FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2018 Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico
“Panama Posse” Cruiser’s Rally Launch Party and Start Date November 29, 2018 from Mexico to Panama
The second annual “Panama Posse” rally sails to seven countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. The rally, starts at Marina Puerto de la Navidad, located just 150 nm south of Puerto Vallarta and ends at the Marina Vista Mar near the Panama Canal on June 1, 2019.
Benefits in joining the “Panama Posse” include daily SSB Communications net, vessel tracking, current country check in and check out procedures, 200+ verified safe anchorages, slip discounts from multiple marinas, express-check in at marinas and the Panama Canal, organized group land excursions and Posse parties along the way. Information includes list of fuel stations, chandleries, provisions, haul out facilities, dive sites, resort anchorages and cultural & eco sites to visit. A “Panama Posse” burgee is included with registration and hats and shirts with names of registered vessels will be available for a nominal fee.
In 2018, eighty-three boats ranging from 66 feet to 27 feet, joined the Panama Posse representing 8 countries. Thirty nine boats have already signed up for the 2018-19 Panama Posse, mostly from the U.S. and Canada, many have done the Baja-Haha, Pacific Puddle Jump, Transpac, Tahiti-Moorea, Tonga & Fiji Regattas and multiple countries in the South Pacific, Caribbean and Pacific Northwest.
One of the official sponsors, Marina Puerto de la Navidad, is offering very attractive and discounted slip fees for all “Panama Posse” registered vessels for the month of November. The launch party will be held at Marina Puerto de la Navidad on Thursday November 29, 2018. Seminars will be held during that week to cover the following topics: OpenCPN satellite overlay on electronic charts, navigation, route planning, weather, safety, and provisioning.
Panama Posse Marina Sponsors
- Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Barra de Navidad – Mexico
- Marina Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico
- Marina Chiapas – Mexico
- Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador
- Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua
- Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica
- Golfito Marina Village an IGY Destination – Costa Rica
- Vista Mar Marina – Panama
- Shelter Bay Marina – Panama
- Red Frog Marina – Panama
What do past participants have to say about the Panama Posse ?
“We absolutely loved the Panama Posse! We enjoyed having the latest information on marinas, anchor spots, grocery shopping, laundry, and country check-in or out. Very valuable. And even better was the wonderful friendships made with lots of great people! Many thanks for heading up a fantastic rally.”Debbie & Rob SV Annapurna
“I wanted to explore. See new places. Meet new people. Joining up with the Panama Posse helped make all that possible.
Releasing baby turtles in Zihuatenejo, surviving the Tehuantepec and the Papagayos, an afternoon poolside at Gordie’s and movie night at Coconutz in Playa del Cocos….
The only thing better than anchoring at Ballena Bay Costa Rica after a full and beautiful day running south along the coast? Doing it with a small flotilla of fellow cruisers from the Panama Posse…
The next day? A dinghy run up the estuary, with howler monkeys in full throat, and a picnic on a sugar sand beach with palm trees leaning out over the water, providing shade for the cold beer and snacks with some of the coolest people on the water. That’s the Panama Posse.
These are some of the memories I’ll have for the rest of my life thanks to the friends I made this past year in the Inaugural Panama Posse run from Barra de Navidad Mexico to Vista Mar Marina in San Carlos Panama.”
MikeSV
Interlude
“Joining the Panama Posse was the best decision we made last year. Not only did we meet great people traveling the same coastline but the shared intel on anchorages and check-in procedures was invaluable!! We would highly recommend it to anyone choosing to travel this route.”
Marc & Laura
SV Liquid
“Participating in the Panama Posse was like being part of a family and less like a typical rally. We met some of the most wonderful people whom we will be life long friends. We gained information in real time about both anchorages and weather that was invaluable. No cruise through Mexico and Central America would be as complete without sailing it as part of the Panama Posse.”
Chris & Amanda
SV Sea Glass
“Greetings my friends, Thought Janet and I would tell of our experience with the Panama Posse. The 2018 Posse had 83 boats! We didn’t meet all boats but the boats we met and traveled with were very appreciated as we entered uncharted waters in Central America. It’s a good feeling when you can stop by a boat or call on a radio looking for a opinion on weather or ports of entry. Panama Posse ROCKS !!”
Chris & Janet
SV Respite
As a single handed sailor it gave me community. I did go places that would have been skipped for safety reasons. Others reports changed my early assumptions.
In remote locations because of the Posse I knew other boats. More friends were made.
On tours I was able to join a group with made the time better.
Even with the end in June the unofficial Posse continues. I have helped three Posse boats transit the canal.
SV Easy
…Diane and I uncharacteristically participated in Panama Posse 2017, the inaugural year of the rally. Uncharacteristically I say because we typically shy away from highly organized cruising rallies. This one was different and we loved the Posse and the camaraderie of this group of loosely organized boats making their way from Barra de Navidad, MX to Panama City, Panama and all places between and beyond… With 83 boats signing on last year there was rarely a shortage of Posse boats along the way to socialize and explore together… the members were there to help each other out as fellow cruisers.
The Posse also helped to identify many anchorages along the coast not mentioned in cruising guides, arrange discounted rates at many marinas, identify good boatworkers, mechanics and tour guides, streamline some check-in processes, adapt to life in the various countries being visited and a thousand other things that makes a cruiser’s life a bit better.
If you are thinking of transiting the Pacific Coast to Panama I would highly recommend that you look into Panama Posse 2018.
Stan & Diane
MV CrossRoads
PR Contact:
Suzanne DuBose
+1 (702) 509-0320
suzanne@panamaposse.com
SPONSORSHIP & EVENT Contact:
Captain Dietmar Petutschnig
vm +1 (858) 848-NESW
c +1 (702) 606-1809
dietmar@panamaposse.com
