 
SATURDAY JUNE 4th
 VISTA MAR MARINA, PANAMA 

 11)   BAR CROSSING INTO EL SALVADOR 🇸🇻
WEEKLY WEATHER UPDATE

Week  4-11 to 4-16, 2022 
Bahia del Sol Bar Report   forecast compiled by La Palma Moorings

Contact Bill and Jean  
+503 7487 4969 
lapalmamoorings@aol.com

Forecast:

We are coming off a neap tide cycle and entering spring tides April 13.
Entry is possible April 10 through April 12 and it will most
likely be exciting.  On April 13 a large swell generated by the
Papagayo winds will close the bar April 13 and 14.  On April 15 the
bar will be open.

Tides beginning April 13 are afternoon tides.

For the forecast period the average primary swell is 4.0 feet and the
significant swell is 5.2 feet. April 13 the significant swell is 6.2
feet followed by 5.6 fee. Passage over the bar will not be possible.

As always, please contact Bill and Jean before arrival/departure.

Notes:

 Entry is only permitted at high tide during daylight hours.
Daylight hours include civil twilight (about 40 minutes before
sunrise or 40 minutes after sunset). Morning tides are always better due
to the absence of wind waves.

 11) THE ROAD TO SAN CRISTOBAL

We’re in San Cristobal right now and planning on driving directly to Palenque
tomorrow. We rented a car and have been asking locals, taxi drivers and
tour agencies about the road. Everyone says we must drive only during
the daytime. We are going to stop and stay in Agua Azul to enjoy and
break up the drive.  

We did it! Palenque! One road block from San Cristobal and lots of construction but absolutely worth every minute!

There are 17+ must sees near Marina Chiapas Mexico
 – this is Cañon Del Sumidero

 @

    San Cristobal de las Casas

    Palenque

    Izapa

    Finca Argovia Ruta del Cafe

    Finca Hamburgo Ruta del Cafe

    Yaxchilán

    Agua Azul

    Misol Há

    Bonampak

    Pico de Loro

    Tacaná Volcano

    Chocolate Tour

    Iguana Reservation

    Crocodile Reservation

    Rum Master Class Ron Bonampak

    Lagos de Montebello

    Cañon Del Sumidero

    Arco del Tiempo

Reserva de la Biosfera Selva El Ocote

Pathfinder
Chiapas successful road-tripping report! We rented a car from Hertz at
the airport in Tapachula and drove about 5 hours along the “coast” road
(200) to the Cañón de Sumidero near Tuxtla Gutierrez. We first drove to
the 5 miradores with views from the top of the canyon before crossing
over, just 10 mins from Chispa de Corzon, our overnight stay. We booked
through Airbnb for the hotel La Cieba and loved the jungle property and
swimming pool. It was Hot but this hotel was so cool, AC too!! https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31859986 

Chiapa
de Corzo is an archaeological site of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica located
near the small town of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. It rose to prominence
around 700-500 BC, during the Middle Formative period, becoming a
regional center

Agua Azul Chiapas Mexico

 Palenque Mexico

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

13) BACK IN LOWER LATITUDES  

Finally found our way back to warmer waters!! Natalia is back in her element!!

SY ROSIE 2 🇺🇸 Gary – Antigua Sloop 49′

 

14) REPORT FROM ACAPULCO  🇲🇽 MEXICO 
WELL STOCKE CHANDLERY

Was really impressed with the stock items in the chandlery store the Acapulco Yacht Club.

Was really impressed with the stock items in the chandlery store next to the Acapulco Yacht Club.

SY IRON CALCULUS 🇨🇦 Joshua & Shauna – Beneteau 43′

La Marina de Acapulco sponsors the Panama Posse 

15) 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  

🇵🇦 IGY Red Frog 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 

🇲🇽 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  

🇺🇸 York River Yacht Haven – Virginia , USA  

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA  

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA 

Corcovado NATIONAL PARK 🇨🇷  COSTA RICA – OSA PENINSULA – PANAMA POSSE  

16)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

• SHELTER ISLAND INFLATABLES 
• 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  

BELIZE IS IN GOOD NAUTICAL

The
Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It
lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 40 nm  from
the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape 1,043 ft)
across and 407 ft  deep.

17) SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

More info on Sevenstar™s services can be found on https://www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com/

Who is Sevenstar Yacht Transport?

Sevenstar is the world’s leading provider of yacht shipping services on a lift-on, lift-off basis.  

For a quote with the Panama Posse discount please contact 
Kris Caren  kris@sevenstar-usa.com   sevenstar-usa.com

18) 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

19) 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

South Pacific Posse 

Atlantic Posse

Advertising Partners – Las Vegas

Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW

YOUR VESSEL YOUR CREW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

Chagres River (Río Chagres)

Ocean Posse LLC
 @ 9811 W charleston blvd 2262 89117 Summerlin USA

© 2022 Panama Posse / Ocean Posse LLC