Each Posse is comprised of “pods” which are general route designations you can be part of several pods – for more details >> https://oceanposse.com/pods
💰 GOLD RUNNERS 🥥 COCONUT RUN 🦀 CRAB POD 🏝️ MILK RUN 🍹 RUM RUNNERS ☸️ COUNTER POSSE 🌵 CACTUS POSSE ⛯ ATLANTIC 🌿 SPICE RUNNERS 🦜 ORIGINAL POSSE 🌺 HIBISCUS POSSE ☠️ PIRATE RUNNERS 🌊 BASHERS 🪸 CORAL POD 🐚 SHELL POD
1) PICTURES OF THE WEEK
Morning at Chichime in the San Blas Islands, Panama
SY DARK HORSE 🇺🇸 Brian & Angela – Beneteau 49’
Beam reach spinnaker run. Doing about 6 knots in 13 knots true wind speed.
Nice day for a sail.
SY CERCA TROVA 🇺🇸 Bruce & Lynette – Manta MK IV 42′
Sunset in Bahia Huevos, Costa Rica
SY QUE VENDRA 🇺🇸 Olena & Maciek – Outbound 46’
2) MARK YOUR CALENDAR
OCEAN POSSE @ ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW
OCTOBER 10-14 ’24 🇺🇸 ANNAPOLIS MD
Come party and meet the cruising fleet at booth VB10
OCEAN POSSE 🇺🇸 SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA CRUISERS SEMINARS SERIES @ SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY OCTOBER 23- 25 – 2024 ● SEMINARS
$ 49 per person x day or FREE FOR ALL OCEAN ° PANAMA ° SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE PARTICIPANTS
24-25′ OCEAN POSSE KICK OFF WEEKEND 🇲🇽 BARRA DE NAVIDAD, MEXICO
24-25′ PANAMA POSSE KICK OFF WEEKEND 🇲🇽 BARRA DE NAVIDAD, MEXICO
WHEN: December 4-8 2024
WHERE: Barra de Navidad, MX at the Marina Puerto de la Navidad
Special Ocean Posse Beach gathering
in Tenecatita on Dec 8 with local water taxi to get you from your boat
to the party AND BACK – local food and beach bonfire and RUM –
whoop whoop – bring on the s’mores on a stick
3) MORE PICTURES THIS WEEK
Flat Calm and on anchor at Isla San Lucas in the Golfo de Nicoya, CR
MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′
Red Frog as seen at Red Frog Marina:
It’s nice when the marina name lives up to it’s name.
SY MAISON DE SANTÉ 🇺🇸 Nicole & Keenan – Cal 46′
Taking a noon sight on the Pacific Ocean bound for French Polynesia
SY WHIRLWIND 🇺🇸 Maurisa, Mike, Russell & Josea – Alajuela 48’
Here is “Launchpad” 119m (390ft) a 2022 Feadship at anchor in Bocas del Toro (AIS signal turned off)
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s toy boat unloading guests on the beach – he had just turned 40 earlier this month – happy birthday !
Not far away are the shores of Bocas del Toro 🇵🇦 Panama
Thank’s to Maison de Sante we now have the backdoor entrance GPX track to Bocas del Toro
Validated minimum depth 10 feet saving you 3 nm and avoiding side swells Validated by now by SY Carinthia – to be known as the Panama Posse Bocas highway !
This
past Saturday, May 11, 2024, the Ocean Posse hosted its
much-anticipated Yacht Party designed to strengthen bonds among yacht
enthusiasts and promote the OCEAN POSSE. The event was an
incredible success thanks to the amazing turnout from our members and
the Buenaventura community. From 4 pm to 8 pm, our venue
buzzed with excitement and camaraderie as sea lovers gathered to share
their passion for sailing.
Guests enjoyed an afternoon filled with good music, delicious food, refreshing drinks, lots of FLOR de CAÑA, and interactive activities that captured the adventurous spirit of our Posse members.
We were especially delighted by the presence of many Buenaventura residents,
who showed great interest in learning more about the Ocean Posse.
Several boat owners took the opportunity to join our ranks, attracted by
the flexible schedule and great information we can provide.
Late afternoon mingling
SV SERENTY – HIGHESTWIND RECORDED Season Awards were announced and graciously accepted with a 12 year old bottle of … you guessed it FLOR de CAÑA Rum
The
atmosphere at the party was truly magical, with memorable moments that
reflected the essence of our community. We want to thank everyone who
attended and helped make this event such a success.
We’re
proud to see how the Ocean Posse continues to grow and strengthen its
community. We look forward to hosting more events that bring our members
together and attract new adventure and nautical enthusiasts.
Thanks to everyone for your participation and ongoing support ! See you at the next event.
This image by SY FIN
shows the snaking path for deep draft vessels when entering one
of the calmest marinas in Panama’s Pacific coast due to the lack of
swell inside the marina’s tidal basin at low – to mid high tide.
6) INSPIRATION: THE PERFECT BOAT
John on SY COURAGE shares :
As
we end the season, I thought I would leave you with one small story
referencing an article about the perfect boat that to me sums up a big
part of what this adventure with the Panama Posse has become to Kristine
and me. First, I offer some background before you read the article.
Thank you everyone for being part of our adventure across oceans and
seas. We wouldn’t have done it without you, and we will see you out
there again where the coconuts grow …background… I grew up with a
WWII Navy destroyer radarman as a grandpa, who later became commodore of
the San Diego Yacht Club. Bigger than life metaphorically and
physically – he would backstroke with a 55 pound anchor on his chest to
place it just where he wanted it! His dream was to travel the oceans in
peacetime rather than war. So he devoted ten years during my childhood
and built a Westsail 32 in his backyard. That formative exposure is why I
studied mechanical engineering. We spent decades sailing out of San
Diego to discover new anchorages and make memories. He left a few
heirlooms for me in a wooden treasure chest, and the article below was
framed to highlight what it meant to him. I thought you might share
similar thoughts about boats. I truly loved his boat, “Sosiego,” but he
wouldn’t sell it to me. “Go make your own memories and don’t relive
mine,” he said. Wise man. Enjoy the article! It is a picture of the
article.
An old article that inspired generations of seafarers in search of the Perfect Boat.
SY COURAGE 🇺🇸 John & Kristine – Tartan 4100
Thank you for Sharing your LOVE of the water !
7) SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES 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.
Ziggy and Zoey are loving having an almost private beach at Red Frog!🥰
8) POSSE PERK:
BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY OF VOYAGERS:
REFLECTIONS FROM SEASON 7
A MESSAGE FROM MV SUNDOWNER:
Fleet.
We can not say thank you all enough for the opportunity to be a part of
the Panama Posse Fleet 2023-2024. To say it was an extraordinary,
wonderful experience would be an understatement. We’ve learned so much
in our first season with the Posse, but the best lesson that we have
learned is that you are never alone in the Mariner community. Thank you,
Captain Dietmar, and the awesome Posse staff, for a season we will
never forget. Thank you, too, to the entire fleet. The wisdom shared,
the comradery, and time shared will forever remain in our hearts. To
those we met along the way, we look forward to seeing you again. To
those we have yet to meet in person, we look forward to our first
meeting.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
The crew of Sundowner
Lynn, Jeff, Marcus, and Lacey
MY SUNDOWNER 🇺🇸 Jeffrey & Lynn – Californian 50′
A MESSAGE FROM MV SUMMERBREEZE:
I would say that I will miss you all terribly. But I’m not gonna say that.
I
hope that I don’t miss any of you ……. somewhere down the road or should
I say in some ocean somewhere. It has been my humble privilege to have
sailed with some of you. I hope it will be my great honor to sail with
more of you in the future.
Until
then, Fairwinds and following seas, until we finally do meet and get
together or meet again and get together to clink our glasses and say ,
“Slainte Mhave”
(I’m Scottish 😁)
MV SUMMERBREEZE 🇺🇸 Kurtis – Bestway 46′
9) REGENT POINT MARINA & BOATYARD 🇺🇸 VA Sponsors the Panama Posse
37° 35.5088′ N 076° 26.075′ W
We are pleased to sponsor the Panama Posse with a special 20% off our short term Docking Rate
Regent
Point Marina and Boatyard is located in Topping, Virginia. We have 140
slips that can accommodate 16′ to 60′ sailboats, trawlers and power
boats with a draft up to 6 1/2′.
ON SITE AMENITIES
140 in water slips and docks
PUMP OUT STATION
BATHHOUSE
DINGHY RACKS
PICNIC AREA / PLAYGROUND
LOCKERS AND LAUNDRY
BOAT RAMP
APARTMENTS ON SITE
REGENT POINT YACHT CLUB
BAGGED ICE
10) FORMER PRISON ON ISLA SAN LUCAS 🇨🇷 COSTA RICA
IS NOW A NATIONAL PARK
Modern
history has seen many prison islands turned into national parks: The
Infamous Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, and a MUST SEE along the route
Isla Coiba to name two. Travelers visit these once atrocious,
notoriously brutal places in search of history and natural beauty.
While these islands have been ‘abandoned’ by human dominion, they
have been reclaimed by nature and bio-diversity is thriving. One
such ‘Prison gone National Park’, albeit a little less know, is Isla San
Lucas in central Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast.
Recently, MV TIDINGS OF JOY visited the park and shares:
We
anchored at Isla San Lucas for 3 nights, went ashore, and toured the
prison. We anchored in 25’ with good holding and had a very calm
and pleasant stay.
The
prison operated from 1873-1991. Not long after it began
operation, the San Lucas Island prison began to earn its reputation as
one of the harshest prisons in the world, with reports of inhumane
conditions, torture, and even murder surfacing regularly. In some cases,
inmates were subjected to inhumane practices such as being put in deep
pits of lime and sewage for days on end. In short, inmates who were
sentenced to the facility viewed it as a death sentence.
I
found the place to be really eerie and unsettling. From the old
graffiti in the deteriorating cells to the clumps of rusted trash and
bed frames scattered around the grounds the place just creeped me out.
We walked one of the trails on the island after the tour and even
that I found creepy. I’m still glad we went and found the place to
be a very interesting stop as well as a very nice anchorage.
The old prison at Isla San Lucas, CR in the northern reaches of Gulfo de Nicoya
MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′
11) HURRICANE SEASON STARTS 🌀MAY 15
THE FIRST SYSTEM OF THE SEASON FORMED & FIZZLED
As
of May 15th, hurricane season begins and the first system of the season
is forming. Weekly forecasts are available through NOAA.
Season Forecasts are released by different organizations every
year.
The pacific weather hawks are busy and odds of La Niña developing in June-August 2024 have risen to 55%
Gather resources, read them, watch them, and be prepared to be safely out of harms way as hurricane season unfolds.
BIG SOUTHERN SWELLS – WHEN SURFS UP MANY WEST COAST ANCHORAGES BECOME UNTENABLE !!!
12) GOOD NAUTICAL: ISLA ESCUDO DE VERAGUAS 🇵🇦 PANAMA
09° 5.4139′ N 081° 33.9225′ W
SV JUBEL’s beach set up in Escudo de Veraguas
Isla
Escudo de Veraguas can be an excellent stop coming to or from Bocas del
Toro. There are two areas you can anchor on the south side of the
island.
At the very west, the anchorage is a little easier with a sandy bottom. Anchor in 10-14 feet of water.
The
very eastern side of the island has some rocks to avoid on your way in
but you can get closer to shore and it gives you easier access to the
north side.
The
middle of the island has rock piles and reef so avoid the center in
your vessel. All along the south side of the island are various small
beaches that feel completely untouched and each has a different vibe.
These are very fun to explore. Be careful in your dinghy on the north
side as there are only a few passable areas as it is mostly shallow
coral. If swell is up, you may need to skip this place. The anchorage
can get very rolly with some swell but if conditions are calm, it’s an
amazing place to spend some time.
MAY IS PANAMA POSSE ROLLOVER SEASON – IF YOU ARE A PRIOR PARTICIPANT PLEASE EMAIL REGISTRATION@PANAMAPOSSE.COM for your DISCOUNT COUPON CODE
⚠️ ALERT ⚠️
ALL PANAMA POSSE SEASON 7 PERKS EXPIRE JUNE 1 MARINAS WILL LOOK AT THE NEW ROSTER TO
VERIFY DISCOUNT ELIGIBILITY – COMMUNICATIONS WILL SWITCH OVER TO
THE NEW SEASON SO WE CAN WELCOME AND BRING ON BOARD NEW SAILORS,
CRUISERS, PASSAGE MAKERS, EXPLORERS AND ADVENTURERS
14) SAFE HARBOR VENTURA ISLE 🇺🇸 CA SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE
Happy to offer 50c x foot off our transient rates for participants of the Panama Posse
Garrett McKinney
General Manager
We
welcome the Panama Posse to a charming mix of oceanfront lifestyle and
southern California culture embodied in the Ventura Harbor’s spirit.
Whether
you’re setting sail for Panama or dining in the lively Ventura
Harbor Village, Safe Harbor Ventura Isle is a gateway to it all.
SAFE HARBOR VENTURA ISLE
Address: 1363 Spinnaker Dr, Ventura, CA 93001
Tel: +1 (805) 644-5858
E: gmkcinney@shmarinas.com
AMENITIES
Max LOA 93′
Max Beam 40′
Boat Lifts
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Cable TV Hookups
Fresh Water Hookups
Shore Power Hookups
Dock Boxes
Pump-out
Drive-up Parking
15) EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATION
🇰🇾 CAYMAN ISLANDS
Earlier this month SV Yo-D-Yo
had the good fortune to be on Cayman Island when they were celebrating
an imporant and historic event: Emanciparion Day. Their account of
the event follows:
Dave
and I happened to be in George Town, Cayman Island on May
6, 2024, the day they were celebrating their emancipation. A bit of
history from he Cayman Times newspaper, written by Christopher Tobutt.
“On
the morning of May 3, 1835, a momentous event unfolded in the Cayman
Islands. Captain Anthony Pack stood on a low wall overlooking Hog Sty
Bay and read a proclamation that would forever change the course of
Caymanian history. The Governor of Jamaica, Lord Sligo, was present to
emphasize the message: “You who have been slaves and lately acting as
apprentices, are by this decision made absolutely and unconditionally
free.” With those words, Cayman’s formerly enslaved population became
one of the first truly liberated black communities in the Caribbean”
While
the rest of the region still suffered under an apprenticeship scheme
described as “slavery by another name,” Caymanians were already free.
On
6 May 2024 Emancipation Day was celebrated again, for the first
time in 62 years, with a grand and spectacular display of all facets of
Cayman Culture, on Seafarers Way, overlooking Hog Sty Bay. There were
wonderful displays from each district, and ladies and gentleman dressed
in traditional-style beautiful Caymanian clothes.”
There
were performances by local school children. Many local women
demonstrated traditional crafts, such as needle work, making rugs from
torn cloth, using the Cayman Silver Thatch Platting making hats, making
bags, making purses and whatever they can make.
In the evening they had a fantastic fireworks show and Drone show.
We were lucky to be a part of this celebration.
Fireworks display capped off the celebration
Emancipation day was a prideful celebration
SY YO-D-YO 🇺🇸 David & Mary – Hunter 45’
16) MEET THE FLEET
SV SEAGLUB
Captain Chris
Chris Glubka, captain of SV SEAGLUB grew
up landlocked and was constantly told stories of the sea by his Naval
grandfather and read pirate stories from his father. Having moved near
the sea during middle school, Chris quickly took to the ocean and found
himself aboard his first boat soon after secondary school. Later in life
Chris found SEAGLUB and she has now been home for over a decade.
In this time he has sailed throughout Central America, French
Polynesia, Fiji and New Zealand. SeaGlub has traveled over over 2,000nm
just within Fijian waters and marked and saved each track in and out of
dozens and dozens of reef passes and anchorages. All are available
through the Posse organizations. Chris invites all of you to be active
in the Line chat group and look him up when you arrive in Fiji. Fair
winds and following seas to all…
SY SEA GLUB 🇺🇸 Chris
17) SAFETY ALERT ⚠️
REGULAR VISUAL CHECKS OF KEY PLACES WILL
KEEPS SYSTEMS TIP TOP AND THE BOAT AFLOAT
Some
people describe cruising as ‘doing boatwork in beautiful places’ and
they find themselves toiling on their vessel maintenance regularly while
voyaging. Others cruise hard seasonally and then put their boat
up tackling many maintenance issues during the off season. NOTE:
while this regular maintenance is an important and time consuming part
of boat ownership, it does not take the place of making regular visual
checks of key aspects of ones vessel. It is a wise mariner who
regularly checks lines for chafe and bilges for any signs of
leakage.
A visual check of the bilge following a sail.
QUESTION: Why is there oil in the bilge?
ANSWER: Oil cap worked its way loose. Fortunately, caught it early while the oil is still full.
Making a habit of visually checking ones vessel can make the difference of staying ahead of a problem and warding off an issue.
18) MUST SEE:
🇯🇲 SUNKEN PIRATE CITY AT PORT ROYAL
“The
earth opened and swallowed many people, before my face, and the sea I
saw came mounting in over the wall, upon which I concluded it impossible
to escape.”
Edmund
Heath, survivor and eyewitness to the devastating 1692 earthquake wrote
these words in a letter from the safety of a ship moored in the city’s
harbor, overlooking the ruins of his city. Port Royal, once called “the
most wicked and sinful city in the world” was famous the world over for
its booze—the blackout-inducing Kill Devil Rum, its pirates, and its sex
workers. Needless to say, when the city was nearly destroyed, there
were some parties that saw it as a convenient solution to an ugly
problem.
The
English and their pirate friends were relatively new to the area.
Jamaica had been held by the Spanish since Columbus first declared it
“the fairest island eyes have beheld” in 1494. Lacking gold or other
obvious exploitable wealth, the Spanish held it but did not focus much
energy there. It came under English power in 1655, after Cromwell sent
English raiders to invade and capture the Spanish stronghold at
Hispaniola (now Haiti and Dominican Republic, then the center of Spanish
trade in the Caribbean). Cromwell’s men failed spectacularly at taking
Hispaniola and turned to Jamaica as a second choice, better-than-nothing
option.
Located
on the southeast coast of Jamaica, the natural harbor at Port Royal
became the center of English life in Jamaica. By the late 1600s it had
become one of the largest European cities in the new world, second only
to Boston. It had also become the infamous home of pirates, sex workers,
and Englishmen on the make. Far from home, they made their livings off
of the slave trade, slave labor in plantations, and the money that the
pirates brought in from their looting forays against the Spanish.
It
may be seen as an indicator of the caliber of vice in Port Royal that
in 1675 the notorious pirate Henry Morgan became the Lieutenant
Governor. In fact, Morgan began to crack down on overt piracy as the
grand era of privateering he had been part of began to enter its waning
phase. He died just four years before the earthquake struck and was
buried in the Palisadoes cemetery.
On
the morning of June 7, 1692, a massive earthquake estimated at a 7.5
magnitude hit the island. The city, largely built over sand, suffered
instantly from liquefaction, with buildings, roads, and citizens sucked
into the ground. Geysers erupted from the earth, buildings collapsed,
and finally the city was hit by tsunami waves, dragging what had not
been destroyed out to sea. In the end, some 33 acres of the city
disappeared under water, four of the five forts were destroyed or
submerged, and 2000 people were killed. The cemetery where Captain
Morgan was buried slipped into the sea, its bodies floating up to mix
with the freshly dead.
Even
before the earth stopped shaking, locals reported that the looting
began, one writing: “Immediately upon the cessation of the extremity of
the earthquake, your heart would abhorr to hear of the depredations,
robberies and violences that were in an instant committed upon the place
by the vilest and basest of the people; no man could call any thing his
own, for they that were the strongest and most wicked seized what they
pleased….”
As
news spread of the destruction of Port Royal, it was picked up as a
cautionary tale and a sure sign of divine retribution for the lewd
behavior of the pirates and sex workers, the pretensions and wealth of
the gentry of the town, or the sins of slavery, depending on the city
and the audience.
But
at any rate, the earthquake did not end Port Royal’s wicked ways, nor
its relationship with vice or with pirates who continued to stop by for
another 50 years while they preyed on Spanish ships. In fact, in 1720,
John “Calico Jack” Rackham was hanged at Gallows-Point in Port Royal by
order of pirate hunter—and former privateer—Woodes Rogers (best known
for his rescue of the castaway Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for
Robinson Crusoe).
Since
then the city has been racked by fire, earthquake, and hurricane
several times. The English finally decided to close its naval station at
Port Royal, effectively closing it for business, and most residents
left. In 1951, what was left of Port Royal was hit by Hurricane Charlie,
destroying more property and leaving only a few of the original
buildings standing.
Today
most of the remains of the 17th century city lie under up to 40 feet of
water. Up until the 1900s visitors reported on the city still visible
below the waves and the eerie sensation of floating over the rooftops.
Since the 1950s, divers have been exploring and cataloging the submerged
city. In 1969, Edwin Link discovered the most famous artifact: a pocket
watch dated 1686, stopped at exactly 11:43.
More
recently the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University
and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust conducted underwater
archaeological examinations, ending in 1990. Their explorations have
brought to light artifacts of 17th century life rarely seen. Because of
the nature of the disaster, which left many buildings intact and more or
less undisturbed, it has been compared to Pompeii for its
archaeological wonders and was a designated National Heritage Site in
1999.
Special
access from the government is required to dive in the restricted Port
Royal ruins area, but many of the items recovered over the years can be
seen at the Museums of History and Ethnography at the Institute of
Jamaica in Kingston.
19) LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES AND
THE PANAMA POSSE
The
#1 Cruising Lifestyle publication on the planet just keeps getting
bigger and better! Incredible destination articles and features by the
cruisers themselves, including how-to’s, DIY and exciting new products!
22) 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
23) 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.
The Amazing 🇨🇰 Cook Islands just a quick sail west from French Polynesia
South Pacific Posse burgees available now in Panama & soon in FP
The impressive Volcanic Island formations in the South Pacific
Nawi Island Event August 31 2024 – come party and mingle with the Cruising Fleet
WE OPERATE UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW
YOUR VESSEL · YOUR CREW · YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
OUR MISSION
Make traveling for yacht owners easier, transparent and better informed.
Generate group buying power with discounts in marinas and with service providers
Pass on relevant information to help fellow participants in a timely manner without personal opinions
Identify, document and reduce risks
Allow for flexibility and reduce pressures due to schedules
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