MEET THE FLEET: SV RESOLUTE

Mike

Captain Mike aboard SV RESOLUTE
Thanks to Captain Dietmar and Maurisa. I am excited to have just joined the Ocean Posse.  My name is Mike Arrajj, from near Cleveland by way of 30+ years as a public health nurse in San Francisco. On the water for the last 40 years I've mostly raced in lots of different boats from Cal-20s to several successful years as tactician on a J-24, bigger boats - several years on a Santa Cruz 50, and a brief stint on a maxi. I was fortunate to do several point-to-point races during that time: two Transpacs, two PV races, two Mex-Orcs, as well as a few long distance deliveries
I bought my first boat, a Helmann 50 in 2012, moved onboard when I retired in 2014, sailed it to Puerto Vallarta the following year. She was lost to a fire in Long Beach in 2020. I found my current boat, a Saga 43, in Mazatlan and have sailed her around the central coast of Mexico since then.
I started thinking about the Ocean Posse when several friends raved about how wonderful Panama is.  A three-day seminar by the Ocean Posse last October got me really excited but also convinced me that I wasn't quite ready yet.  Yes, I know, cut your lines, cut your lines, you're never perfectly ready. I get that! And as soon as it is prudent, I'm on my way!
I like the idea of the OP as a way to make friends, get real time connections and information, set up flotillas, and I appreciate any guidance and ideas the fleet can offer me. I have my first "pay-it-forward" in the works. I worked most of my career in Mental Health, Yes, no one wants to talk about it, but crises do happen on the water. I want to create a resource guide for cruisers and will post in on Ocean Posse.
So, hello, and seven feet under your keel

SV RESOLUTE 🇺🇸 Mike – SGA 43’

       

MEET THE FLEET: SV PYTHIA

Caleb & Kesami

Pythia crew going ashore to stretch their sea legs.
Hello everyone, I think I'm supposed to introduce myself. We are Caleb and Kesami aboard SV Pythia, a 1995 Beneteau "Farr" 50 currently in Barra de Navidad. Our original plan was to head west to Polynesia, but dog passports and shots with sometimes weeks between ports made us change our mind for the sake of my 10 year old pup Aster. We think she would prefer to go through the Canal and have many more chances to go ashore as well as being closer to home in case we need assistance in that regard. Glad to be here and connect with other pet owners perhaps! PYTHIA'S pup is a gently puppy of 10 years old.  She loves to run and play with other pups and tearing around beaches.
SV PYTHIA sailing in the Puget Sound of Washington State before heading south.

SY PYTHIA 🇺🇸 Caleb& Kesami - Beneteau Farr 50

   

MEET THE FLEET: MV DOWNSHIFTING

Carine & Crew

Amazing sunset going around the Baja Peninsula.
Hi, I am Captain Carine Bullock about to take on my biggest journey, yet. I have a Nordhavn 47 trawler and I will be departing Ensenada, MX on or around November 24 for Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia. I have owned Downshifting since 2009, with my husband until 2013, when he passed. Since 2013, I have cruised the Atlantic from Maine to Key West, Bahamas to Grenada and west to Bonaire. Crew has been friends, family and folks I have met through the various forums. In Feb 2024, I left Florida for Panama, transited the canal and prepared to cross to French Polynesia. After hitting a roadblock from FP BIOSECURITY regarding my two Bahamian rescue dogs, Abaco and Chloe, I headed for Mexico. Now, out here on the western edge of Mexico I am doing a different crossing than planned, one of the shorter routes to Nuku Hiva, about 2700 nm and at a non traditional time. I have a long stay visa and will be spending cyclone season in parts of FP, north and east of the cyclone belt.
Carine and her fulltime crew, Abaco & Chloe heading ashore in Huatulco, Mexico
Carine and 2 out of 3 of her crew crossing to Nuku Hiva with her.

MV DOWNSHIFTING 🇺🇸 Carine – Nordhaven 47’

Downshifting      

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!

Congrats Bent and Andrea! Married on SV ONE PIECE in December 2023.

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 

JP & Nicole at a Sloth Nature in Panama

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!

Nicole cooling down in their (PRO-TIP) repurposed fishing net water hammock
JP flying the spinnaker. All smiles with this vessel and crew.

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

MEET THE FLEET: SV MAISON DE SANTÉ

Nicole, Keenan, & pup Jack

SV MAISON DE SANTÉ under sail.
Nicole and Keenan enjoying many secluded anchorages along their way south.

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.

Nicole and Jack are a great team on the SUP.
Nicole up the mast.
Nicole and Keenan cooling down.
SY MAISON DE SANTÉ on anchor in the San Blass Islands, Panama

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.

SV JUBEL in San Lorenzo, Panama

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

WANDERLUST FabioWANDERLUST KristiWANDERLUST Crew

 

 

MEET THE FLEET: SV COSMOS

Chris & Su

Their contact card shows their creative side.

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.

SY GALATEA 🇺🇸 Sarah & Mark – Morgan 46′

 

 

MEET THE FLEET: SV ZORBA

Limor & Tomer

Tomer & Limor dinghy’ing around
SV Zorba on anchor in Panama.

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.

We have seen so many beautiful anchorages!

On land adventures are a big part of our life at sea.
Hiking over a suspension bridge.

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!)!

MV SEAXII

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.

The whole crew bundled up for a Glacial Adventure

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!

Next month this crew will go south to warmer latitudes.

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.

Next Chapter Crew

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.

Our new home.
Shawna and Lexi

 

Chris and Jake

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!