Sailors will gather for a sure to be memorable event in Cartegena 🇨🇴
Viceroy
Sebastián de Eslava ordered the construction of this Fuerte de San
Sebastián del Pastelillo. Construction began in 1741 and was completed
in 1744 under the leadership of the military engineer Juan Bautista
Mac-Evan. The fort is nick-named “Pastelillo” because the structure
resembles a cake. The fort was designed to protect the city
from attacks by pirate ships as well as to prevent smuggling of goods. Q.E.D. – nothing has changed
3) MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK:
POSSE IS ON THE MOVE
CELT transitted the Canal this week to the Pacific Side of Panama 🇵🇦.
MV CELT 🇺🇸 Gerry & Angela – Nordhavn 43′
From the Sea of Cortez to Copper Canyon by train, visiting Topolobampo, 🇲🇽
SY PERCEPTION 🇺🇸 Jim & Melinda & Grace – Lagoon 42′
PATHFINDER has returned to Panama. Cheers to your safe passage and return!
SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸 Jean-Philippe & Nicole – Lagoon 39′
4) SEASON 7 AWARDS:
NOMINATION FOR PICTURE OF THE YEAR
ENTRY 1:
Sunset with Jumping Ray
ENTRY 2:
Night shot of Summerbreeze beside the Moonlight
MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′
SPECIAL ENTRY CAPTAIN RON AWARD
I
would like to nominate myself, Walt Childson of SV Knot Right, for the
Captain Ron award. In preparation to transit the canal, we headed into
La Playita Marina Panama to put our boat’s stern into a downwind
slip. The wind was very strong blowing the boat on our beam into the
dock while traveling down the fairway. The view on my stern was
obstructed because of my dingy. The view forward was obstructed because
the 25 knot wind during the day ripped the stitching from my bimini and
it was hanging down in our faces. So the main helm was blind. But that
is where my bow thruster controls are located. For some reason, my very
powerful bow thrusters were only one fifth of their normal output. Hence
I lost complete control of the boat and rammed (and I do mean rammed)
into the corner of another slip on the dock. I hope you read this note
before you looked at the picture, as it is very demeaning and
embarrassing. No other boats were subject to my stupidity.
SY KNOT RIGHT 🇺🇸 Walt & Jeariene – Beneteau 47′
ANNUAL AWARDS INCLUDE:
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
GALLEY GOD(ESS)
GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR
BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR
COURAGE AWARD
Nominate yourself, a crew member, or another boat
SUBMIT ENTRIES ON THE LINE AP OR EMAIL TO EDITOR@PANAMAPOSSE.COM
The Bay of Cartagena, located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is renowned among sailors for several key reasons
Historical Significance Cartagena’s
history is deeply interwoven with its maritime legacy. It was a major
port during the Spanish colonial era, and its well-preserved
architecture and fortifications, such as the iconic Castillo de San
Felipe de Barajas, offer a glimpse into the past.
Beauty and Scenery
The bay is surrounded by stunning landscapes, including beaches,
tropical islands, and clear blue waters. This scenic beauty is a visual
feast for sailors who often seek out destinations that offer natural
allure.
Protected Waters
The bay’s natural geography provides a sheltered harbor, making it an
city anchorage for yachts and boats. This protection from the open sea
is crucial for safety and comfort, especially for those on long voyages
seeking a tranquil haven.
Cultural Vibrancy Cartagena
is known for its vibrant culture, including music, dance, and cuisine.
The blend of African, Spanish, and Indigenous influences creates a
lively atmosphere that sailors can immerse themselves in once they step
off their vessels.
Strategic Location
Its location makes it a popular stop for sailors navigating the
Caribbean or undertaking longer transatlantic journeys. The bay serves
as a crucial resting and resupply point.
Local Maritime Community The
presence of a robust local maritime community, including experienced
sailors, guides, and marine services, provides a sense of camaraderie
and support that is highly valued in the sailing world.
The average cost of living in COLOMBIA
25% less expensive than in Mexico
46% less expensive than Panama
72% less expensive than USA
(2) CLUB DE PESCA YACHT FEST SAT, JAN 13 ’24 CARTAGENA 🇨🇴 CO
Ileana Stevenson Covo – GM For
those coming from the lesser Antilles this will be the first event in
full on Latin style in Colombia – come celebrate the great food and
culture that is Colombia in it’s premier yacht club.
(3) OCEAN POSSE PARTY PANAMA + SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE
FLEET MEET UP
SAT. FEB 3 ’24 SHELTER BAY MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA
IMPORTANT:
This event is in the middle of high season. The Shelter Bay
Marina will be near capacity so make reservations early.
Additionally, we are also going to organize a shuttle bus to get
folks to this event from alternate locations.
(4) PANAMA POSSE AWARDSFUN ACTIVITIES, GOLF, POOL, DJ LOUNGE, + MARINE EXPO
SAT. MAY 11 ’24 BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦 PANAMA
This is a very exclusive signature event in the Hamptons of Panama.
The upscale resort Buenaventura is just 80 minutes west of Panama City
and is one of the most charming and reserved places on the Pacific coast
of Panama. Only 60 nm from the Las Perlas.
Some of the best snorkeling in Belize the healthy and second largest reef complex in the world
CONTACT
Beat, Caroline, dogs & Heyson Garcia – YES PLACENCIA YACHT CLUB IS UBER DOG FRIENDLY
>
We,
Caroline Imfeld and Beat Rettich are running this place since January
2021. We moved from Switzerland to Belize in 2019 and found this
treasure while looking for a dock for our yacht.
Simplicity on a high level is our aim and to make our guests happy.
FOR RESERVATIONS AND MOORINGS @ PLACENCIA YACHT CLUB
Three Posse boats in Caleta De Campos. Making their way south in Mexico 🇲🇽
MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′
SY TIAMAT 🇺🇸 Stephanie & Owen – Fountaine Pajot 44’
MV SUMMERBREEZE🇺🇸 Kurtis – Bestway 46′
Thank you for Sharing your Adventures on the water!
SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES and YOUR SUNSETS is the heart and soul of the Panama Posse
Please
share pictures of your adventures, your award entries/nominations, your
breathtaking sunsets, and picturesque anchorages on our group
communications platform for others to enjoy in real time and/or email
Maurisa at editor@panamaposse.com
to share in the upcoming newsletter. Maurisa is a sailor among
us. She is part of the Ocean Posse crew and enjoys writing fun and
helpful updates to the Panama Posse.
SY LOST PEARL 🇨🇦 Onno – Hardin 45′
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
How many Panama Posse boats are KID BOATS this season?
Golfito,
Costa Rica is the southernmost port of entry and exit for the country.
As such, vessels in transit will want to know where three very
important buildings are:
IMMIGRATION
CUSTOMS
PORT CAPTAIN
Visited in the order above, a vessel’s captain can easily navigate the Check in and Check out procedure on their own.
In Golfito (and all ports of entry and exit) make sure to have 3 copies of each:
zarpe from the last port
passport/s
crew list signed by the captain
TIP (temporary import permit)
boat documentation
Both Marinas in town also offer the service of processing Boat and Crew paperwork for vessels in transit.
8)PUERTO AMISTAD MARINA, ECUADOR 🇪🇨
SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
I
would like to personally welcome you to our beautiful city. Puerto
Amistad is located walking distance from shopping, hardware stores,
medical facilities,and eating and drinking establishments.
At
Puerto Amistad we have a full service Restaurant and bar, Cruisers
area, Wifi to the Buoys, Hot Showers, Laundry service, and a spacious
dinghy dock. You will find excellent mechanics and services here. Hope
to see you soon
With pleasure we are happy to announce the Sponsorship of the Pacific Posse
In
the southeastern part of Bahia Tenacatita there is the community of
Manzanilla. Manzanilla is a lovely town to visit. There is a
vibrant Friday market, plenty of tiendas to provision ones boat, a
lovely book store, cute coffee shops, palapas on the beach…AND…a
crocodile reserve.
SY BOUNDLESS recently visited the crocodile reserve:
We
found the croc reserve in Manzanilla an interesting excursion.
400 or so that are free to head to the beach to feed in the
mornings and evenings!
A little further south along the coast of Mexico SY VOYAGER captured this image:
Croc
freaked us out as we have been swimming here the last week 😵💫
Was leaving the bay to pump out holding tanks and thought we saw a
log. The crocodile was at least 10′ long.
SY VOYAGER 🇺🇸 Ed & Liz – Hylas 54′
THE QUESTION:
WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER SEE CROCODILES?
THE VERDICT:
FROM A DISTANCE
10) LAND TRIP:
HOTSPRINGS NEAR HUATULCO 🇲🇽 MEXICO
There are many great land excursions along the route. SY JUBEL shares a trip to some hotsprings about 1.5 hour drive from Huatulco, Mexico
The
river is warm – like 36 degrees warm. And there are 7 or 8 hot pools of
varying temperatures, all on a stunning river lookout
Hottest pool was around 40
SY JUBEL 🇨🇦 Leah & Kyle – Gulfstar 44′
11) GOOD NAUTICAL:
HUATULCO 🇲🇽 MEXICO
MANY ANCHORAGES TO CHOOSE FROM
Huatulco
Mexico is along the coast of the state of Oaxaco in southern Mexico.
It is a stretch of coast boasting many anchorages, more beaches,
and amazing marine life.
MV SPLINTERS 🇺🇸 Eric & Kim – American Marine Grand Banks 42′
According
to what was discussed today, Marina Santa Marta we are excited to be a
Panama Posse Sponsors and being included as a destination within the
Rally
We will offer participants a 35% discount on the rate that we normally handle.
Let us know if you would need additional information from us.
Current
Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, often called AMLO, has
undertaken many impactful projects in his presidency. The Maya
Train Project is among his flagship projects that he is aiming to
complete before the end of his term in September 2024. The Maya
Train is to be a new rail 950mile line that is supposed to “revitalize”
the Yucatan Peninsula in the south-east of Mexico by circulating tourism
and commerce into and around the region, creating hundreds of thousands
of jobs, raising property values, and moving cargo to compete with the
Panama Canal.
The route of the Maya Train
In
spite of all the possible social and economic benefits many concerns
persist over the project due to the lack of environmental review or
planning, the social and environmental impact of the train in regions
sensitive to such invasive ‘progress’, and the militarization by which
the project has bulldozed forward. Much of the rail lines are
running over fragile ground that geologists describe as ‘swiss cheese’.
The ground is full of holes, caverns, and underground caves
systems that ground water moves through. These unground corridors
not only move fresh water throughout the region, many also hold
artifacts from some of the oldest inhabitants in the region: the Mayan
and the Olmec.
President AMLO with regional representatives in front of earth movers required to make way for the tracks.
There
is controversy over the train and yet, the project barrels onward.
Originally, the project was budgeted at $8 billion, three years in
and the project is now looking like it will cost closer to $29 billion
dollars. This is an impressive investment into the region which
international investors see as a good thing. Last Friday the first
295 mile stretch of the rail line opened with one track and some
delay. Nonetheless, the train is fast tracking ahead of
schedule.
To read more about the train, the proponents and some of the controversy:
We
are Angela and Gerry onboard Celt a Nordhavn 43. We are Irish but
have lived in the US for more than half our lives. We are married
40 years and just retired two years ago. We have traveled the
east coast of the US and the Caribbean down to Grenada and Bonaire,
onward through the Canal. Presently, we are in Buenadventura on
the Pacific Side of Panama. We are excited to be part of this
group as we make our way to the South Pacific and Beyond.
December
has seen two alarming marine animal attacks within 500nm of one another
on the Pacific coast of mainland Mexico. Early in December a 26
year old Mexican national was died in Melaque, Mexico, and last week a
Belgiun tourist died in Zihuatenejo Bay. Both incidents involved
swimmers getting bitten and bleeding to death before life saving
measures could be attempted. Immediately the marine animal
involved was determined to be one of two top tier predators in the areas
capable of such killings: Crocodile and Shark.
Since
the incident in Melaque, marine biologists have determined that this
was a shark attack. The incident in Zihuatenejo is thought to be a
crocodile, but the verdict is not totally decided.
Obviously,
both animals live in the waters where many people swim and recreate.
Furthermore, whichever animal was involved, the reality
strikes us to provide further information on being safe and aware in the
water.
According
to an American Lifeguard Association expert and marine biologists,
neither sharks nor crocodiles are targeting humans. Having said
that they are not necessarily fluke accidents either. In fact
there are some things that people can do to be more safe in their salty
territory.
Taylor
Cunningham, a marine biologist and shark conservationist says, “People
need to understand that the ocean is home to an abundance of wildlife,
not just sharks. By entering the ocean, we are taking on the
responsibility of entering their home. So, it is also our responsibility
to be aware of our effects on the ocean and how that wildlife or
conditions can affect us.”
Research local shark and crocodile patterns.
Certain species will feed in particular areas, during particular
times of day, or they may breed during certain times of year in a
specific location. It is always good to get to know an area from
locals.
The more clear the water, the better for seeing the animals you are swimming with. Locals
up and down the pacific coast from Mexico to Panama have always
cautioned us from swimming in murky waters near the mouth of estuaries.
Bring a mask and fins on long swims. These tools allow humans to be stronger underwater than without them.
Leave the white bikini at home.
Sharks have monochromatic vision and some experts advise that
bright colors that stand out from the ocean blues attract attention like
fish on a reef.
Don’t
worry if you have a cut — sharks don’t react to human blood.
However, sharks are said to have very sensitive nerves throughout
their heads and can sense fear…so it is important to stay cool
underwater.
Act like a predator by constantly checking your surroundings.
Sharks are known to attack their prey from the blind spot of the
prey. Continually checking your surroundings underwater eliminates
your blindspot. When swimming in pairs, watching one another and
your surroundings together can eliminate blind spots as well.
Make eye contact if you see a shark.
Show the shark that you are aware of them by making eye contact.
Continue to look around. Stay calm and back away. Do
not turn your back on a shark.
Create space between you and the shark.
Slowly back away after you’ve made eye contact, but avoid splashing and making noise. Both sharks and crocodiles are attracted
Note the shark’s body language.
Remember that sharks swim by and ignore people all the time.
Above all, don’t panic.
Another helpful resource for understanding more about sharks can be found here:
Tulum
is the site of a Mayan walled city which served as a major port for
Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. These magificent ruins are
situated on 40 foot tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán
Peninsula. The site might have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn,
because it faces the sunrise.
Tulum
was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya at its
height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about
70 years after the Spanish began occupying what is now Mexico .
It
is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum and you can see
it from your own vessel and anchor just south or to the north of it if
you are brave enough to enter the path though the reef with good light (
noon non cloudy not too windy )
and
draw less than 6 foot on a calm day – give yourself the flexibility to
visit during the off-peak hours of the early morning or late afternoon
and save your track. The Sand is compacted so only recommended as a day
anchorage.
Tulum’s
massive wall was thick and 1,300 ft long parallel to the sea and would
have taken an enormous amount of energy and time, which shows how
important defense was. On the southwest and northwest corners there are
watch towers demonstrating a well defended city.
Tulum is considered by archeological experts one of the most well-known fortified sites of the Mayan Civilization.
In
2020, an underwater archaeological expedition led by Jerónimo Avilés
again excavated the cave and revealed the skeleton of a female about 30
years of age that lived at least 9,900 years ago.
Many Panamanians are superstitious and have certain rituals they believe
must be done as we cross from one year to the next. Panamanians
traditionally spend New Years eve with friends and family.
MUÑECOS AS EFFIGY:
Throughout
Panama at this time of year, you’ll see effigies, or life-sized dolls.
The effigy, also called a Judas doll, represents someone or
something they dislike. These large replicas have various names,
including muñecos de año viejo (old
year dolls), muñecos judas (judas dolls), or simply muñecos (dolls). The
dolls are a way to ring in the new year in the area. Muñecos are
typically made with a wood or metal frame, old clothes, and stuffed with
leaves and firecrackers. They are then thrown into a bonfire on the
strike of midnight on New Years’.
BURN BABY BURN
Some of the dolls are stuffed with firecrackers. At the stroke of midnight,
they are lit on fire and beaten. According to folklore, by beating and
setting the effigies on fire, the sins and evil spirits of the old year
are destroyed. Making way for good fortune in the new year. The fire
crackers are said to help drive the evil spirits away.
19) 75+ PANAMA POSSE MARINA SPONSORS
🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA
🇺🇸 Safe Harbor Ventura Isle – Ventura, USA
🇲🇽 Cruise Port Village – 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
🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica
🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador
🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama
🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama
As
the marina rates keep rising in the USA & Mexico – there are many
alternatives along the Panama Posse offering respite. Joining the Posse
means better rates and better intel.
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) WAYPOINT YACHT SERVICES
“Our
vision is to provide a top tier service to our customers while covering
every potential need they may have when approaching shore.
Small
yachts (up to 38.1 meters LOA) are expected to experience substantial
delays, and in the meantime, we will be able and willing to help you
mitigate this impact and serve you.
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