FLEET UPDATE 2023-05-06

PANAMA POSSE

FLEET UPDATE

May 6th, 2023

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

TOP NEWS

• PICTURES OF THE WEEK
  
• PANAMA POSSE AWARDS PARTY 🎆
• PANAMA POSSE TRANSITION: FROM SEASON 6 TO SEASON
  
• SEASON 6 REFLECTIONS FROM SY FREEDOM
  
• BOAT YOGA AND BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT ENTRIES
  
• EMMY KATE GOES THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL 🇵🇦
• TURTLE CAY MARINA 🇵🇦 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
  
• GOOD NAUTICAL ANCHORAGE ISLAS SECAS 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA
• OPENCPN RELEASES UPDATED VERSION
  
• GOING UP! FROM SEA LEVEL TO 4000M; BREATHTAKING CULTURE FOUND IN QUITO 🇪🇨 ECUADOR
  
• LAND TRIP TO THE FLOR DE CAÑA DISTILLERY EL VIEJO 🇳🇮 NICRAGUA
• MAY DEALS FROM MARINEU
  
• MEET BOAT DOG SOPHIE
  
• MUST SEE: LA RUTA DEL CAFÉ CHIAPAS, 🇲🇽 MEXICO
  

1) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

“Land Ho” 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

SY SALACIA 🇺🇸 Peter and Donna – Santa Cruz 53′

Flor de Caña distillery tour in Chichigalpa, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua

SY FIREFLY 🇺🇸 Brenda & Ted – Catalina 47′

Pathfinder officially cleared into Port in Puerto Amistad, 🇪🇨 Ecuador

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

 

PUERTO AMISTAD MARINA🇪🇨 ECUADOR
SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

Cleared out of Chiapas, heading to Costa Rica.

It is Bittersweet leaving the community of cruisers in Chiapas, 🇲🇽 Mexico

SY 🇺🇸 ROCHAMBEAU – Bev and Rolf – Lagoon 39′

Traded Palms for Pines! Hilton Head SC.🇺🇸 USA

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

2) SAVE THE DATE

PANAMA POSSE 🇵🇦 AWARDS PARTY

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023 16:00 – 22:00

VISTA MAR MARINA

End of season award celebrations will be held at Vista Mar Marina

@ Panama Posse Pacific Headquarters

Sunday May 21st 16:00 – 22:00

AWARD CATEGORIES

• 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, 🇵🇦 PANAMA

3) MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK:

MAY: THE RAINY SEASON BEGINS

First rain for Navigator since November. Now in 🇵🇦 Panama

MV NAVIGATOR 🇺🇸 Dave – Nordhavn 46′

Rain in Santa Marta 🇨🇴 Columbia. Barley see the Cruise Ship that is in Port today.

SY TOKETEE 🇺🇸 Dar, Diane, & Kimberly – Skookum 53′

4) PANAMA POSSE TRANSITION

🚩

FROM SEASON 6 TO SEASON 7

Lucky number 7 is nearly upon us as the Posse nears the transition from Season 6 to Season 7. June is our official overlap month when all systems (chats, tracking, etc…) and benefits (marina discounts, good nautical access, etc…) are available to all members that have been a part of Season 6 and new members signing on with the Posse for Season 7.

Season 7 registration fee is $299 for new participants. There is a $50 discount for all prior participants who renew in June for $ 249.

As of July 5th Season 7 begins. Be sure to renew by July 4th 2023. Current Posse members that renew in June will enjoy the greatest discount and find their access to exclusive Posse systems and benefits uninterrupted. We are continuing to expand our relationships with sponsors, vendors, and service providers along the route and in the boating world to make the Panama Posse membership valuable to those who explore this amazing route.

or to join the Panama Posse for the ’23-24 season….

5) REFLECTIONS ON SEASON 6
FROM SY FREEDOM:

The Panama Posse began as a resource…Having never “Cruised”, we set out to move our boat from Southern CA to Southern FL, with 4.5 months to prepare. The Panama Posse website was and continues to be an amazing source of information. From logistics planning, understanding country procedures, access to additional resources for anchorages, marinas, and tours; the website is the most comprehensive tool we have found when planning our trip. The San Diego Launch party was the first of many opportunities to meet fellow cruisers, that are now lifelong friends. As we left southern CA, the information and contacts made through the line app was incredibly valuable. With boats in front and behind us sharing information, we always seemed to have information delivered to us with impeccable timing. Although much of this was available on the website, it was efficiently delivered as we approached our next location through the shared real-time experiences of other members.

What the Posse has become for us is an incredible group of people that have shared experiences, meals, cocktails and much more together. When members needed help, information or services, the group was incredibly responsive with providing options. Boaters in general have a Corinthian spirit. This group takes that to a whole new level. With each member planning their trip/adventure according to their specific needs/schedule, it allows a much larger group to be involved with broader perspectives and value. You can participate in as much or little as you desire. Although, the interactions online and meeting other Posse members was one of our favorite memories of the season resulting in. So so many new friends, with similar interests and experiences. We are still not fulltime cruisers, but plan to spend time exploring the Bahamas, Florida Keys and East Coast over the next few years.

We hope to continue building relationships and knowledge through the Panama Posse!

SY FREEDOM 🇺🇸 Dave & Sheri – Beneteau 55′

6) PANAMA POSSE TWO ENTRIES INTO BOAT YOGA AWARDS

How did you get here?

SY YO-D-YO 🇺🇸 David & Mary – Hunter 45′

Not your standard inverted yoga pose, but clearly working the balance.

SY ENJOY 🇺🇸 Don & Nina –Lagoon 42′

7) ENTRY INTO BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT

When one really DOESN’T want a contender for biggest fish caught!

This catch bent our gaff! This was a catch and release (alive).

SV SERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathryn – Antares 44′

8) EMMY KATE GOES THROUGH THE 🇵🇦 PANAMA CANAL

Standing by in one of the locks

Stress Free Transit

Mario, one of our professional line handlers, actually caught a fish IN the Lock!

SY EMMY KATE 🇺🇸 Eric and Sharon – Lagoon 40′

9) TURTLE CAY MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA

SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

Turtle Cay Marina, closest to the San Blas Islands in 🇵🇦 Panama

Turtle Cay Marina is in an eco friendly, private coconut finca,

secured by a guarded gate.

The marina has 70 fully functional slips up to 120 feet with 100 amp pedestals for yachts, sailboats and catamarans, with view to the beautiful virgin beaches of the Panama caribbean, only 30 miles away from San Blas! This first phase has been developed with a 10-feet short canal access and is surrounded by coral reefs, mountains and tropical flora and fauna.

• fresh water
• free Wi-Fi
• fuel dock
• haul out area
• yacht club
• beach bar
• restaurant
• laundry room
• bathrooms
• white sandy beaches
• crystal clear ocean water
• taxi service
• 24-hour security & much more.

Ten reasons for choosing Turtle Cay Marina 🇵🇦 Panama

1. 15 % discounts on slips; or stay 4 nights, pay for 3
2. Long term discounts of at least 15 %, depending on length of stay
3. 15 % discount on metered electric service
4. Free delivery service to your yacht from Panama City
5. Unlimited use of our large shower- change- bathrooms and full coin operated laundry
6. Unlimited use of our covered social area and B-B-Q
7. Free unlimited use of our beaches, beach huts and bath rooms
8. Free unlimited use of our fresh water swimming pools except Saturdays or Sundays (Unless you’re a hotel guest)
9. 15 % discount on food and drinks at our restaurants
10. 15 % discount at our hotelPLUS personnel transfer service to or from Panama City or airport for $50. (Max. 3 persons)

10) GOOD ANCHORAGE
GOOD NAUTICAL

ISLA SECAS 🇵🇦 PANAMA

Isla Secas is a small archipelago located in Western Pacific – the Gulf of Chiriqui in Panama. The two largest and named islands in this group are Isla Cavada and Isla Pargo. There are several small unnamed islands that are easily explored from the anchorages off both named islands. These islands are remote, tropical, and exceptionally beautiful above and below the waterline.

Isla Seca Anchorage at nightfall, Pacific 🇵🇦 Panama

SY DIVERGENT 🇺🇸 Gary – Lagoon 420F’

11) OPENCPN RELEASES UPDATED VERSION 5.8.2

• Supports Multiple Chart Formats
• including MBTiles, BSB, S57, S63 chartsets.
• AIS input with full target-tracking and collision alerting.
• AIS support for SART with selectable MMSI for automatic MOB handling.
• AIS support for DSC and GPSGate buddies.
• Routes
• Route planning with tidal support.
• Built-in great-circle routing.
• Integrated weather routing plugin.
• 20+ languages supported.
• Performance
• OpenGL support for enhanced performance on modern hardware.
• GPS Tracking
• Route navigation with ship tracking functions.
• Waypoint navigation.
• Autopilot output support.
• Alarms
• Anchor watch/alarm functions.
• MOB Alarm with tracking.
• GRIB and GRIB2 file input and display for weather forecasting.
• NMEA Data
• Dashboard for configurable on-screen display of ship’s NMEA data
• NMEA 0183 GPS interface at selectable baud rate
• Advance NMEA message handling structure with built-in multiplexer.
• Signal K network interface.
• Data Transfer
• GPX waypoints, Track and Route input and output file support.
• GPX Layers for annotation of charts.

Concise and robust Chart Plotter Navigation software

Designed to be used at the helm station of your boat while underway.

Chart a course and track your position right from your laptop.

https://opencpn.org/OpenCPN/info/downloads.html

12) GOING UP!

FROM SEA LEVEL TO 4000M

BREATHTAKING CULTURE FOUND IN QUITO 🇪🇨 ECUADOR

Anchorage in Puerto Amistad, Ecuador

Official arrival calls for celebration

The bus to the political and cultural center of Ecuador: Quito

We are grateful for every nautical mile that brought us here.

From 0 altitude to 4000 meters in a day has some special effects and wild views.

Some favorite adventures include:

Riding the Teleferico, or cable car, to the top of the city.

Swinging over the city at the top of the teleferico.

Reflection pool

Quito is known for well preserved historical landmarks

0º latitude Museum has fun experiments

The UNESCO Historical Center has beautiful buildings

Standing on the steps to a grand cathedral

Incredible and ornate Architecture

If you like art, the Guayasamin Foundation, is absolutely outstanding.

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

13) LAND TRIP TO THE

FLOR DE CAÑA DISTILLERY

Another great day trip with our guide and now friend Luis at #Pinoleratoursnicaragua.

SY Firefly is currently touring various sites near marina Puesta del Sol in Nicaragua. Last week they visited the Flor de Caña distillery in nearby El Viejo. This award winning distiller has been in continuous operation since 1890. Their spirits are sugar free, gluten free, and kosher.

The Flor de Cana distillery offers private tours at $100 per person or group tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 2pm and 5pm. The private tour go’ers also get a tasting of the 30 year aged rum.

Although we were in a group tour Flor de Caña provided an english speaking guide to accompany us. And, what a treat to meet Bryanna whose impeccable English and newfound knowledge of Flor de Caña as a new employee was a nice surprise. She is the recent recipient of a US scholarship for online study of English. You could tell she is a very excellent student by her near perfect English. I wish I could say my Spanish was half as good.

They reconstitute bourbon barrels from Kentucky which is my hometown, and also American whiskey distilleries. In this case she mentioned using Jack Daniels barrels.

Flor de Caña is a privately held family company currently in its 5th generation. The company provides heath care and education benefits to the families who work at with them. They are one of the most well regarded companies in Nicaragua.

SY FIREFLY 🇺🇸 Brenda & Ted – Catalina 47′

14) MAY DEALS FROM
🇵🇦

MARINEU.COM

Below is a bi-weekly special offer for Panama Posse Members

Online Store:

https://cuanto.app/marineg

Westland Mall Store:

#46, Door No.1, Arraiján

11am to 7pm daily

MarineU.com

Marineg, Westland Mall Local PA-M2, Arraiján, Panamá Oeste, Panama

office@contraincendio.co

15) MEET BOAT DOG SOPHIE
🇨🇷

ON HER PASSAGE TO COSTA RICA

Sophie on patrol between Mexico and Costa Rica

Cacao fruit treats on passage look like scooby snacks.

Resting during a ruff day on passage to Costa Rica

Costa Rican shores are calling….Yeehaw!

Once the anchor is down Sophie gets her exercise in the water

SY ROCHAMBEAU 🇺🇸 Bev and Rolf – Lagoon 39′

16) PANAMA POSSE SWAG

PANAMA POSSE CAPTAINS HAT BLACK WITH ROYAL NAVY VISOR

CLASSIC CAPTAIN FLAT BRIM

PANAMA POSSE SWAG

 

 

17) ⚠️ SECURITY UPDATE

IN COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 FOR MARITIME EMERGENCIES DIAL

146

IN CASE OF ANY MARITIME EMERGENCY IN COLOMBIAN WATERS
GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THESE OFFICES VIA EMAIL

jefcp05@dimar.ml.co CARTAGENA
jefcp04@dimar.ml.co SANTA MARTA
jefcp03@dimar.ml.co BARRANQUILLA
jefcp07@dimar.ml.co SAN ANDRES

ofiregistro@dimar.mil.co

or dial 146

18) LA RUTA DEL CAFE,

TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, 🇲🇽 MEXICO

TO HEAD OUT ON THIS DAY TRIP LEAVE EARLY FROM MARINA CHIAPAS WITH MIGUEL ANGEL OF DISCOVERY TOURS+52 962 133 6820 TOURSDISCOVERCHIAPAS@HOTMAIL.COM

The highlands where the coffee grows are stunning.

The coffee production in Mexico is the world’s 8th largest and is mainly concentrated to the south central to southern regions of the country. The coffee is mainly Arabica, and lately Robusta which grows particularly well in the coastal region of Soconusco, Chiapas, near the border of Guatemala.

ONCE A COFFEE PLANT IS MATURE, IT WILL PRODUCE FLOWERS;

THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS SHORTLY AFTER HEAVY RAINFALL.

…AND THEN, AFTER THE FLOWERS, COMES THE CHERRIES.

Only the ripe cherries are harvested and they are picked individually by hand. Pickers rotate among the trees every eight to ten days, choosing only the cherries which are at the peak of ripeness. It usually takes two to four years after planting for a coffee plant to produce coffee beans that are ripe enough to harvest. The plant eventually grows small white blossoms that drop and are replaced by green berries. These green berries will become a deep red color as they ripen. It takes about 9 months for the green cherries to reach their deepest red color. Because this kind of harvest is labor-intensive, and thus more costly, it is used primarily to harvest the finer arabica beans.

After harvest, Coffee cherries are laid out in the sun to dry before being roasted or…..

…..beans are put in a 100 year old coffee bean drying machine.

This machine is belt driven and uses water as the source of energy to run.

Last week a tour of 15 cruisers visited la Ruta del Cafe.

La Ruta del Cafe includes tours of Fincas that grow, harvest, roast, and sell coffee.

https://panamaposse.com/la-ruta-del-cafe

19) 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

🇵🇦 Turtle Cay Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama

🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia

🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia

🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia

🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica

🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica

🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club –Jamaica

🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina –Cayman Islands

🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras

🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort & Boatyard – Guatemala

🇧🇿 Thunderbirds Marine – Placencia – Belize

🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize

🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico

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

🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba

🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos

🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas

🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic

🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic

🇺🇸 Marathon Marina – Marathon Keys

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

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , USA

🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA

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

🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA

🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina – Portsmouth, USA

🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, USA

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA

🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, Virginia USA

MONTEGO BAY YACHT CLUB 🇯🇲 JAMAICA
SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

20) PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS

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

21) 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

22) 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

23) LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Most curious phenomenon we encountered off the coast of La Paz, 🇲🇽 Mexico.

This turtle sought refuge among floating debris and line. At first we thought it was entangled. We then saw a school of sharks circling underneath, and some scar marks on its hind quarters. It was trying to escape them! When we came close, it swam towards us! Hopefully, we scared the sharks away!

SV SERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathryn – Antares 44′

close to 70 longline encounters this season

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