FLEET UPDATE 2023-04-01

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.

SY AVANT 🇨🇦  Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5′

14) PANAMA POSSE GEAR

PANAMA POSSE SWAG ON SALE NOW

 

 

15)  NEW ANCHORAGE CLAIMED 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA 
 

Playa Danta y Dantita,  🇨🇷   Costa Rica

We anchored in the center of the bay in 30 feet but after exploring a bit, we decided we could
easily tuck in closer to the beach. We approached outside of Isla Danta
to the south east.   We saw several charter catamarans split
between the islands to the north on their approach so we could see it is
passable. There was a moderate amount of tourists but it was not too
crowded. Charter cats pass through here but we were always by ourselves
after sunset. This is a popular wedding destination. 

on the trail near Playa Danta y Dantita  

a few custom homes

roughing it 

MAISON DE SANTÉ  Keenan & Nicole & Jack – Cal 46′

16)  MUST SEE 
MONTE ALBAN, OAXACA 🇲🇽 MEXICO 

Monte
Albán is a large archaeological UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site in the
southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The site is located on a low
mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the
Valley of Oaxaca. Located at 17°02.7833 N 096°45.9533 W

The
partially excavated civic-ceremonial center of the Monte Albán site is
situated atop an artificially leveled ridge. It has an elevation of
about 1,940 m (6,400 ft) above mean sea level and rises some 400 m
(1,300 ft) from the valley floor, in an extremely defensible location.
In addition to the monumental core, the site is characterized by several
hundred artificial terraces, and a dozen clusters of mounded
architecture covering the entire ridgeline and surrounding flanks.

Monte Alban Map

Along the Panama Posse CENTRAL AMERICAN route  are THESE UNESCO AND  OTHER SIGNIFICANT SITES

17) CHIMERA CONQUERS  🇰🇾  THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

SY CHIMERA 🇺🇸 Dennis & Margaret – Beneteau 47′

 

18)  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 

🇵🇦 La Playita Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Flamenco 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 

BAREFOOT CAY RESORT ROATAN 🇭🇳 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

19)  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
• 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 

20) PANAMA CANAL AGENT 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse

Erick Gálvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

21) 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 

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

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 @ 9811 W Charleston blvd 2262 Summerlin LV NV 89117  USA

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