FLEET UPDATE 2025-05-18

CRUISING ° FLEET UPDATE & NEWS
2025-05-18

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SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸 J.P. & Nicole – Lagoon 39′ – Hiva Oa 🇵🇫 Marquesas

“When you’re in the middle of nowhere, when you’re on this tiny little island, probably one of ten people ever to step foot on this island, it’s taken you a week to get there by boat – and you step near to an albatross nest. It doesn’t even look at you as the enemy. You get this great nature moment. Until you realize the albatross, along with the thousands of other winged albatrosses next to it, has constructed its nest of trash.”

– Jeff Corwin

THIS WEEK’S CRUISING ° FLEET UPDATE & NEWS

1) MAKING LANDFALL 🇵🇫 FP

2) ARRIVAL CELEBRATIONS 🇵🇫 FP

3) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

4) AWARD ENTRY 🍳GALLEY GODDESS

5) AWARD ENTRY 👁️‍🗨️UNINVITED VISITORS

6) AWARD ENTRY 👁️‍🗨️BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT

7) MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK

8) LAYING UP FOR THE SEASONIN THE🌴TROPICS

9) JOIN THE OCEAN POSSE

10) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 🐳THE ORCA WISPERER

11) MARINA DI TEULADA 🇮🇹 SARDINIA

12) SPECIAL SAILORS GATHERING DURING THE CARTAGENA FESTIVAL 🇪🇸

13) OCEAN POSSE🏆AWARD CATEGORIES

14) MEET UP WITH THE SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISING FLEET

15) FLOR DE CAÑA 🍸

16) MEETUP 🇫🇷 @ CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL

17) THE OCEAN POSSE PANAMA CANAL UPDATE

18) MOSQUITOES 🦟 vs NO SEEMS

19) OCEAN POSSE FLEET 🛰️ TRACKING

20) MEDIA PARTNERS LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES

21) PARTNERSHIP MARINAS OCEAN POSSE DISCOUNTS

22) OCEAN POSSE SPONSORS

23) GOOD ANCHORAGE ⚓

Extraordinary Cruising °°° Join the Ocean Posse

Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Pacific
the Ocean Posse is Already There

WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

“We’re humbled by the power of nature. The Posse gave us the confidence to embark on journeys we never thought possible. We started with a three-day passage and now, after an eight-day journey, we feel ready for more. We couldn’t have done it without the support and wisdom of the community.” John & Kristine – Tartan 42′

1) MAKING LANDFALL 🇵🇫 FP

Aura is one hour from Atuone, Hiva Oa, after a 23 days sailing, mostly in fantastic conditions! Had some squall challenges the last night and the last day we filled our refrigerator with tuna.

SY AURA 🇸🇪 Birgitta & Lasse – OE32′

Fri May 16 2025 10:52:00 GMT-0500 (GMT-05:00)

The moon has begun to shrink, and the night was once again pitch black as the sun sank below the horizon in front of us. As I write this, we have just over 25 nautical miles to go to the easternmost cape of Hiva Oa. I have slept a few restless hours and then took over the watch from Lasse. The moon is up now, and flickers its light over the sea, occasionally obscured by clouds. The wind is steady in strength, around 9 meters per second. The waves let us pass softly and then unannounced throw Aura into sideways oscillations. My gaze wanders between our course on the plotter and the wind instrument that shows the wind angle, when I see that something is not right. We are sailing with a large genoa to starboard and the wind is coming in from around 150 degrees. But the wind vane has locked at 180 degrees and is not moving at all. While I stare at the red-lit instrument, the arrow swings around and points straight up, and the numbers showing wind strength are replaced with three dashes…

Now it will be nice to sleep in and celebrate with a bottle of bubbly!

/Birgitta

2) ARRIVAL CELEBRATIONS 🇵🇫 FP

First you smell land

Land Ho ! @ the Marquesas

JP with the Ocean Posse ensign

Cheers to the crossing and to French Polynesia

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

3) PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Guna fisherman selling his catch at Snug Harbor, San Blas 🇵🇦 PANAMA

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

Met up with fellow cruisers and took some good pics of Downshifting here in
Bora Bora, its beautiful here….

MY DOWNSHIFTING 🇺🇸 Carine – Nordhavn 47′

Better Together enjoyed Thursday pozole and the Acapulco sights with new friends Theresa and Tom of SV Rio Salado.

148-foot cliff diving into a narrow Pacific inlet In the 1930’s local fishermen began diving off the cliffs as a daring pastime and by 1934, the activity evolved into a public spectacle. Divers must time their jump with incoming waves to avoid hitting rocks below.

A bas-relief sculpture of a mermaid serves as a tribute to the sea, femininity, and Acapulco’s enduring relationship with maritime myth and beauty.

SY BETTER TOGETHER 🇺🇸 Lisa – Catalina Morgan 45′

Sunset in Agua Verde, Sea of Cortes

SY PILIALOHA 🇺🇸 Rick & Maria – Beneteau 39′

Another dead calm anchorage in Bocas Dolphin Bay off Blue Dolphin Resort

SY SERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathleen – Antares 44′

4) AWARD ENTRY
🍳
GALLEY GODDESS

Grilled Fish Steaks

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

5) AWARD ENTRY
👁️‍🗨️
UNINVITED VISITORS

MY ALGONQUIN 🇨🇦 Diana & Lyle – Nordhavn 43′

6) AWARD ENTRY
👁️‍🗨️
BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT

SY ZEDNA 🇸🇪 Trevor & Lena – Robertson and Caine 38′

MANTA RAY DOING LOOPS – captured by SY PATHFINDER

SY AURA 🇸🇪 Birgitta & Lasse – OE32′

7) MORE PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Beach party setup in the Tuamotus

Beach Bonfire assembly

SY HORIZON 🇺🇸 Stepahnie & – Tayana 55′

Can you spot two macaws?

SUNSET ALERT

SY KALIYAH 🇺🇸 Greg & Dieu – Kelly-Peterson 46′

Interesting sky in the Bahamas tonight. 🌅

MY KOSMOS 🇺🇸 Eric, Christi & Keith – Nodhavn 47′

8) LAYING UP FOR THE SEASON
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 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.

SV AVANT 🇺🇸 Rob & Debra – Beneteau

9) JOIN THE OCEAN POSSE

“Join the Ocean Posse: Real cruisers, real intel, and friendships that last a lifetime.”

FOLLOW THIS LINK AND RENEW NOW >>

 

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⛵ Community of voyagers all are welcome, kids, single-handers, pets		✔️
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🚷 Always priority traffic – for participants by participants		✔️

 

10) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
🐳
THE ORCA WISPERER

Orcas are intelligent and social creatures, but interactions with boats can be unpredictable.

It’s crucial to be informed, prepared, and act responsibly when encountering orcas.

WHAT WORKS

Use your engine: If you are in a known orcas hotspot area, it’s advisable to use your engine to maintain some headway through the water. This can help deter interactions with orcas.

Stay in shallow waters (when safe): When possible, navigate in shallow waters (ideally following the 20-meter depth contour or less) within the safety limits and capabilities of your vessel.

Report encounters: If you spot an orca or are involved in an interaction with one, immediately report the incident to the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Center), authorities, and nearby vessels using your boat radio.

Be informed: Educate yourself about orcas and potential interactions with boats. There are many resources available, including websites like orcas.pt, apps, and updated maps.

Train your crew: If you have a crew, train them on how to react calmly and safely in the event of an orca encounter. A well-prepared crew can make a significant difference.

Maintain a Constant Vigilance: Designate a crew member to constantly scan the horizon for orcas, especially in known hotspot areas.

WHAT NOT TO DO

**Do NOT stop your boat if you spot or your rudder is attacked by an orca. Current scientific research and recommendations from Spanish Authorities strongly advise against stopping. Stopping has been linked to more prolonged interactions and increased risk of damage to your vessel.

Avoid nighttime sailing in orca hotspots: Whenever possible, avoid sailing at night in areas known to have orcas.

Maintain awareness: Even if you don’t stop, remain aware of the orcas and their movements.

Additional Action Items:

Consider joining orcas.pt discussion groups (if available) for more detailed information and updates.

There is always some risk involved when encountering wildlife. By following these recommendations and using your best judgment, you can help ensure a safe and responsible interaction with orcas.

11) MARINA DI TEULADA 🇮🇹 SARDINIA
SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

38° 55.6433′ N 008° 43.1933′ E

We are pleased to support the Ocean Posse participants with a 10 % discount at our marina.

Tel: (+39) 0709283705

info@marinaditeulada.com

VHF 09 and 16

AMENITIES

• Continuous access hours
• VHF service h. 24|24 Channel 09 and 16
• Marina Management
• Office hours 8.00 | 20.00
• Electricity 220 – 380 volts, 125 amps
• Dock lighting
• Mooring
• Divers (on-call service)
• Fire-fighting service
• Drinking water dispenser
• Bilge suction
• Rental Car
• Taxi

MUST SEE NEARBY

Area Archeologica di Nora

Located approximately 21 kilometers from Teulada, the ancient city of Nora is one of Sardinia’s most significant archaeological sites. Visitors can explore well-preserved Roman and pre-Roman ruins, including mosaics, a theater, and thermal baths.

Spiaggia di Campionna

A lesser-known gem, this beach offers tranquility away from the more crowded spots. Its clear waters and unique rock formations make it a serene location for relaxation and snorkeling.

12) SPECIAL SAILORS GATHERING
DURING THE CARTAGENA FESTIVAL 🇪🇸
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27 16:00-21:00

brought to you by
YACHT PORT CARTAGENA & FLOR DE CAÑA RUM

• Flor de Caña Rum tasting
• Networking with fellow cruisers
• Pot Luck BBQ with prices for best food

A few miles from Cartagena, Cala Cortina offers the peace and quiet of its tranquil waters. A footpath leads directly to the beach, and makes a pleasant stroll with views of the natural harbour and the cliffs surrounding it.It is very popular, a favorite for locals thanks to its calm, clear waters

Yacht Port Cartagena is a full-service marina located in the heart of one of the most historically rich ports in the western Mediterranean. Sheltered within a deep natural harbor, the marina offers excellent protection year-round and is a preferred overwintering spot for many long-range cruisers. It features over 300 berths for vessels up to 140 meters, with all the technical services, security, and amenities expected of a modern facility—including 24/7 dock staff, a well-equipped boatyard, and haul-out services.

Make your reservation @ 🇪🇸 Yacht Port Cartagena ▶

Here are Cartagena’s special dishes

Zarangollo This baked dish combines potatoes, onions, and peppers, creating a unique and flavorful meal.

13) 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

MY DELTA SWIZZLER – Marc – Historic entry into the Captain Ron Award

14) SAVE THE DATE

MEET UP WITH THE SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISING FLEET

SAT AUG 30 ’25
NAWI ISLAND 🇫🇯 FIJI

Nawi Island Marina @ Savusavu 🇫🇯 Fiji

15) FLOR DE CAÑA 🍸 SPONSORS THE OCEAN POSSE

Flor Passion Fruit Mojito with Flor de Caña 12 Year Rum

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz Flor de Caña 12 Year Rum
• ½ fresh passion fruit juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Splash of sparkling water
• Orange peel and mint leaves garnishes

Glassware:

• Mason jar or highball

Preparation:

• First, place the basil, sugar, lemon and passion fruit
• juice into the glass and gently mash with a mortar.
• Next, add the ice, then the Flor de Caña 12 Year, and
• Fnally fill with sparkling water

16) OCEAN POSSE
MEETUP 🇫🇷 @ CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER IN THE COTE D’AZUR

SPECIAL EVENT OCEAN POSSE & BEN TAYLOR

Networking Rum and Fun

🇫🇷 Cannes Yachting Festival

Captains & Yacht owners

have fun at the most casual Marine Industry Networking event

@ LUPITAS on THU SEP 11th ’25 18:00 – 21:30

LEGENDARY FREE Flor de Caña Rum Cocktails

and Special Tacos courtesy of Ocean Posse & Taylor Media

!!! FREE RUM & FUN !!!

<a name=”1″></a>17) THE OCEAN POSSE CANAL AGENT

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

info@centenarioconsulting.com

www.centenarioconsulting.com

Cellphone +507 6676-1376

WhatsApp +507 6676-1376

Erick Gálvez

18) MOSQUITOES 🦟 vs NO SEEMS

No-see-ums are significantly smaller than mosquitoes, making them much harder to see and often unnoticed until their bites are felt. No-see-ums, also known as biting midges or sand gnats, are typically around 1-3 mm long, while mosquitoes are generally between 3.5 – 10.0 mm inches long

Mark dons his battlegear!

Hey All! I am sharing our write-up on no-see-ums:

Mirror-watered anchorages are a sailor’s dream, right? Some of the best memories we have are captured photos of Serenity during sunset, with warm colors seen both in sky and still waters. It’s in these idyllic settings that Kathryn, Lapa (dog) and I have produced some of our worst welt enshrined memories! This is all thanks to a pesky pest that goes by many names: no-see-um, midge, jejene, and our favorite, MOFO (edited to keep civil). We have encountered MOFOs in various concentrations from the Sea of Cortez to Panama. The worst was at the infamous Bahia Amortajada, also featured in Steinbeck’s “Sea of Cortez” book. Why did we ignore warnings made!? Read our account of our to the death battle in the review we left here: https://www.noforeignland.com/place/4548328947712000.

Yesterday we decided to leave the anchorage at Bocas Town with its near incessant wake producing lancha traffic for the super protected waters of Groun…

Poor Kathryn had to contend with both stingray and MOFO bites in Mexico.

Yesterday we decided to leave the anchorage at Bocas Town with its near incessant wake producing lancha traffic for the super protected waters of Ground Creek. We’re in a “lobe” on the East side of the anchorage, which offers a cut through which Starfish Beach is less than a mile’s paddle away. The hope was to stay here for a week, riding out predicted storms with their associated squalls. No longer! Starting at the notorius “witching hour” of sunset, and continuing through the morning, Serenity and crew have been inundated by MOFOs. Fortunately, we have a few strategies we use to fight back.

Screens are a must. There is trade-off between maximizing cooling breezes and keeping insects at bay. ANY barrier to MOFOs is far better than none. Note, however, these guys are so small they can crawl through the netting of our screens. I guess there’s reason they’ve earned the moniker “no-see-um”. A simple solution to this challenge is to apply an oil to the screens. As the bloodthirty MOFOs try to crawl through in their search of your ears and ankles, they get trapped in the oil and die. We use “Shake + Shield no-see-um repellent” (see photo), which has a number of essential oils. One spritz for the body, one for the screen. It’s super easy are far less expensive to make your own. Place a few drops of essential oil (citronella, peppermint, citrus and even lavendar all work) per ounce in a non-staining oil such as coconut or Avon Skin So Soft (mineral oil based). Apply liberally on a rag and wipe skin and screen.

If and when swarmed, vacuum cleaners suck big time, in a good way. After donning protective clothing (long pants and hoodie), turn on one light in the affected area and vacuum away, preferably giggling like a mad scientist. This greatly reduces their population whilst providing tremendous karmic satisfaction.

Insect repellants repel, but not completely. It should come as no surprise that we’ve found few repellents that are 100 percent effective. We try to avoid toxic chemicals like DEET which can be absorbed through the skin. Avon Skin So Soft was reputed to be a decent repellent on it’s own. We found adding the essential oils mentioned greatly improved results. The Shake + Shield is the best commercial product we’ve come across so far.

Good luck, my fellow explorers, in staying MOFO and welt free! Photos are forthcoming.

Each dark spec represents a captured MOFO

This morning’s collection by the helm station.

We have these for mosquito coils. Highly recommended. If used upside down (open side down), keel the coils burning even in the rain.

SY SERENITY Marc & Kathyn – Antares 44′

The Mosquito · The Doors

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Caleta Partida is a stunning and well-protected anchorage nestled between Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida in the Sea of Cortez, approximately 20 nm north of La Paz. The anchorage is formed in a narrow channel where the two islands nearly touch, making for a scenic and secure spot popular among cruisers.

Caleta Partida Anchorage ⚓ Baja California Sur 🇲🇽 Mexico
📍 Location: 24°31.7′N 110°22.7′W

🛟 Protection Excellent shelter from prevailing north winds and swell. Holding is good in sand, typically 5–10 meters.

🌊 Clear Water Fantastic visibility, making it great for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding.

🐠 Marine Life Abundant sea life—rays, reef fish, even whale sharks in the right season.

🛶 Exploration Paddle through the shallows between the islands at high tide. Hiking trails also lead to dramatic ridge views.

🔥 Vibe Peaceful and remote, with a few local fishing pangas passing through. Occasional cruisers’ potlucks and bonfires on the beach.

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