OCEAN POSSE 
 
FLEET UPDATE APRIL 14, 2024

Swimming Striped Marlin approaching Mag Bay Baja Peninsula 🇲🇽 Mexico

APRIL 14, 2024

"No great voyages have ever been undertaken 

without creditors chasing you down the dock" 

 – Captain Mike: SV WHIRLWIND 

TOP NEWS  

• Season 7  Posse Season Finale and Award Winners May 11 
• Spectacular Sunsets from Mexico to Panama 🇲🇽 🇵🇦 
• Season 7 Award Entries: 
  - Biggest Fish Caught
  - Yoga Pose of the Year
  - Captain Ron
• Posse Perk:Life Changing experiences on the Pacific Coast 🇲🇽 🇨🇷
• Spring Celebration in Santa Rosalia, Mexico 🇲🇽
• Lightning: What to know and how to be Prepared
• Armadillo: Old Spanish for Fast Sloth
• Good Nautical: Bahia Honda Domingo's Anchorage 🇵🇦
• Meet the Fleet: SY OHANA
• Safety Procedures in Columbia 🇨🇴
• MUST SEE: San Christobal de las Casas 🇲🇽
• SV BISOU FOR SALE
• Atlantic Posse  🧭 Forming
• South Pacific Posse  4 🗿  Underway ! 

🇲🇽 🇧🇿 🇨🇷 🇳🇮 🇨🇴 🇨🇺 🇪🇨 🇸🇻 🇵🇦 🇩🇴 🇭🇳 🇯🇲 🇧🇸 🇹🇨 🇰🇾 🇬🇹 

277 Yachts  
 SEASON (8) SIGNUP STARTS MAY 15 

1)  PICTURES OF THE WEEK

 Dorado circling bait ball underwater off the coast of Magdelena Bay, Mexico 🇲🇽 

MV DRAGON 🇺🇸 John & Erin - Nordhavn 68′

2024 Solar Eclipe viewing in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico 🇲🇽 

SY DO THE THING 🇺🇸 Andrew & Laura - Jeanneau 44′

Poolside with boat on anchor through the trees in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 

Capuchin or White Faced Monkey also Poolside in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 

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

2)   OCEAN POSSE 
🦺
INSURANCE SEMINAR 

Marine
Insurance can be challenging with the appearance of few to no options
available at times, policies riddled with exceptions, and most insurance
agents simply not having solutions.  We are going to have a zoom
meeting with an Marine Insurance Specialist Steve Bonner who not
only has 33 years of experience in writing marine insurance for
worldwide sailors but Steve also has two circumnavigations to his
credit.

Because of his background with both mariners and insurance carrier he can bridge the gap perfectly between insured and carrier.

Join the call with questions or watch it later

OCEAN POSSE is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Thursday, April 18 2024

• 14:00 – EDT
• 13:00 – PANAMA
• 11:00 – PDTFollow this link to join zoom the call >>

3) SPECTACULAR SUNSETS
☀️

THIS WEEK

Sunset off Barra de Navidad, Mexico 🇲🇽 

SY ROXXY 🇺🇸 Dennis & Kelly – Beneteau 52’

Sunset Isla Parida, Western Pacific Panama 🇵🇦

SY SERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathryn – Antares 44′

Sunset in Bahia Marquer, Mexico 🇲🇽 

SY JOURNEY 🇺🇸 Anne & Remmi – Manta 42’

4) SEASON 7 AWARD NOMINATIONS:

 ONE NEW BIGGEST FISH CATCH ENTRY

WITH TWO BONUS SAILFISH

Nice size Yellowfin Tuna brought aboard SV OHANA

Sailfish Catch and Release

Note * Billfish is excluded from Biggest Fish Award BUT THE CATCH IS STILL IMPRESSIVE 

Chad says: 

Here
is my big fish entry.   It was welcomed aboard SV Ohana and
immediately released.  I put a tape measure over the deck of where
the fish laid and it was 7’ or so.  It was our first sail fish and
our second big fish of the passage (first above).  

Pro
tip - make sure to reel in all lines before backing down on the fish.
I got the opportunity to verify water temp and clarity.  Both
were excellent!!!!

SY OHANA 🇺🇸 Chad, Nicole & crew – Fountaine Pajot 50’

Fortitude X caught sailfish crossing the Tehuantepec 🇲🇽

Note * Billfish is excluded from Biggest Fish Award BUT THE CATCH IS STILL IMPRESSIVE 

SY DO THE THING 🇨🇦 Marjolaine & Francois - Dufour 43'

 🧘+ ⛵
 BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR ENTRY

One must be brave and nimble in the lazarette looking for loose wires!  

SY ROXXY 🇺🇸 Dennis & Kelly – Beneteau 52’

ONE NEW "CAPTAIN RON OF THE YEAR" 🤪
AWARD ENTRY

Charred Chart Plotter

ROLLING THUNDER Pro
Tip: If you put your chart plotter in the oven to protect it during a
lightning event, put the knob in the oven or otherwise disable the stove
till you take it out.

MV ROLLING THUNDER 🇺🇸 Bruce, Janis & Rosa  - Horizon 42’

Flor de Caña sponsors the Panama  Posse 

ANNUAL AWARDS INCLUDE:

• BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT*
• PICTURE OF THE YEAR
• YODA OF THE YEAR
• SPEEDY AWARD – SEVENSTAR AWARD
• THE CAPTAIN RON AWARD
• MOST UNWELCOME VISITOR ONBOARD
• HIGHEST WIND RECORDED
• SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION
• GALLEY GOD(ESS)
• GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR
• BOAT YOGA POSE OF THE YEAR
• COURAGE AWARD

Nominate yourself, a crew member, or another boat   

SUBMIT ENTRIES ON THE LINE AP OR EMAIL TO EDITOR@PANAMAPOSSE.COM

Share the adventure

5) PANAMA POSSE EVENTS 

Awesome Panama Posse members potluck at the pool in Marina Chiapas, Mexico 

John & Trish & John SV CARPE DIEM, Tom & Patty SV TRIAENA, André MV CAVENDISH, Matt SV ZEPHYR, Steffi & Torsten SV FORTITUDE X

SEASON FINALE AND AWARD CEREMONY 

MAY 11 BUENAVENTURA MARINA 🇵🇦  PANAMA

6) POSSE PERK: LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES 

GOING DOWN THE PACIFIC COAST

Greetings from John and Erin on MV Dragon.

We
left San Diego in early December on Dragon our Nordhavn 68 Forward
Pilothouse on a West Coast to East Coast mission which is the first
chapter in our West to East circumnavigation. We tapped the brakes for 5
days around Mag Bay to fish Marlin and Dorado and ultimately freedive
the bait schools on the banks around this pelagic wonderland. This would
become the most incredible wildlife experience of our lives. 

Posse perk: MIND BLOWING AND MAGICAL underwater experiences

After
Mag Bay we headed south and stopped in La Cruz, Mexico for a bit to
prepare, provision, and obtain permits for a trip to the Revillagigedos
archipelago for a dive trip to the legendary world heritage group of
islands 290 nm West of Puerto Vallarta. The diving was amazing and (we had) regular
underwater sightings of Pacific Mantas, Bottle nosed dolphins and 5
different kinds of sharks as well as tuna and bonito. (The) weather kept us from visiting Roca Partida but with so many other dive sites we could hardly be disappointed. 

Erin Scuba diving in the Revilagigedos

A
loop back to La Cruz and we headed south. We visited Tenecatita, Barra
de Navidad and Zihuatanejo for a few days each to walk each charming and
dusty town filling up on sites and fresh seafood.  

READ MORE >>

 We
checked out of Chahue without drama and grabbed a perfect window to
cross the often perilous Gulf of Tehuantepec which was glassy and full
pesky Sailfish instead of the Dorado we had hoped for. The weather held
amazingly well until Costa Rica where the Papagayo winds made the last
24 hours of our passage lumpy. Our insurance carrier declined to cover
us for stops between Mexico and Costa Rica so we bombed thru to the
beautiful and brand new Flamingo Marina where our check-in was prepped
and expertly managed by our chosen Costa Rica agent Bruce and Joaquin at
BB Seas. We stayed for 3 weeks. We surfed and rode our bikes down the
beach occasionally stopping in a shady spot where a massage therapist
had set up a table for what we came to call a $40 nap.

I
unloaded a KTM 890 adventure motorcycle that lives on Dragon and took a
multi day motorcycle ride up around the Rainforest and Volcano outside
Lake Arenal. The ride was filled with regular sightings of sloths, 2
kinds of monkeys and a curious creature called a Coati which looks like a
fuzzy anteater but is more closely related to a raccoon.

trailside Coati

We
hopped down the coast to Quepos and tied up at the Marina Pez Vela. We
have visited the Manuel Antonio National Park several times, surfed the
jetty outside the marina and done day trips to the Sailfish grounds
where we could find lots of Sails and small tuna to pull on.

Nice Haul!  Bravo Zulu.

After
a few weeks our friends at BB Seas gave us the news that our permits to
visit and dive the Cocos Island Marine reserve were approved. The
diving there is fairly deep so we arranged to get some oxygen cylinders
delivered from Punta Arenas and mixed our own Nitrox with our on board
compressor. Cocos has long been a daydream and I never imagined taking
our own boat and mixing our own dive gas. I had been introduced to a
seasoned dive guide who had the required credentials to guide us by a
friend and truthfully our new friend and Dive Guide Chipopa was more
excited than anyone to get out there. Cocos is almost halfway between
Quepos and the Galapagos. It’s within the ITCZ and the wind never blew
more than 6 knots all week and although a few anchor spots were rollie
from the long period swell our Seakeepers kept the decks flat.

Cocos
is a tropical postcard. It’s simply beautiful. The water was 88 degrees
and the Island was covered by waterfalls and although it can rain for
weeks there we had not a drop in the week we were there. Average
visibility in the water was 75-100’. We saw sharks on every dive and at
times we saw walls of hammerheads. We glided thru massive clouds of
horse eyed jacks and had tuna and wahoo swim close enough to witness our
dumbfounded stares. The density and diversity of life there is beyond
measure. It’s mostly big water diving with fast currents and deep
ledges. We toured the well run Ranger Station and hiked the corner of
the island. We swam thru a small shore break on the island and swam in a
300’ tall waterfall pool that brought Erin to tears. It’s not a cheap
or short trip but if any of what I’ve described appeals to you...GO
THERE!

Sharks are very common to see under water at Isla Coco, Costa Rica

MV DRAGON 🇺🇸 John & Erin - Nordhavn 68′

Thank you for Sharing your Adventures on the water !

 7) SHARING YOUR ADVENTURES  
is the heart and soul of the Panama Posse 

Please
share pictures of your adventures, your award entries/nominations, your
breathtaking sunsets, and picturesque anchorages on our group
communications platform for others to enjoy in real time and/or email
Maurisa at editor@panamaposse.com
to share in the upcoming newsletter.  Maurisa is a sailor among
us.  She is part of the Ocean Posse crew and enjoys writing fun and
helpful updates to the Panama Posse. 

SV PRIYA photographs rare animal sighting: Goats on Isla Espiritu Santo, Mexico 🇲🇽

8) SPRING CELEBRATION 

IN SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO
  

Spring Festival at the mining ruins in Santa Rosalia, Mexico 🇲🇽 

TRIP REPORT  SV DAWN PATROL:

After
hearing so many sailors talk about how great Santa Rosalia is, we had
to see for ourselves.  Marina Fonatur Santa Rosalia holds
approximately 20 boats, and the complex resembles all the other Fonatur
marinas in Mexico.  On this occasion the Pool and Jacuzzi were both
drained.  The marina is having issues with water and was out the
day we arrived but had a truck deliver water a couple days later.
We didn’t use any though giving the scarcity, even though Dawn
Patrol needed a bath!  Being within easy walking distance of town
is a plus as we ventured in every day.  The town has a French
influence as it was founded by a French company in 1884 when copper was
discovered and a large mining operation was established.  The
remnant of the copper mill can be seen all over town along with
locomotives used for transport.  We toured Museo el Boleo where
artifacts and pictures are displayed that gave a glimpse into the
workings of the mine.  We also visited Las Minitas del Boleo,
underground mine with pictures of people who worked at the time.
The townspeople requested a church to be built so the director of
the mine located a metal church that’s said to be built by Mr Eiffel (
of Eiffel Tower) so he shipped it to Santa Rosalia in 1897 where it is
still standing today and is actively used for the catholic denomination.
We also visited the famous bakery, El Boleo, for some delicious
bread and pastries! The highlight was meeting Jose Caballero and his
family who run the brewery located just inside the marina gates called
Padre Santo Brewing!  If your in the mood for a dark beer, their
Cacoa Stout can’t be beat.  They, along with Mulege Brewing, were
sponsoring the Spring Festival that weekend as a benefit for the Santa
Rosalia nursing home.  Live bands, great beer, wonderful venue
amongst the ruins by the waterfront what more could a person want!
Unfortunately it was a very cold, blustery day so participation was
limited but those who did brave the weather were treated to a sky show
in the evening, a Space X (Starlink satellites) rocket launch over the
city!

Proud owners and producers at Padre Santo Brewery

Brew process at the Santa Rosalia brewery inside the marina Fonatur gates

Santa Rosalia on the Baja in the Sea of Cortez is a Pueblo Magico

Famous Bakery in Santa Rosalia 

Church of Santa Rosalia brought by the French

The Architecture around town is well preserved and reminiscent of the Northwest

SY DAWN PATROL 🇺🇸  Laney & Mark  - Outbound 46’

9) LIGHTNING
⚡⚡⚡
By Rob Murray SV AV   first published in Currents March 19,2022

Lightning
strikes fear into every sailor’s heart. You never feel more powerless
than you do when you hear and see a thundercloud filled with lightning
bearing down on your vessel. A ground strike, where two electrically
charged regions equalize, one in the atmosphere and one in the water or
on the ground, causes the instantaneous release of an average of one
gigajoule of energy. The heat and current can melt metal, cause wood to
explode, and will without failure strike fear in the heart of all living
things nearby. While (apparently) 90% of people struck by lightning
survive (at least according to Wikipedia), it still seems like something
one should avoid.

Short
of burying your boat in a pit, there is no sure-fire way to eliminate
the risk of a lightning strike, but here I discuss some of the ways you
can reduce the risk and reduce the potential damage in the event of a
strike.

So, what can you do? It is all about preparation and awareness.

How Can You Know It’s Coming?

There are real time lightning tracking services available. A notable free one is:  Blitzortung.org.

Lightning as seen on Blitzortung

There
are also commercial websites like WeatherBug that track lightning and
integrate lightning reports with other weather data. Weatherbug also has
an App you can load on a smartphone that can be configured to give you
‘alerts’ (as long as you’re connected to the Internet).

Weatherbug lightning forecast

You
can also get hand held or portable lightning detectors like the
Accurite 2020. These work by detecting the Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP)
of lightning strikes. Typically they have a range of ~25 miles, and will
tell you if the lightning is getting closer or further away. We don’t
have one, and we can usually see and or hear a vigorous lightning storm
when it’s within 25 miles, so we’re not planning on getting one.

These
systems are all ground-based (as opposed to satellite based) detection
systems and offer good short term warning for lightning events.

 Ocean Posse's seminar about TALOS onboard lighting detection device 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoVIQVc2Koo

For long term safety, you can try to be in places with less lightning.

Where Can You Hide?

Well,
you really can’t ‘hide’ per se, but you can seek shelter. According to
Boat US insurance claims, catamarans are struck twice as frequently as
mono-hulls of similar length, so if you’re in a mono-hull, getting close
to a catamaran offers you some comfort in knowing that the catamaran is
more likely to be the target of any lightning strike. Lightning also
prefers taller targets, so getting close to a taller (larger) boat would
also be in your favor. This is also true of buildings, trees and
landforms in general, so moving the boat anywhere there is taller
‘stuff’ will offer some protection.

You
can also try to cruise (or lay up your boat) in areas where there is
less lightning, like the strategy cruisers use to avoid hurricanes.
While lightning (unlike hurricane tracks) is not on pilot charts, and is
only sporadically mentioned in cruising guides and pilot books (and
then only anecdotally without any real scale of comparison), there is
data available from satellites gathered over years and freely available
on the Internet.

Historical satellite data of lighning

For
16 years, the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on the Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite gathered data on lightning strikes
and the data is available to use on the internet. The data circles the
globe from about 40 north to 40 south. While the geographic precision of
the data isn’t great, it is certainly more than enough to paint a
picture of where lightning is terrible and where it is just bad. The
TRMM satellite has been retired and the new Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite (GOES) series satellites have even more
sensitive Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) instruments (since about
2017 or so), but the data is derived over a shorter period and has yet
to be collated in a readily available fashion.

According to the website:

“The
TRMM LIS 0.1 Degree Very High Resolution Gridded Climatology data
collection consists of a set of gridded climatologies constructed from
individual observations made by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on
the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite (data also at
GHRC). Complex algorithms are used to estimate total flash rate density
(number of flashes per square kilometer per year) based on the flashes
observed by the instrument and the amount of time it viewed a given
area.

This
Very High Resolution (VHR) Gridded Lightning Climatology Collection
consists of five lightning climatologies (links to data products
provided below): the full climatological mean (VHRFC), monthly (VHRMC),
diurnal (VHRDC), annual cycle (VHRAC), and seasonal (VHRSC). These
gridded climatologies include annual mean flash rate density, mean
diurnal cycle of flash rate density, and the mean annual cycle of flash
rate density with daily, monthly, or seasonal resolution.”

Retrieved from GHRC on March 20, 2022

What
that means is you can see when and where in a given region the
lightning is better or worse, where it is absolutely terrible (the 500
hot spots), and what time of year it really begins to ‘heat up’.

What Can You Do To Prepare?

The primary preparation is ensuring your vessel is properly ‘grounded’. Grounding has two purposes:

1. to
ensure the electric potential of the vessel is the same as the
surrounding sea, so its not more attractive to lightning than the open
ocean

2. to ensure there is a path to ground for a lightning strike should one occur

Proper
lightning grounding should be done as follows (according to Stan Honey,
an electrical engineer and sailor geek extraordinaire):

“Lightning Grounds

Connect
a 4 AWG battery cable from the base of your aluminum mast to the
nearest keel bolt from external ballast. If you have internal ballast,
you should install a lightning ground plate. One square foot is
recommended for use in salt water; fresh water requires much more. Do
not rely on a thru-hull or a sintered bronze radio ground (e.g.
Dynaplate) for use as a lightning ground. For additional comfort, also
run a 6 AWG wire from your keel bolt or ground plate to the upper shroud
chainplates, and to your headstay chainplate. Don’t bother with the
backstay if it is interrupted with antenna insulators. Have each of the
cables that are used for lightning ground wires lead as directly as
possible to the same keel bolt, with any necessary bends being smooth
and gradual. Given that you have grounded your mast solidly to the
ocean, your mast will be at exactly the same electric potential as the
ocean.”

Retrieved from https://www.kp44.org/ftp/MarineGroundingSystems.pdf on March 20, 2022

If
you can’t find cable as specified, try to find thicker cable (i.e.
lower number). Having your mast at the same potential as the surrounding
ocean theoretically makes it no more likely a target than the
surrounding ocean.

Because
you’re likely to be mixing copper, aluminum and stainless steel in the
wiring for this grounding, be sure to use plenty of dielectric gel and
keep the connections ‘clean’ with regular inspection. They will likely
be in the bilge, where moisture will further complicate cleanliness and
hasten their demise (see this article in Practical Sailor for more on
this)

Aboard SV AVANT, we go a step further when we lay the boat up and use jumper cables to increase the grounding.

If
in the water, we buy a set of cheap but 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. 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 port, one cable starboard.

Of
course, when your boat is hauled out, the grounding system stops
working because the keel and/or grounding plate is no longer in the
water (and in most yards is insulated from the ground by blocks of
wood). If we lay up on the hard, we separate the two cables and attach
one to the top shrouds and jack-stands on the port side, the other to
the same points on starboard.

Here
is a photo of a boat that was struck by lightning on the hard. You can
see the hole in the hull and the trail the lightning burned in the
bottom paint from the exit point in the hull to the jack stand and hence
to ground. By providing better grounding and a more direct alternate
path for the charge we hope to avoid this kind of damage.

Hole in the hull of a boat struck by lightning while on the hard.

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 it.

While
most experts say the bottle brush style ‘lightning dissipaters’ such as
the ‘Lightning Master™” by Forespar designed to go at the top of the
mast don’t work, we have one on Avant. I picked it up on a sale table
for less than $10, and I can attest that it does keep birds off the
masthead, and so far, we haven’t been struck by lightning. (For more
reading on them, you can see this article in Practical Sailor)

What Can You Do To Try To Mitigate Damage?

Aboard
Avant, when we hear a storm approaching, we gather up all portable and
easily de-mounted electronics (hand-held VHF and GPS units, EPIRBs, LED
flashlights, cell phones, tablets, computers, radios, etc.) and place
them in the oven as a kind of faraday cage. We disconnect all antennas
and power connections from easily unplugged items like Chartplotters,
AIS, VHF, etc. and leave them disconnected and just hanging loose to
disrupt possible paths for lightning.

We
also ensure all aboard stay away from the mast and rigging and any
chance of forming part of the ‘path to ground’ of a strike.

When
we lay up for the season, we do the same, and we also wrap portable
items first in paper towel and then in a double layer of aluminum foil
to make it a double faraday cage.

When
we store electronic spares aboard, we wrap them in paper towel and then
in a double layer of aluminum foil before they go in the spares locker.

In areas where lightning is endemic, we pray more frequently and sleep with a bible under our pillow.

There
is no way to make any vessel ‘lightning proof’. But you can take steps
to avoid more lightning prone areas, and to mitigate the effect of a
strike.

LIGHTNING DENSITY AUGUST 

LIGHTNING DENSITY DECEMBER

SY AVANT 🇨🇦 Rob & Debra – Beneteau 43.5

′

10) PANAMA POSSE & PLACENCIA YACHT CLUB
🇧🇿 BELIZE YACHT FEST CLUB RECAP 

Follow this link for all the pictures https://oceanposse.com/belize-yacht-fest/

  Cruising Couples and young crew at the event 

Seasoned Cruisers waiting for their new Catamaran to be built 

Marley from the Belize Tourism Board 

Lucky Chucky winner of the GalleyGod award for his Roasted Red Beat and Walnut Salad holding court 

Tasty and embarrassingly good  food at the Placencia Yacht Club in🇧🇿  Belize 

over 75  marinas sponsor the participants of the Panama Posse with discounts 

11) MARINA IGY MARINA SANTA MARTA 🇨🇴 

SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

Hello PANAMA POSSE;

According
to what was discussed today, Marina Santa Marta we are excited to be a
Panama Posse Sponsors and being included as a destination within the
Rally

We will offer participants a 35% discount on the rate that we normally handle.

Let us know if you would need additional information from us.

Cordially

Juan Ernesto Gomez

comercial@marinasantamarta.com.co

msm@igymarinas.com

CONTACT

Tel: +57 5-436-3601

VHF: VHF Channel 16 & 72

Carrera 1 Calle 23 Esquina Santa Marta Magdalena

Santa Marta Colombia

Mon. – Fri. 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Sat. & Sun. 9:00 am to 4:00 

*** CURRENT PROMOTION BEING OFFERED ***

12) ARMADILLO

SPANISH FOR FAST SLOTH

By Russell Descheemaeker (age 13) of SV WHIRLWIND

The
armadillo is a very impressive animal. There are 21 types of
armadillos. Although it is rumored that all armadillos curl into balls,
the fact is only the three banded armadillo can actually curl into a
ball. 

The
rest of the 20 species just lay on the ground hiding their head, arms,
and tail under their hard, armory shell.  They are descended from
anteaters. In my opinion, they really look like anteaters popped into a
suit of iron man's armor and became armadillos.  Their favorite
foods are termites, ants, and other insects. 

"the armadillo range"

Armadillos
are exclusively New World mammals, originating in South America
millions of years ago  when the Central American isthmus had yet to
form and the continent was cut off from North America. Starting about
three million years ago, the appearance of the isthmus made way for what
has been termed the "Great American Interchange" (GAI).  During
the GAI is when various armadillo species migrated north (and, in turn,
other types of mammals migrated south and replaced or mixed with what
was then native South American fauna). Today, most armadillos live
exclusively in Central or South America. The only species whose range
spans the Americas is the nine-banded armadillo, which can also be found
in Texas, Florida, and Missouri.

Armadillo shells are used for instruments in some parts of South America

A
variant of the guitar, charangos, became popular among the indigenous
peoples of northwestern South America after the arrival of European
settlers. For hundreds of years, the the main body of the typical
charango was made from the shell of an armadillo.  Some classic
charangos are still made out of armadillos, but wooden instruments are
now much more common. 

Armadillo shells closeup

13) FREE ACCESS TO GOOD NAUTICAL: 

DOMINGO'S ANCHORAGE

Bahia Honda, Panama 🇵🇦 

Bahia Honda is located in Western Panama on the Pacific side.  

"Domingo's Anchorage"

GPS anchorage coordinates at 07° 45.746 N  081°  31.812 W

Depth 10 ft in low water.

https://goodnautical.com/panama/anchorage/domingos-anchorage-bahia-honda

Sunset in Bahia Honda from SV PILIALOHA

Greetings
from Bahia Honda, Panama. Based on so many suggestions from fellow
Posse Peeps, we went out of our way to the anchorage outside Domingo's
home. We were greeted by Domingo, a grandson, then sons Kennedy and
Edwin. They so very much appreciated the clothes, notebooks, sunglasses,
fish hooks, and shoes we gave them. In exchange, they brought us fruits
and greens from their property (which we gave cash for). The anchorage
is super calm, surrounded by green hills and mountains. It's truly worth
a stop.

PLEASE
consider bringing the following items if you visit: L/XL mens shirts,
especially sunshirt (for Kennedy), size 14 laced shoes, school backpack,
sunscreen, AAA batteries. They asked we spead the word to fellow
cruisers in hope of their generosity. We wish we could spend more time
here. Thanks for including this in your planning, if possible! You won't
be dissapointed.

Mark and Kathryn

Glassy calm anchorage

SY SERENITY 🇺🇸 Mark & Kathryn – Antares 44′

PANAMA POSSE SEASON 8 

Registration for Panama Posse Season 8 starts May 15th - or to simply rollover to next season send an email to registration@panamaposse.com with the words "RENEW SEASON 8" 

Early
renewals give you the added benefit of lower costs and lower renewal
fees and uninterrupted perks and benefits including discounts at
marinas 

EXTRA PERK 

EARLY RENEWALS ALSO ARE AWARDED LOWER VESSEL REGISTRATION NUMBERS #

BENEFITS FOR YOU, YOUR YACHT & YOUR CREW 

✔️ Up to date and verified information by fellow yachts 

 🌊 No  schedules - go when the weather is good stop when it it's not 

📊 Communications focused on facts, not opinions or unsolicited advice 

💰 Save real money at 70+ Marinas with discounts * 

🛰️ Free vessel and fleet tracking courtesy of Predict Wind 

🚩 Free Burgee 

💰 Save with service providers and chandleries 

🕵️ dedicated, experienced and discounted Canal and clearing in agents 

🗺️ Free aid to navigation 150 Gb OpenCPN satellite charts (mac/pc/android)  

💰  Save Money on parts with a Westmarine Pro Discount 

💰 Save Money with a Predict Wind Pro Discount  

🗺️ Free Printable Reference Charts emergency backup to your electronics  

📹 Free Video Seminars on destinations from those who are there  

🌩️ Top weather routing avail by Marine Weather Center Chris Parker 

⛵ Community of voyagers all are welcome, kids, single-handers, pets 

⚓ Peer support in emergencies with escalation procedures 

🛈  Fleet Updates via email – free & 100+  Prior Fleet Updates - he experience base

🏆 Fun Award Categories 

📍 Free access to GOOD NAUTICAL Anchorage and danger reports  

☎️ Free Weekly live calls on Mondays via dedicated LINE.me group 

💬 Free 24/7 LINE group chat and zulip knowledge exchange

🌊 Benefit from the latest information and prior experience participants 

🔭 Be part of a fleet of sensor for those who come behind you or meet 

🚷 Always priority traffic – for boat owners by boatowners

14) 🇲🇽 MARINA PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MX 

SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

https://panamaposse.com/marina-puerto-escondido

Hello Panama Posse – Good Afternoon

With Pleasure we would like to offer a discount of 10% of our published daily rates to the participants of the Panama Posse

Contact us below   to check for availability and please let us know your vessels dimensions to confirm your reservation

Harbor Master Javier

RESERVATION FORM

https://www.marinapuertoescondido.com/slip-reservation.php

CONTACT MARINA PUERTO ESCONDIDO

Tel  +52 6131318097

Email: harbormaster@marinapuertoescondido.com

           concierge@marinapuertoescondido.com

RATES

Puerto Escondido Marina

Marina Puerto Escondido maintains a mooring field as well.

Photo Credit: SV Journey

15) LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES 

& PANAMA POSSE

“The Journey is the Destination”

PANAMA POSSE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE: 

 $5.00 off per subscription

Hello, Please use the coupon code upon checkout : panamaposse

The
#1 Cruising Lifestyle publication on the planet just keeps getting
bigger and better! Incredible destination articles and features by the
cruisers themselves, including how-to’s, DIY and exciting new products!

CALL FOR PANAMA POSSE ARTICLES:

Latitudes
and Attitudes is working on their new issue, deadline for materials is
10-May.  They have space reserved for a Panama Posse branded
article. 

Panama Posse members are welcome to submit directly to Latitudes and Attitudes at david@latsatts.com

16) MEET THE FLEET  

SV OHANA

Chad, Nicole, Sam, Huntley, and dog JJ.

Hannes and Brigitta with Maria Noa in the background

We’re
S/V Ohana and our crew consists of Chad, Nicole, Sam, Huntley, and our
dog JJ. We started our adventure during the summer of 2022 in Florida.
We traveled up and down the east coast, down the Caribbean, through the
ABCs, and now up the west coast of Central America. We’re planning on
being in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico for hurricane season. Our daughter, Sam
(17), graduated a year early through online classes and is currently
taking online college classes. Our son, Huntley (14), is taking online
high school classes. Our last passage was 7 days from Panama City to
Chiapas, Mexico and we were fortunate enough to catch a tuna (yummy!)
and a sailfish, but we released the sailfish.

Ohana underway

SY OHANA 🇺🇸 Chad, Nicole, Sam, & Huntley – Fountaine Pajot 50’

17) POSSE SWAG

18)  SAFETY ALERT:

IN COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 FOR MARITIME EMERGENCIES DIAL

146

IN CASE OF ANY MARITIME EMERGENCY IN COLOMBIAN WATERS

GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THESE OFFICES VIA EMAIL

jefcp05@dimar.ml.co CARTAGENA

jefcp04@dimar.ml.co SANTA MARTA

jefcp03@dimar.ml.co BARRANQUILLA

jefcp07@dimar.ml.co SAN ANDRES

ofiregistro@dimar.mil.co

or dial 146 

19)  MUST SEE: 

SAN CHRISTOBOL DE LAS CASAS MEXICO 🇲🇽 

by Josea Descheemaeker (age 10) on SV WHIRLWIND

San Cristóbal de las Casas is a wonderful place.  There are many cool
cultures to learn about around the vicinity and wonderful hikes to go
on.  The food is scrumptious and you can get a lot of cool little
gifts for people if you want.  Plus, if you like churches there are
a lot of amazingly cool churches in San Cristóbal.  There also are
many pretty amazing bakeries that you can find in San Cristóbal.
My parents love the coffe there too. The temperature is much
cooler than Chiapas, Mexico.  Comparatively, it gets pretty cold at
night so make sure to wrap up in a bunch of blankets and maybe even
light a fire if you want.  I recommend not spending all your time
in one place because there's a lot of places to see to see in every part
of San Cristóbal.  I hope you have a wonderful trip if you go to
San Cristóbal.  

Decorated walking street lit up at night

the delightful Chiapanecan Coffee

There are many indigenous people living in and around San Christobal that sell their wares at the market and in the streets

https://panamaposse.com/san-cristobal-de-las-casas

San Cristóbal is located in the highlands of the state of Chiapas Mexico

20)  YACHTS FOR SALE

Selling the legacy

Whether
you're seeking an upgrade or charting a new course, your yacht holds a
treasure trove of memories. But selling it can sometimes feel like
navigating uncharted waters. From appraising and showcasing its value to
dealing with tire kickers, we're here to be your compass on this
journey.

Selling
your yacht is about finding a committed buyer who shares your sense of
adventure and ensuring a gratifying return on investment. Let’s market
your boat better and make it a breeze together.

1. Setting a smart course

By
understanding market conditions and current trends, we align your
aspirations with the ideal asking price for your yacht. The sweet spot? A
price that neither undervalues your yacht nor deters potential buyers.

2. Crafting a compelling story

Every
yacht has its own unique story, and first impressions are pivotal.
We’re here to spotlight its charm with captivating ads and top-notch
visuals. These not only forge an emotional bond but also establish
trust. Our mission? To ensure your yacht’s tale reaches the right
audience.

3. From local docks to global shores

Whether
it’s bustling yachting events across the Americas or the vast digital
realm, we’ve got you covered. Personally overseeing showings and
surveys, we ensure your yacht shines in the spotlight. Online, we
strategically place your yacht on specialized platforms, setting the
stage for a swift and standout sale.

4. Navigating the deal

The
intricacies of yacht sales can be overwhelming. From addressing buyer
inquiries to orchestrating contracts, permits, and insurance, we aim for
a smooth sailing transaction. Committed to transparent governance, we
ensure you’re well-informed every step of the way.

5. Embarking on new horizons

With
the deal sealed, it’s time for a fresh start. And remember, whether
you’re dreaming of navigating to distant shores or just seeking
maintenance and management services for a new yacht, we’re always here,
ready to guide you in the vast world of yachting.

21)  75+ PANAMA POSSE MARINA SPONSORS 

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor South Bay – Chula Vista, USA

🇺🇸 Safe Harbor Ventura Isle -  Ventura, USA

🇲🇽 Cruise Port Village - Mexico

🇲🇽 IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas  – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Puerto Escondido – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Palmira Topolobampo – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina y Club de Yates Isla Cortes – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina el Cid – Mazatlan – Mexico

🇲🇽 Marina Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta – Mexico  

🇲🇽 PANAMA POSSE HQ  – Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Marina Ixtapa, Ixtapa – Mexico 

🇲🇽 La Marina Acapulco, Acapulco – Mexico  

🇲🇽 Vicente’s Moorings, Acapulco – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina Chiapas – Mexico  

🇬🇹 Marina Pez Vela – Guatemala  

🇸🇻 Marina Bahia del Sol – El Salvador  

🇸🇻 La Palma Moorings – Bahia del Sol - El Salvador

🇳🇮 Marina Puesta del Sol – Nicaragua  

🇨🇷 Marina Papagayo – Costa Rica  

🇨🇷 Banana Bay Marina – Costa Rica  

🇪🇨 Marina Puerto Amistad – Ecuador  

🇵🇦 Buenaventura Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 PANAMA POSSE PACIFIC HQ Vista Mar Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Shelter Bay Marina – Panama  

🇵🇦 Bocas Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 Linton Bay Marina – Panama 

🇵🇦 La Playita Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Flamenco Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Solarte  Marina – Panama

🇵🇦 Turtle Cay Marina – Panama

🇨🇴 ClubNautico Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Club de Pesca Marina Cartagena – Colombia 

🇨🇴 Manzanillo Marina Club – Colombia

🇨🇴 Marina Puerto Velero – Colombia

🇨🇴 IGY Marina Santa Marta – Colombia 

🇯🇲 Royal Jamaica Yacht Club – Jamaica 

🇯🇲 Errol Flynn Marina – Jamaica  

🇯🇲 Montego Bay Yacht Club –Jamaica 

🇰🇾 The Barcadere Marina –Cayman Islands 

🇭🇳 Barefoot Cay Marina – Roatan – Honduras 

🇭🇳 Fantasy Island Marina – Roatan – Honduras

🇭🇳 Jonesville Point Marina -Roatan – Honduras  

🇬🇹 Marina Nana Juana Resort & Boatyard – Guatemala 

🇧🇿 Thunderbirds Marine – Placencia – Belize 

🇧🇿 Placencia Yacht Club – Belize 

🇲🇽 Marina Makax – Isla Mujeres – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina V&V – Quintana Roo – Mexico 

🇲🇽 Marina El Cid – Cancún – Riviera Maya – Mexico  

🇨🇺 Marina Marlin Nautica Cayo Largo – Cuba 

🇹🇨 South Bank Marina & Boatyard – Turks and Caicos  

🇧🇸 Romora Bay Resort and Marina – Bahamas  

🇧🇸 Elizabeth on the Bay Marina – Bahamas 

🇧🇸 Great Harbour Cay Marina – Bahamas

🇧🇸 Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina – Bahamas  

🇩🇴 Ocean World Marina – Dominican Republic

🇩🇴 Marina Puerto Bahia – Dominican Republic    

🇺🇸 Marathon Marina – Marathon Keys 

🇺🇸 Pier 66  Hotel & Marina – Ft. Lauderdale, USA

🇺🇸 IGY Marina at Ortega Landing – Jacksonville, FL , USA 

🇺🇸 Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor Marina – FL , USA  

🇺🇸 Morningstar Marinas Golden Isles St. Simons Isl. – Georgia, USA  

🇺🇸 Windmill Harbour Marina – Hilton Head South Carolina , USA  

🇺🇸 Coffee Bluff Marina – Savannah Georgia , USA  

🇺🇸 Hazzard Marine – Gerogetown, North Carolina , USA  

🇺🇸 Holden Beach  – Town Dock, North Carolina , USA 

🇺🇸 Portside Marina – Morehead City, North Carolina USA  

🇺🇸 Tideawater Yacht Marina – Portsmouth,  USA  

🇺🇸 Ocean Yacht Marina, Portsmouth, USA  

🇺🇸 Yorktown Riverwalk Landing – Virginia USA  

🇺🇸 Regatta Point Marina – Deltaville, Virginia USA 

🇺🇸 Regent Point Marina – Topping, Virginia USA 

Portside Marina Morehead CITY, NC 🇺🇸 SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

34° 43.1183′ N   076°42.34′ W

We are please to welcome the Panama Posse to the Portside Marina and to celebrate their journey offer a 15% discount

Lee / Shelby / Tylor

SERVICES

•     Water Hookup
•     Fuel Dock / 24hr Availability
•     Electric 30/50/100
•     Diver & Marine Repair
•     Transient Slips
•     Pump-Out
•     Dry Dock
•     Fuel Polishing / Dive Serv.
•     Yacht Brokerage

AMENITIES

•     Eateries within Walking Dist
•     Ice & Potable Water
•     Ship’s Store
•     Restrooms
•     Laundry Facilities
•     Shower Facilities
•     Regional Airport Access
•     Cable-TV
•     Wi-Fi / Internet
•     FedEx & UPS 

MUST SEE

    Fort Macon (don’t fire the canons)

    Nature walk and Wild Horses on Carrot Island  (take dinghy)

    North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores  (don’t feed the fish)

    Shortway Brewing Company (don’t drive back )

North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort with Booty and gear
from Pirate Blackbeard (as tempting as this sounds don’t loot)

22)  PANAMA POSSE SPONSORS 

• BELIZE TOURISM
• CHRIS PARKER - MARINE WEATHER CENTER
• DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY PANAMA
• DOWNWIND MARINE
• FLOR DE CAÑA
• HERTZ RENTAL CARS  MEXICO
• HOME DEPOT PRO MEXICO
• LATITUDES AND ATTITUDES  
• PANAMA YACHT BROKER
• PREDICT WIND
• SAFE HARBOR SOUTH BAY MARINA EVENT CENTER  
• SAN DIEGO MARINE EXCHANGE
• SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT
• WAYPOINT YACHT SERVICES
• WESTMARINE PRO
• YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS  
   

DELTA MIKE MARINE SUPPLY 🇵🇦 PANAMA 
SPONSORS THE PANAMA POSSE

We
are please to announce our special discount for the Panama Posse with a
15 / 20 and 25 % discount for active Panama Posse participants

•     Yanmar
•     Yamaha
•     Tohatsu
•     Suzuki
•     Quicksilver
•     Evenrude
•     Johnson
•     Mercury
•     Brp

  W are an authorized Dealer, we offer engines, support and original products with factory warranty.

23) PANAMA CANAL AGENT 
CENTENARIO CONSULTING ERICK GALVEZ

To
arrange for transit with the Panama Canal Authority please contact Eric
Galvez our dedicated Panama Canal agent and sponsor of the Panama Posse
and the Pacific Posse