MEET THE FLEET: SV PYTHIA
Caleb & Kesami
SY PYTHIA 🇺🇸 Caleb& Kesami - Beneteau Farr 50
MEET THE FLEET: MV DOWNSHIFTING
Carine & Crew
MV DOWNSHIFTING 🇺🇸 Carine – Nordhaven 47’
MEET THE FLEET: SV ONE PIECE
Bent & Andrea
Ahoy! We are Bent and Andrea, a sailing couple from Germany, on the water with our Outremer 45 SV ONE PIECE since March 2022. When we first set sail, our idea was a one year Atlantic Circle only, but as you can guess the adventurous sailing and beautiful boat life caught us for a much longer journey and we’re not done yet! We sailed the Mediterranean first and crossed the Atlantic with the ARC+ in 2022 to explore the Caribbean next. In the beginning, Bent was a much more experienced sailor and Andrea a greenhorn. After the first year of learning and becoming familiar with everything about the boatlife and several exciting adventures, we both felt tied together as a sailing team and with our boat, too. So it was a romantic and lovely decision to get married on our SV ONE PIECE in December 2023 in Grenada, exactly where we reached land after our first Atlantic Crossing!
Last season we sailed the beautiful Virgin Islands, Turks- and Caicos Islands and then the Bahamas and put a sparkling highlight on it by sailing up to New York and drop our anchor directly behind the Statue of Liberty. We left SV ONE PIECE for Hurricane Season in the Chesapeake Bay and here we are again: ready to go for the Pacific! Happy about being part of the Pacific Posse and looking forward meeting you!
SV ONE PIECE 🇩🇪 Bent & Andrea - Outremer 45
MEET THE FLEET: SV PATHFINDER
Jean-Phillip (JP) & Nicole
Nicole and Jean-Philippe have been cruising together on SV Pathfinder, a Lagoon 39, for 5 years. Mexico was their home base for several seasons. After joining the Panama Posse they expanded their horizons, literally, and cruised all down the Pacific coast of Central America to South America. They made Ecuador their home base for 7 months and enjoyed the full year sailing season because of the Southern Hemisphere. Nicole and JP share a passion for traveling and both speak Spanish which is a special bond in their relationship. They met because of an airplane flight so they believe in magic and continue to believe in it while living on the water. Pathfinder is their full time home. But also they absolutely love land travel and meeting people in new countries. The Panama Posse and now the Ocean Posse is their source for current, invaluable information, and discounts that enhance and extend their boat lifestyle. This enables them to continue sailing and making the world their home. Taking the time to discover each location, this is Pathfinder!
SY PATHFINDER 🇺🇸 Jean-Philippe & Nicole – Lagoon 39′
MEET THE FLEET: SV MAISON DE SANTÉ
Nicole, Keenan, & pup Jack
We are Nicole and Keenan on SY MAISON DE SANTÉ. We left San Diego on October 31, 2019 and had a few months of cruising fun before Covid. We decided to spend lockdown in Barra de Navidad, Mexico. Following COVID lockdown, we continued sailing Pacific Mexico for about 2 amazing years hopping our way down the coast after some time in the Sea of Cortez. SY MAISON DE SANTÉ crossed the El Salvador bar in 2023 before heading to Costa Rica where we spent 9 months enjoying the sights both by land and sea. Then in 2024, we continued our journey southward to Panama. We spent some time exploring the Secas, Coiba and the Perlas before crossing the Panama Canal in January from the Pacific to the Atlantic side. After crossing, we spent about 3 months in San Blas Islands before thunderstorms shuffled us west to Bocas Del Toro, where we are presently. We will be in Bocas del Toro until hurricane season is over. Next year we plan to visit Colombia, Roatan, Belize and the East Coast US. Being part of the Posse has been a great experience in meeting other adventurous and like-minded people.
SY MAISON DE SANTÉ 🇺🇸 Nicole & Keenan – Cal 2-46′
MEET THE FLEET: SV JUBEL
Kyle & Leah
We’re Leah & Kyle from Victoria, BC, sailing around the world… very slowly. We’ve lived aboard our current sailboat, a 1980 Gulfstar 44, for 6 years with our 2 cats and a dog. We’ve sailed through glaciers in Alaska, anchored in uninhabited Canadian islands, through the Mexican desert, explored Costa Rica and transited the Panama canal this last season to explore the beautiful Caribbean chain. We’re currently in Aruba and making our way back to Panama to head across the Pacific to the Philippines to pick up our new catamaran in January 2026.
SY JUBEL 🇨🇦 Leah & Kyle – Gulfstar 44′
MEET THE FLEET: SV WANDERLUST
Kristin & Fabio
Hello! We are Kristin, Fabio and Yoda Potenti sailing and living aboard our Seawind 1600 (52 ft) catamaran, Wanderlust. Our journey began in 2020 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. After sailing the U.S. east coast up to Mt. Desert, Maine and down to the Bahamas we sailed to Panama, spent time in San Blas then transited the Panama Canal. We crossed the Pacific to Marquesas in March/April of 2023 and spent just over a year in French Polynesia.
This year in June we sailed to Fiji where we cruised for a couple months and will soon be sailing down to New Zealand for cyclone season. We’re documenting the journey on our YouTube channel Harbors Unknown, love to dive, hike, cook, meet new people and learn about different cultures. We hope to see you on the water! 
SY WANDERLUST 🇺🇸 Kristin, Fabio, & dog Yoda – Seawind 1600
MEET THE FLEET: SV COSMOS
Chris & Su
Chris and Su are living their dream aboard their 2008 Leopard 40 Catamaran, Cosmos! Over the past few years, they have worked tirelessly to make it safer and more comfortable for their around-the-world journey. Chris has handled major installations including new solar panels, batteries, electronics, and induction cooktop, and even a dishwasher. Su, on the other hand, took up sewing and began installing vinyl flooring. One of Su’s biggest complaints about living on a boat was that her feet were always sore. After installing the vinyl flooring the difference was so incredible that they became dealers of Infinity LMW, offering the same comfort to other cruisers. Su did not stop there. She continued sewing custom bug screens, dinghy chaps, helm cover, grill cover, outboard motor cover, and even salon cushions. All this work has improved both comfort and live-ability aboard Cosmos.
Their love story began in Bonaire during the pandemic. Su was running Treasures By the Sea, her vacation rental business while Chris, drawn to the island during the global shutdown, found it a perfect escape. Together, they set sail for the Leeward Islands before deciding to fully commit to their dream of circumnavigation. They hauled out in Curacao to tackle big projects like new engines/sail drives, solar arch/davits, rigging, through hulls, etc…Now, after visiting Aruba, Columbia, Panama, and Guatemala they are ready for the next leg of their adventure.
Their plan is to set sail through the Bay of Islands, Cuba, Providencia, and Bocas del Toro aiming to pass through the Panama Canal by the end of March and then head to the Galapagos. They estimate their circumnavigation journey will take another 5-10 years, and they cannot wait to see where the wind will take them next!
SV COSMOS 🇺🇸 Chris & Su – Leopard 40′
MEET THE FLEET: SV GALATEA
Mark & Sarah
We’re Mark, Sarah, and Juneau. In 2020, we moved to Panama to find adventure, freedom, and to spend more time outdoors. We now live and work full-time aboard Galatea with our wonderful dog. We’re passionate about experiencing life’s beauty and joy and sharing it with others. Our boat, Galatea, is a vintage 1982 Morgan 462 sailboat. We have spent the last two years upgrading, renovating, and restoring her original charm. You can find out more about us at www.sailgalatea.com or on IG @sailgalatea.
MEET THE FLEET: SV ZORBA
Limor & Tomer
We are Limor(49) & Tomer(52) from sailing yacht Zorba- Tayana 48DS 2007
We have retired 7/2022(both pharmacists), sold everything we owned and started cruising full time.
Limor is what I call a reluctant sailor but loves this way of life….so we keep on a ratio of 5% sailing time….the rest we spend on anchor plus some land travels.
I have been sailing for 30 years with plenty of pauses in between….
In my past, I was a sailing instructor, a tugboat captain , a chase boat captain, a dregger co-operator and a delivery skipper. Most of my experience is in the Mediterranean.
Before buying the Zorba (Tayana 48) we lived onboard an Oceanis 35 for 16 years…without sailing much, besides once in a while for a few hours….
In 2015, we cruised 8 months on a Gulfstar 50 from Key West up to the BVI’s (Bahamas, Puerto Rico, USVI, BVI) and back to Florida.
This voyage on SV ZORBA began where we found her: in Alameda, California. After cruising the Baja & the Sea Of Cortez, Costa Rica, crossing the Panama canal to the Caribbean side we are now having fun at Bocas del Toro.
Plan to be in San Blas between Mid October to the end if November.
In 2025 we plan to do the Caribbean loop: Panama-Colombia-DR-PR-USVI-BVI leeward+ windward Islands and back to Panama for next Hurricane season.
SV ZORBA 🇲🇭 Tomer & Limor – Tayana 48DS
MEET THE FLEET: MV SEAXII
Paul, Jamie, Hannah (12), Kathryn (12), Claire (8), Andrew (8)
(yes; two sets of twins!)!
Hello from the SeaXII! We are the Czetwertynski (C12) family: Paul, Jamie, Hannah (12), Kathryn (12), Claire (8), Andrew (8) (yes; two sets of twins!)! We bought the SeaXII, previously Invictus, a 72’ Nordhavn in Anacortes, WA in July 2023. We toured the San Juan Islands last August 2023 and decided that we could not pass up the opportunity to see Alaska while in the Pacific Northwest.
We moved from Annapolis, Maryland onto the Sea XII in June 2024 and headed from Port Angeles, WA, up to Glacier Bay and back! The grandeur of the Inside Passage was not a disappointment.
I think we all agree that Glacier Bay was our favorite. The mountains were majestic and the wildlife was abundant. The Johns Hopkins Glacier and Margerie Glaciers were beautiful, and we loved being able to hike up to Reid Glacier. We definitely learned to respect tides and currents, especially at Hole in the Wall, Ford’s Terror, and Sergius Narrows.
All four of the kids agree that their favorite memory was, ironically, the one tidal issue that we mis-timed on our hike to Reid Glacier. We pulled in on our dinghy, named Fournado, and parked onshore. The hike to the glacier took longer than expected (our kids stopped at every freshwater stream to drink) and the glacier was more magnificent the closer we got (pictures everywhere!), and when we got back to the Fournado, we found that it was solidly planted 15 feet onshore. The kids started full survival preparations, trying to make a shelter with rocks, making a fire, and making barnacle mush for nourishment. Thankfully, three hours later, digging a trench and rocking the Fournado back and forth, we did not have to subject ourselves to the barnacles for nourishment.
After finding leaks in our gray water hoses, blowing the air conditioning board from faulty power, and finding several other issues that need attention, we left the boat with Philbrooks in Sidney, BC and flew east to visit family. We are eagerly anticipating the next leg of our journey: traveling down the west coast to meet up with all of you! We are so excited to share new adventures and beautiful sights with new friends!
MV SEAXII 
Paul, Jaimie, Hannah, Kathryn, Claire, & Andrew – Nordhaven 72
MEET THE FLEET: MV NEXT CHAPTER
Chris, Shawna, Lexi & Jake
Meet the crew of Next Chapter, a family a four with a passion for cruising and exploring the world. Chris is best described as McGuyver, give the man a penny and a paperclip and he could get you out of almost any situation. He is our Captain, electrician, mechanic, in house tech support, carpenter, super dad, loving husband, and whatever we might need! He is always up for a great day of fishing and/or cruising. He prefers being on the hook opposed to tied up at a marina any day! I (Shawna) find joy in all the little things of this beautiful lifestyle – meeting new people, spending quality time with the people that matter most and of course exploring new places, foods and drinks. Lexi, our daughter, is 8 going on 30, she is one smart little lady who is obsessed with surfing and animals so if you ever see her on the dock and need a pet sitter, she’s your gal. Jake is a very active 2 1/2 yr. old with a heart of gold and a unmatched talent to keep his parents and sister on the go with his constant mischief making.
COVID did a lot of things for our family. It made us slow down and really start living the life we always dreamed of. We traveled more and spent more time as a family. Together, while sitting at Marina Puerto Escondido outside Loreto, BCS, we decided to sell everything and buy a boat. It took two years to pack up our lives in Washington State and put the pieces together but in July 2023 we bought M/V Next Chapter and set off from Marina del Rey, California.
Chris has been a lifelong boater and I (Shawna) was introduced to the boating world and community in her early 20’s. Together, we ran multiday sportfishing and sightseeing charter in SE Alaska from 2006-2011. We took a break from boating for a couple years to buy a home, start our career’s and our family but ultimately decided the water is where we want to be and the best place to raise our kids (because boat kids are just the BEST!!)
We don’t know exactly what will come next but as I write this we are cruising to Colombia with plans to meet up with friends and family this Fall in Aruba before continuing up the Carribean islands chain.
The Panama Posse has been such a wonderful gift to our family! It has connected us to amazing people who will be our lifelong friends, gave us confidence in our path and a TON of great resources to get here. If happen to connect on the water or marina, please come say hello!
MV NEXT CHAPTER Chris, Shawna, Lexi, & Jake – Selene 59′
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOURSELVES WITH THE POSSE!