Cruising Fleet Update 2025-03-16

Calabash Bay 🇧🇸 Bahamas

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“Now is no time to think of what you do not have.
Think of what you can do with that there is”

— Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea (Sep 1951)

2025-03-16
CRUISING FLEET UPDATES & NEWS

• Casting Off 𓍼
• Picture Of The Year Entry
• Unexpected Naval Encounters
• Uninvited Visitors Award Entry
• Introducing Dei Presidi – Tuscany 🇮🇹
• Live Music For A Good Passage
• Cruising 🇵🇦 In Bocas Del Toro
• Life Raft 🛟 Inflation Demo
• Good News ? Bad News ! 4 more inches under your keel
• Meet The South Pacific Cruising Fleet
• Watch A Cruising Doctor’s Presentation
• Updates From 🐢 🇪🇨 The Galapagos
• Marina Vallarta, Banderas Bay 🇲🇽 Mexico
• The Original Gunk Holes Of The 🗿 South Pacific
• Adventures 𖦹 Before Jumping Off
• Laying Up Your Vessel In The 🌴 Tropics
• Good Nautical Bird Key Harbour / Fort Jefferson
• Westmarine Pro 🔱Sponsors the Ocean Posse
• Marina Portobello 🇨🇴 Colombia
• The Birds Of Panama 🐦
• Ocean Posse Fleet Is 🛰️ Tracking
• Meet The Locals 🇳🇨 Kanaks

1) CASTING OFF 𓍼

SY Aura just left Vista Mar heading for Galapagos! We are happy to know about any other boats heading the same way around now. We know Magic is also on her way. A red sky at night….🙏

Fri Mar 14 2025 06:57:00 GMT-0500 (GMT-05:00)

Last night we experienced a total lunar eclipse on a literally still sea. I lay on my back in the cockpit and watched the moon directly above me slowly being overshadowed by the earth. It took time, maybe an hour, before the moon’s bright light was replaced by a copper-colored disk and all the stars appeared crystal clear. It was so dark and still. Marine fire flickered in our wake and the horizon was barely discernible. We floated in an empty darkness where “stars pierce the sky“, as in Alf Hambe’s “Visa i molom”.

At 02:00 Lasse came up and changed me and I got to experience the return of the moon. Four hours later I wake up to dawn and a moon that is clear and pure begins to sink towards the horizon in the west. I guess this is the only time in my life I will experience a total lunar eclipse on a calm ocean, with the moon almost at its zenith. We are, as I write this, only 2.26 degrees, or 186 nautical miles, north of the equator. In a few days we will cross the equator.

We have been running the engine since last night and will probably be running for several days now. We are running at low speed to save fuel, doing about 3.6 knots through the water. The current is still helping us a little with a few extra knots.

Three tired birds on the boom – 200 nm left to go to the Galapagos

All the best on SY AURA 🇸🇪 Birgitta & Lasse – OE32′

2) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Meet my friend “Macolla”!

SY RAAJA 🇺🇸 Skip – J Boat 46′

Gambier Archipel – TAUMA island 🏝️- outer reef 🪸😎

23° 8.9400′ S 134° 51.2800′ W

SY KIVAVERA 🇨🇭 Thomas Gabriela – Conyplex B.V. 46′

Ocean Posse planning session “Escape to San Blas“

SY QUE VENDRA 🇺🇸 Maciek & Olena – Outbound 46′

@ Laguna Palos, Bocas Del Toro

SY Brigadoon lll 🇨🇦 Doug and Patty – Saga 43′

Sunday gathering for Bocci Ball at Red frog Beach resort

A strict 3 – 5 pm rule is enforced – at 5 PM sharp happy hour dissolves the game

SY KNOT RIGHT 🇺🇸 Walt and Jearine – Beneteau 47′

Calabash Bay, Bahamas sunrise.

MV KOSMOS 🇺🇸 Eric Christi & Keith – Nordhavn 43′

Moonrise Laguna Porras, Bocas

MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′

3) JOIN THE OCEAN POSSE

302 YACHTS ARE NOW PART OF THE OCEAN POSSE
UNLIMITED ADVENTURE

4) OCEAN POSSE
PICTURE OF THE YEAR
AWARD ENTRIES

anchored in Costa Rica…Papagayos were very manageable today!

SV OKISOLLO 🇺🇸 Jeanne & Dan – Island Packet 52′

5) UNEXPECTED NAVAL ENCOUNTERS

We just saw a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 leaving the Port of Los Angeles going back up to Vandenberg!

SY HORIZON 🇺🇸 Stephanie – Tayana 55′

6) UNINVITED VISITORS AWARD ENTRY

Long story for the “unwelcome guest” category – though really only unwelcome since he was in my space putting me out of my comfort zone! For some reason we’ve lost a couple of prop zincs off our port side over the last few weeks in Belize. Still not sure if it was due to an electrical issue in the marina we called home base, or mechanical failure of some kind. Anyways, after our passage to Dry Tortugas from Mexico I really wanted to check that our prop zincs were still in place before getting into a marina in Florida. After our shore excursion to Fort Jefferson, I planned to jump into the water to check. When we got back to our boat, a large dark thing was hanging out in the shade of the boat. We couldn’t quite make out what it was from the surface – but no way I wanted to get in the water with something bigger than me! We stuck the GoPro down to capture this video – appeared to be a massive grouper of some kind – so I climbed down onto the swim ladder to get in. The massive bugger came right up to me – call me chicken but I still didn’t want to get in with that thing’s face just a foot away. I had to get the boat hook and poke him a few times to get him to move forward on the boat and give me room!

SY PERCEPTION 🇺🇸 Jim & Melinda – Lagoon 42′

7) OCEAN POSSE
AWARD CATEGORIES

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR
• YODA OF THE YEAR
• SPEEDY AWARD
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD
  sponsored by NOVAMAR
• COURAGE AWARD
• CLEAN OCEAN AWARD

• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION AWARD
  sponsored by PREDICT WIND
• GALLEY GOD(ESS)
• GOOD SAMARITAN
• BOAT YOGA POSE
• SANDCASTLE OF THE YEAR

FLOR DE CAÑA SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

8) INTRODUCING A NEW PARTNERSHIP MARINA

MARINA DEI PRESIDI – TUSCANY 🇮🇹 ITALY

42°24.1395′ N 011°12.68′ E

MARINA DEI PRESIDI is an integral part of the MARINEDI GROUP

We are proud to sponsor and partner with the Ocean Posse.

We are offering a 10% discount off our rates

Dr Giovanna Marconi

CONTACT

info@marinadeipresidi.com

• Electricity 220 – 380 volts, 125 amps
• WI-FI
• Mooring: Assistance from 9am to 7pm
• Water supply

• Banks / ATMs
• Markets
• Restaurants / Pizzerias
• Gastronomy & Restaurants
• Bar, wine shop, ice cream parlor
• Pharmacy
• Boutiques & Shopping
• Laundry
• Taxis
• Refitting
• Technical assistance
• Parking

NEARBY Forte Stella (Porto Ercole) A star-shaped fortress also built by the Spanish in the 16th century. Known for its impressive architecture and strategic location.

ITS OFFICIAL we just got 10+ new Marinas as sponsors of the Ocean Posse in Italy 🇮🇹 for some of the most iconic locations including

Tuscany, Sicily, Sardinia,Ischia and many more desirable locations. We are busy loading these new partnership marinas into the ocean posse website and are joyous over these fantastic new destinations for the Ocean Posse route

SAILING AND CRUISING IN ITALY 🇮🇹
JUST GOT A LOT EASIER & AFFORDABLE

https://oceanposse.com/marinas

9) LIVE MUSIC FOR A GOOD PASSAGE

A taste of the guitar excellence in Zihuatanejo this week

SY SAIL FISH 🇺🇸 Brian Casey – Beneteau 39′

Historic chart of Seguantaneo

10) CRUISING 🇵🇦 IN BOCAS DEL TORO PANAMA

If you are in or planning to come to Bocas Del Toro and anchor at Luguna Porras we highly recommended taking the wonderland hike with Mia.

She is welcoming and knowledgeable and will give you good information about the flora and fauna on her property.

Afterwards be sure to stop by Ryan and Andrea’s private island where you will be served as many cocktails as you can drink, given a tour of their farm including the pigs, chickens, ducks and bunnies and their lovely gardens.

You can buy fresh eggs, some veggies and herbs and some of Andrea’s homemade jams and hot sauces.

Finally dinner at Dolphin blue resort where you will have an excellent three course meal which can be tweaked to your dietary preference just let them know in advance and the food, drinks and views are all excellent. Highly recommend this bay and all the activities.

Based on an excellent tip from SV Fin we fueled up at Terpel Fuel Dock in Almirante, Bocas Del Toro. Diesel was $3.40 per gallon.

Took on almost 500 gallons so saved a substantial amount of money compared to Red Frog or Bocas Marina which were in the $5.60 range. The dock is teeming with local guys who help tie you up, man the pump and take your trash for tips. Was quite a scene

MY TIDINGS OF JOY 🇺🇸 Jeff & Joy – DeFever 52′

The Archipelago of Bocas del Toro PANAMA with hundreds of anchorages

11) LIFE RAFT 🛟 INFLATION DEMO

For those going offshore cruising this is a life raft inflation demo – held every year in Shelter Bay Panama – plus 2 Life Raft service center are nervy in the trade free zone in Colon

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43′

12) GOOD NEWS⚡ BAD NEWS

BAD NEWS
Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, mostly because of ocean water expanding as it warms, or thermal expansion. According to a NASA-led analysis, last year’s rate of rise was 0.23 inches (0.59 centimeters) per year, compared to the expected rate of 0.17 inches (0.43 centimeters) per year.

“The rise we saw in 2024 was higher than we expected,” said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Every year is a little bit different, but what’s clear is that the ocean continues to rise, and the rate of rise is getting faster and faster.”

This graph shows global mean sea level (in blue) since 1993 as measured by a series of five satellites. The solid red line indicates the trajectory of this increase, which has more than doubled over the past three decades.

GOOD NEWS FOR YACHTS ? more water under our keels !
Since 1990 we have about 4 more inches / 10 more centimeters under our keels !

13) SAVE THE DATE

MEET THE SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISING FLEET

SAT AUG 30 ’25 🇫🇯 FIJI

https://oceanposse.com/nimrsvp/ ▶

Nawi Island Marina – Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji

14) WATCH A CRUISING DOCTOR‘S REVIEW OF WHAT TO DO AND BRING OFFSHORE AND HOW TO USE IT
IN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

ONBOARD MEDICATIONS AND USE IN EMERGENCIES by a Dr Porter and E.M.T. Jon – this is a must see seminar – login to watch it ! ▶

15) UPDATES FROM 🐢 🇪🇨 THE GALAPAGOS

Greetings from the Evenstar crew! We are currently in The Galapagos Islands. We have visited San Cristobal and Isabela. Of the two Isabela is our current favorite. It has a very chill vibe. For any of you planning on stopping in the Galapagos on your way to French Polynesia we highly recommend stopping at Isabela. If you want to do any land tours, we highly recommend the Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico by Horseback tour guided by Claudia at Pink Iguana. The tour is a good value given what you experience. Our tour lasted over 5 hours and included lunch. The horses are well kept and are easy to ride. The views are incredible. Message me if you would like her WhatsApp contact info. Cheers!

Her WhatsApp number is: +593 95 899 1909.

You can also find her at the Pink Iguana House / Pink Iguana Beach Bar ▶

SY EVENSTAR 🇺🇸 George & Giselle – Lagoon 42′

16) MARINA VALLARTA, BANDERAS BAY 🇲🇽 MEXICO
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

20°39.8083′ N 105°15.085′ W

Good afternoon, Ocean Possee , a pleasure to greet you, the discount for members registered in OCEAN POSSE we have authorized for said agreement, it is 15% off our current rates.

May – Oct/ LOW SEASON

Nov– Apr / HIGH SEASON short term only and subject to slip availability

SERVICES

Marina Vallarta offers state of the art facilities and high quality services within the entire complex.With more than 354 slips ,the marina stands out for the quality services it offers.

• Complete Yacht Services
• Fuel Dock
• Chandleries
• Shopping Centers
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Traditional Mexican market on Thursdays

NEARBY MUST SEE

1. Explore the Romantic Zone & Old Town

Wander through cobblestone streets filled with art galleries, boutique shops, and colorful Mexican architecture. Don’t miss Olas Altas Street and Isla Cuale, a small island in the river with artisan markets and a peaceful vibe.

2. Visit Mirador Cerro de la Cruz (Scenic Viewpoint)

A short but steep hike from downtown takes you to this panoramic viewpoint with the best city and bay views. Go at sunrise or sunset for the most breathtaking scenery.

3. Experience Local Markets & Street Food

Stop by Mercado Municipal Rio Cuale or Mercado Emiliano Zapata for fresh produce, crafts, and traditional Mexican snacks. Try tacos al pastor, birria, or tamales from street vendors.

4. Day Trip to San Sebastián del Oeste

This 17th-century mining town in the Sierra Madre mountains is a beautifully preserved colonial village with cobbled streets, historic buildings, and a peaceful atmosphere. Visit a coffee plantation while you’re there.

5. Explore Vallarta Botanical Gardens

A lush jungle escape about 40 minutes south of the city, these gardens feature orchids, exotic plants, and hiking trails. There’s also a restaurant overlooking the mountains and a river where you can dip your feet.

17) THE ORIGINAL GUNK HOLES OF
THE 🗿 SOUTH PACIFIC

Russell, Bay of Islands 🇳🇿 New Zealand

There are many protected and historic Maori sites in Northland of NZ

https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/51306-chart-nz-5125-bay-of-islands/

18) PATHFINDER’S ADVENTURES
LAST STOP BEFORE 𖦹 JUMPING OFF

Drinks on the Bach in Las Perlas – Panama

Birds, snorkeling, sunset picnic toasts and …

San Jose Isla Pedro Gonzalez, Las Perlas Pacific Panama ⚓️ N08 24.044 W079 05.010 Low Tide 3.2meters

All provisions going into inventory!

SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸 JP & Nicole & crew – Lagoon 39′

19) LAYING UP YOUR VESSEL
IN THE🌴TROPICS

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.

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.

We prop cushions on their sides/edges just before we go to allow maximum air circulation, and leave all cupboard doors ajar as well. Clothing and bedding is dried in the sun and then plastic bagged before stowing below so it can’t get damp.

If we’re on shore power, we leave a cheap 110 volt fan below to circulate the air, and if not we leave our Nicro day/night solar vents running. One year in El Salvador we were able to leave an air conditioner running, which was great, and where Avant is now (Panama) we have a dehumidifier running 24/7 to control the moisture.

If you choose ‘electronic remediation’ (dehumidifier or air conditioning) for mold control, you need to plan for power outages and recognize that at the dockside or in the yard shore, power will likely be somewhat unreliable and will suffer multiple outages over the season. Fancy new style microprocessor controlled units will usually not restart after a power outage or voltage drop; old style, bog-simple units with mechanical switches usually will restart after an outage (and as a bonus, they’re usually cheaper, too). A dehumidifier or stand alone AC will need a drain point, such as a galley or head sink drain, while a window style AC can be set up to drain overboard or through cockpit drains.

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. There are cheap tarps and not so cheap tarps, and the cheap blue type last mere days or at best weeks in the intense sun and can’t withstand summer squalls and storms. We buy ‘good ones’ (usually they’re not blue, and sometimes are silver on one or both sides), get them double the size we need, and put them on doubled up. The side exposed to the sun will rot and fail in the UV, but the second layer will usually last out the season. We don’t use the grommets on the tarps, but instead gather the fabric of the tarp around a ping pong ball and secure that with a constricting loop knot (a topsail sheet bend tied back on the bight). The grommets are the first point of failure. After a season, the tarps are garbage.

Run the tarps as low as possible so they have the lowest windage and cover the most deck area. We also have fitted sunshade material awnings that ride low to the decks and are secured to the toe rails and cover the decks. They shade the decks where we don’t have tarps, and where they ride over the traps they add UV protection for the tarps. Sunshade material is widely available at Home Depot and other DIY shops, usually in the garden department. It’s easy to sew on any machine, and the plastic grommets they sell for it are easy to apply and seem to last well. As with tarps, grommets are the first potential point of failure, but as we have them every foot along the edge, they spread the load well.

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 degreesf/60 degreesc are typically reached daily for a boat on the hard for weeks at a time, and 120 degreesf/49 degreesc 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 half 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 – 1 half gallons or so of vinegar
and a liberal amount of 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 ৎ

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 tin foiled appurtenances. After some reassembly, we’re ready to cruise another season.

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43′

20) GOOD NAUTICAL ⚓

BIRD KEY HARBOUR / FORT JEFFERSON
DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK 🇺🇸 FLORIDA

Anchoring in the Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, is a unique and rewarding experience for boaters seeking remote beauty and rich history. Located about 70 miles west of Key West, the park consists of seven small islands surrounded by crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life. The primary anchorage is near Garden Key, home to the iconic Fort Jefferson, a massive 19th-century coastal fortress.

The anchorage offers good holding in sand, but boaters should be mindful of shifting winds and strong currents. Overnight anchoring is permitted, though space can be limited, especially during peak season. Vessels must stay clear of seagrass beds and designated swimming areas to protect the fragile ecosystem

⚓ 24° 37.3001′ N, 82° 52.7652′ W

21) WESTMARINE PRO 🔱
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

22) OCEAN POSSE
FEATURED HAUL OUT FACILITIES

MARINA PORTOBELLO 🇨🇴 COLOMBIA

SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

10° 23.2066′ N 075° 31.0866′ W

We are please to offer a 10 % discount of our haul out fees and a 20 % off our future marina slips

ABOUT

A full service yard we lift boats up to 90 tons, 10 meters of beam with a state of the art , electronic weight measurement, 4 wheels, equalized and driven via remote control. Its lifting mechanism uses a load-sensing hydraulic system, which is adjusted according to the special requirements of each client, in order to implement different movement and maintenance jobs safely and efficiently.

SERVICES

• PAINT HULL / TOP AND BOTTOM
• ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SERVICE
• ENGINE SERVICE & REPAIR
• PROPULSION MAINTENANCE & REPAIR
• SEALING AND POLISHING
• SPARE PARTS AND LOGISTICS
• CARPENTRY

servicioalcliente@marinaportobello.com

23) THE BIRDS OF PANAMA 🐦

Panama is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to over 1,000 species, including harpy eagles, toucans, and resplendent quetzals. The Panama Canal, a vital trade route completed in 1914, also serves as an ecological corridor, allowing birds to migrate between the Americas. Before the canal, Panama’s dense rainforests formed a natural land bridge, enabling avian species to diversify. When construction reshaped the landscape, birds adapted to new wetlands and reservoirs like Gatun Lake. Today, areas near the canal, such as Soberanía National Park, host diverse bird populations, proving that even industrial feats can coexist with nature’s wonders.

Here are five of the most unique bird species :

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) – One of the world’s largest and most powerful eagles, this apex predator thrives in Panama’s dense rainforests. It is also the country’s national bird.

Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) – A striking green and red bird with long, iridescent tail feathers, sacred to the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations.

Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker (Piculus callopterus) – Endemic to Panama, this rare woodpecker is found in the humid forests of the country’s western highlands.

Black-crowned Antpitta (Pittasoma michleri) – A secretive, ground-dwelling bird that lurks in Panama’s lowland forests, known for its melodious calls.

Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo (Neomorphus geoffroyi) – A large, elusive bird that often follows army ant swarms, feeding on insects disturbed by the movement.

OCEAN POSSE CANAL AGENTS

To arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact our dedicated Panama Canal agents and sponsors of the Panama Posse and the Pacific Posse

CENTENARIO CONSULTING

Erick Gálvez

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

24) OCEAN POSSE FLEET IS 🛰️ TRACKING

Tracking the Ocean Posse … MORE ▶

Please be on the lookout for John Jones, single handing on Quiet, a Tayana 37, lost his mast about January 27 after departing El Salvador. He has fashioned a jury rig and is making for Nuku Hiva, FP. His AIS is non functional, but his tracking link works at: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Quiet/
To conserve power he does not run his tracker 24/7.

Underway making way for over 60 days now – His Last known position as of
Sun 9/Mar 2025, 13:06 GMT 04º 56.502 S 117º 52.533 W Course: 213° true, 2.6 kts

25) MEDIA PARTNERS

LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

OCEAN POSSE HAS A SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION RATE
FOLLOW THIS LINK ▶

26) SPONSORSHIP MARINAS
WITH OCEAN POSSE DISCOUNTS

1. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor Ventura Isle, Ventura CA, USA
2. 🇺🇸 Vintage Marina , Oxnard, CA, USA
3. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, CA, USA
4. 🇲🇽 ECV Marina – Ensenada Mexico
5. 🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas – Mexico
6. 🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo – Mexico
7. 🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes – Mexico
8. 🇲🇽 Marina el Cid – Mazatlan – Mexico
9. 🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico
10. 🇲🇽 Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Barra de Navidad – Mexico
11. 🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico
12. 🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico
13. 🇲🇽 Vicente’s Moorings, Acapulco – Mexico
14. 🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas – Mexico
15. 🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela – Guatemala
16. 🇸🇻 Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador
17. 🇸🇻 La Palma Moorings – Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
18. 🇳🇮 Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua
19. 🇨🇷 Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica
20. 🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica
21. 🇨🇷 Flamingo Marina – Costa Rica
22. 🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad, Ecuador
23. 🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama
24. 🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama
25. 🇵🇦 Flamenco Marina – Panama
26. 🇵🇦 La Playita Marina – Panama
27. 🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina – Panama
28. 🇵🇦 Bocas Marina – Panama
29. 🇵🇦 Solarte Marina – Panama
30. 🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama
31. 🇵🇦 Turtle Cay Marina – Panama
32. 🇵🇦 IGY Red Frog Marina – Panama
33. 🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia
34. 🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia
35. 🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia
36. 🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia
37. 🇨🇴 Manzanillo Marina Club – Colombia
38. 🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica
39. 🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica
40. 🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club – Jamaica
41. 🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina – Cayman Islands
42. 🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras
43. 🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras
44. 🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras
45. 🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort – Guatemala
46. 🇧🇿 Hummngbird Marina – Placencia – Belize
47. 🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize
48. 🇧🇿 Hakim Marina & Boatyard – Belize
49. 🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico
50. 🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico
51. 🇲🇽 Marina El Cid – Cancún – Mexico
52. 🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba
53. 🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos
54. 🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas
55. 🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas
56. 🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas
57. 🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas
58. 🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic
59. 🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic
60. 🇻🇮 ST. Croix Yacht Club – USVI
61. 🇻🇮 Geen Cay Marina – USVI
62. 🇻🇬 Virgin Goda Yacht Harbour- BVI
63. 🇵🇷 Marina Pescadaria – Puerto Rico
64. 🇸🇽 IGY Simpson Bay Marina- Sint Maaarten
65. 🇩🇲 Dominica Marina Cente – Dominica
66. 🇰🇳 Port Zante Marina – St Kitts & Nevis
67. 🇺🇸 Safe Harbor – Marathon, FL, USA
68. 🇺🇸 Pier 66 Hotel & Marina – Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
69. 🇺🇸 Titusville Marina – FL, USA
70. 🇺🇸 Port 32 Marinas – Jacksonville, FL , USA
71. 🇺🇸 Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor Marina – FL , USA
72. 🇺🇸 Morningstar Marinas Golden Isles St. Simons Isl. – Georgia, USA
73. 🇺🇸 Windmill Harbour Marina – Hilton Head South Carolina , USA
74. 🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , US
75. 🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA
76. 🇺🇸 Holden Beach – Town Dock, North Carolina , USA
77. 🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA
78. 🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, VA USA
79. 🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, VA USA
80. 🇺🇸 York River Yacht Haven – Virginia , USA
81. 🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – VA USA
82. 🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, VA USA
83. 🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, VA US
84. 🇧🇲 Pier 41 Marina – Bermuda – Bermuda
85. 🇧🇲 Caroline Bay Marina – Bermuda
86. 🇵🇹 Marina De Cascais – Portugal
87. 🇵🇹 Marina Funchal – PORTUGAL
88. 🇪🇸 Alcaidesa Marina – Spain
89. 🇪🇸 Marina Del Odiel – Spain
90. 🇪🇸 IGY Málaga Marina – Spain
91. 🇮🇹 Marina dei Presidi – Italy
92. 🇮🇹 Marina di Balestrate- Italy
93. 🇮🇹 Marina di Brindisi- Italy
94. 🇮🇹 Marina di Chiavari – Italy
95. 🇮🇹 Marina di Forio – Italy
96. 🇮🇹 Marina di Teulada – Italy
97. 🇮🇹 Marina di Policoro – Italy
98. 🇮🇹 Marina di Vieste – Italy
99. 🇮🇹 Marina de Procida – Italy
100. 🇮🇹 Marina de Villasimius- Italy
101. 🇮🇹 Marina Molo Vecchio – Italy
102. 🇮🇹 Marina Salina – Italy
103. 🇹🇳 Marina Bizerte – Tunisia
104. 🇪🇸 Puerto Sotogrande – Spain
105. 🇪🇸 Yacht Port Cartagena – Spain
106. 🇬🇮 Ocean Village Marina – Gibraltar
107. 🇨🇻 Marina Mindelo – Cape Verde
108. 🇨🇱 Roaring Forties Marina – Chile
109. 🇳🇺 Niue Yacht Club – Niue
110. 🇫🇯 Copra Shed Marina – Fiji
111. 🇫🇯 Nawi Island Marina – Fiji
112. 🇫🇯 Denarau Marina – Fiji
113. 🇫🇯 Musket Cove – Fiji
114. 🇫🇯 Royal Suva Yacht Club – Fiji
115. 🇫🇯 Sau Bay Moorings – Fiji
116. 🇫🇯 Vuda Point Marina – Fiji
117. 🇳🇿 Gulf Harbour Marina – New Zealand
118. 🇳🇿 Marsden Cove Marina – New Zealand
119. 🇹🇴 Vava’u Boatyard – Tonga
120. 🇻🇺 Yachting World – Vanuatu
121. 🇦🇺 Rivergate Marina – Australia

Check this map for 100+ Ocean Posse friendly marinas near you

27) MEET THE LOCALS 🇳🇨 KANAKS

The Kanak People of New Caledonia: A Rich Culture and Struggle for Identity

New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific, is home to the Kanak people, the Indigenous inhabitants of the land. The Kanaks have a rich cultural heritage, deeply connected to the land, with traditions that have been passed down for generations. However, their history is also marked by colonialism, resistance, and ongoing struggles for political and cultural recognition. Understanding the Kanak people requires an exploration of their traditions, history, and the challenges they face in modern New Caledonia.

Origins and Traditional Society

The Kanak people are part of the broader Austronesian family, having settled in New Caledonia over 3,000 years ago. They developed a complex social structure centered around clan-based communities, each led by a chief. Kanak society traditionally revolves around land, which is considered sacred and communal rather than privately owned. The concept of “custom” (la coutume) is integral to their way of life, encompassing social rituals, respect for elders, and the exchange of symbolic gifts to maintain harmony between clans.

Kanak culture is also deeply spiritual, with strong connections to ancestors and nature. Totems, oral storytelling, and ceremonial dances play vital roles in their cultural expressions. Despite modernization, many of these traditions persist today, particularly in rural areas where traditional village life remains strong.

Colonial Era and French Rule

The arrival of Europeans, particularly the French, in the 19th century marked a significant turning point for the Kanak people. In 1853, France officially annexed New Caledonia, beginning a period of colonization that profoundly altered Kanak society. The French authorities imposed strict land policies that dispossessed Kanaks of vast territories, relegating them to reservations while European settlers took over fertile lands.

This era also saw attempts to suppress Kanak identity through forced labor, Christian missionary influence, and the imposition of French laws. Resistance to colonial rule culminated in various uprisings, including the 1878 and 1917 revolts, both of which were brutally suppressed by French forces.

Struggles for Independence and Identity

The 20th century brought a resurgence of Kanak activism, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, when calls for independence gained momentum. The formation of the Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) in 1984 marked a crucial step in the independence movement. Political tensions escalated, leading to violent confrontations such as the Ouvéa hostage crisis in 1988.

In response, France introduced the Matignon Agreements (1988) and later the Nouméa Accord (1998), which granted New Caledonia greater autonomy and recognized Kanak identity and culture. The agreement laid the groundwork for a series of referendums on independence, the most recent of which took place in 2021, with a majority voting to remain part of France. However, the Kanak pro-independence movement continues, as many Kanaks argue that the referendum process was not entirely fair due to demographic shifts favoring French loyalists.

Culture, Language, and Modern Challenges

Kanak culture remains vibrant, despite historical attempts to suppress it. Traditional arts, music, and dance continue to thrive, particularly through events such as the annual Kanak Cultural Festival. Indigenous languages, including Drehu, Nengone, and Paicî, are still spoken, though the dominance of French has led to concerns about language preservation.

Modern Kanaks face socioeconomic disparities, with higher unemployment and lower educational attainment compared to the European-descended population. Many Kanaks still live in tribal communities, where access to infrastructure and services is limited. The push for greater economic and political self-determination remains a key issue in contemporary Kanak society.

The Future of the Kanak People

The future of the Kanak people is intertwined with the broader political trajectory of New Caledonia. As the territory navigates its complex relationship with France, the fight for greater recognition and rights remains at the forefront of Kanak activism. Whether through continued autonomy or eventual independence, the Kanak people’s resilience and cultural strength will undoubtedly shape the future of New Caledonia.

Despite the challenges, the Kanak people have maintained their unique identity, adapting to modern realities while preserving their traditions. Their story is one of resistance, cultural pride, and a deep connection to their ancestral land—an enduring testament to their place in New Caledonia’s past, present, and future.

The U$50M Tjibaou Cultural Centre is a striking architectural and cultural landmark in Nouméa, New Caledonia, dedicated to celebrating the indigenous Kanak heritage. Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the centre blends modern architectural techniques with traditional Kanak aesthetics, creating a space that harmonizes with its natural surroundings. Opened in 1998, the centre is named after Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a Kanak leader and advocate for indigenous rights who was instrumental in promoting Kanak culture before his assassination in 1989.

The centre consists of ten tall, curved pavilions resembling traditional Kanak huts, made of wood and aluminum, strategically designed to capture the coastal winds and regulate temperature naturally. This innovative design reflects the deep connection between Kanak traditions and the environment, a core aspect of their culture.

28) OCEAN POSSE SPONSORS

• ABERNATHY – PANAMA
• BELIZE TOURISM BOARD
• BOAT HOW TO
• CABRALES BOAT YARD
• CENTENARIO CONSULTING – PANAMA CANAL
• CHRIS PARKER – MARINE WEATHER CENTER
• DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY PANAMA
• DIGITAL YACHT
• DOWNWIND MARINE
• EL JOBO DIST. COSTA RICA
• FLOR DE CAÑA
• HAKIM MARINA AND BOAT YARD
• HERTZ RENTAL CARS MEXICO
• HOME DEPOT PRO MEXICO
• LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES
• MARINA PAPAGAYO

• NOVAMAR YACHT INSURANCE
• PANAMA YACHT BROKER
• PREDICT WIND
• SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER
• SAN DIEGO MARINE EXCHANGE
• SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
• SHAFT SHARK
• SUN POWERED YACHTS
• WIKUS MARINE AUTO
• WESTMARINE PRO
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS

29) STRATEGIC PARTNERS

• SSCA
• Coconutz – Playa Cocos – Costa Rica
• Advertising Partners – Summerlin, LV – USA
• Safe-Esteem.com – Delaware

Port Vila 🇻🇺 Vanuatu

MISSION

• Foster Maritime Camaraderie: Unite yacht owners and sailors in a global community driven by the love of exploration and the sea.
• Promote Safe Cruising: Share resources, local knowledge, and best practices to ensure safe and enjoyable maritime journeys.
• Encourage Adventure: Inspire participants to embrace the call of the sea, explore new horizons, and discover diverse cultures.
• Marina Partnerships: Strengthen collaborations with marinas to offer exclusive benefits, services, and discounts to members.
• Enhance Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate the exchange of tips, skills, and experiences within a supportive fleet of cruisers via facts.
• Celebrate the Journey: Create lasting memories through events, meetups, and a shared passion for life on the water.
• Support Sustainability: Advocate for eco-friendly cruising practices to preserve our oceans and coastal ecosystems.