FAQ

  Below is a list of  frequently asked questions 

WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT JOINING THE PANAMA POSSE
Here are a few potential reasons why some boaters may find participating in the Panama Posse appealing:

Adventure and Exploration: The rally offers a unique opportunity for boaters to embark on a challenging and adventurous journey through various regions and waterways, including the tropical waters of the Caribbean and the famous Panama Canal.

Camaraderie and Community: Participating in the Panama Posse allows boaters to connect and interact with like-minded individuals who share a passion for boating and adventure. It creates a sense of community and offers the chance to make new friends and lasting memories.

Support and Resources: The Panama Posse often provides logistical support and resources to participants, including pre-departure seminars, route planning assistance, information on local customs and regulations, and access to a network of fellow participants who can offer guidance and assistance along the way.

Cultural Experience: The rally allows boaters to experience diverse cultures and destinations as they navigate through different countries and regions. It provides opportunities to explore local communities, historical sites, and natural wonders.

Safety and Security: Traveling as part of a group can offer better and live information and provide better safety and security, particularly for those who may be less experienced in long-distance cruising or unfamiliar with the waters and regions they are traversing.

WHAT TYPE OF AN ORGANIZATION IS THE PANAMA POSSE

THE PANAMA POSSE IS PART OF OCEAN POSSE LLC
The organization operates under International Maritime Law
Your vessel – your crew your responsibility

It is a self organized principle with no set schedules. ( Schedules kill sailors )
The organization provides a live communications channel with a peer to peer communications protocol
and in season live weekly calls to go over weather logistics opportunities and issues and
DISCOUNTS AND SAVINGS – check out the full list of benefits here
– we help each other out if it’s safe to do so !

HOW MUCH AND FOR WHAT DO YOU CHARGE A FEE PANAMA POSSE

Why do we charge a (non-refundable) fee off $ 299 / $ 349 ?

1) to ensure that you are serious – many times armchair sailors like to try to see how things feel and in the process use a lot of resources when you sign up for what is a very reasonable fee you commit yourself and your vessel to a journey

2) the on boarding process alone takes 40 minutes and 20 steps to get you into the system and set up – that is our administrative time to add you and check you into the process. If you cancel we have to undo all that on top of it.

3) Compared to similar rallies we have the lowest fees and you are part of a whole season ( 8 months )
CUABR 900 – 3 weeks
BAJA HAHA 495 – 3 weeks
ARC 1400 – 2 months

4) We have pre negotiated discounts and that takes times and never ends – so on the backend we do a lot of work to get you deals
the fee pays for it self many times over many participants save thousands of dollars!

5) no refunds ? some benefits kick in right away – discounts at westmarine – predict wind – marinas – so this is non- negotiable we know that you are pinching pennies but we also need to budget our time and resources

WHAT ARE THE REAL BENEFITS ?
To read the full list of benefits follow this link here

BENEFITS FOR YOU, YOUR YACHT & YOUR CREW
PRE SEASON
JUN – OCT
IN SEASON NOV- JUN
✔️ Up to date and verified information by fellow yachts ✔️ ✔️
📊 Communications focused on facts, not opinions or unsolicited advice ✔️
💰 Save real money at 70+ Marinas with discounts * ✔️ ( June  ) ✔️
🛰️ Free vessel and fleet tracking courtesy of Predict Wind ✔️
🚩 Free Burgee ✔️
💰 Save with service providers and chandleries ✔️ ( June ish ) ✔️
🕵️ dedicated, experienced and discounted Canal and clearing in  agents ✔️ ✔️
🗺️ Free aid to navigation 150 Gb OpenCPN satellite charts (mac/pc/android) ✔️ immediately ✔️
💰  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 ✔️ immediately ✔️
📹 Free Video Seminars on destinations from those who are there ✔️ immediately ✔️
🌩️ 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 ✔️  Prior Fleet immediately ✔️
🏆 Fun Award Categories ✔️
📍 Free access to GOOD NAUTICAL Anchorage  reports ✔immediately ✔️
☎️ Free Weekly live calls on Mondays via dedicated LINE.me group ✔️
💬 Free 24/7 LINE group channel ✔️end of June ✔️
🌊 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 participants by participants ✔️
WE ARE PART OF THE BAJA-HAHA / CUBAR / ARC ... CAN I/WE JOIN ?
Yes of course – the more the merrier – unlike other rallies we do not have a fixed time – we want you to be safe and pick a good weather window.
We discourage a herd mentality and support your weather window decisions with facts and weekly calls . If you need more support we also have professional weather routers who can assist you at and will give you a discount for being part of the Panama Posse.

WHO ELSE IS GOING ?
Each season over 300 yachts participate as part of the forward scouting fleet – they are from many many flag states -on average they are 47 feet long
Powerboats, Catamarans, Monohulls, Trawlers, Trimarans – all are welcome – to check the latest list of sign ups follow this link.

WHERE AND WHEN DO YOU START AND HOW FAR DO YOU GO ?

There are a few routes – we call them pods and they are listed here – but there is no set schedule – anything works outside the hurricane season

Original Panama Posse  Spice Runners  Pirate Runners  Cocount Runners

Rum Runners  Gold Runners  Counter Posse  Bashers

Crab Posse  Cactus Posse  Hibiscus Posse  CORAL POD

SHELL POD  Atlantic Posse  south pacific posse

 

HOW CAN I HELP ?

The Panama Posse has participant volunteers. If you can help in any of these areas please contact us

  •  Merchandising
  •  Documents
  • Clearing, Immigration, Customs
  • Social Media
  • Communications
  • Sponsorship
  • Education
  • PR and MEDIA
  • In Country Activities – Parties – Laura
WHAT IS A POSSE

pos·se
ˈpäsē/
noun: posse; plural noun: posses

informal

a group of people who have a common characteristic, occupation, or purpose.

You can also get to this page if you type in PanamaRally.com – it’s a safe group traveling together as a group – it’s not a race – it’s a joyous journey !

MARINA DISCOUNTS - WHAT CAN I EXPECT ?
10 – 60 % it all depends details here :

https://panamaposse.com/marina-discounts

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE

YOUR VESSEL – YOUR CREW – YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
At a very high level we do not have any requirements for you to participate
THIS IS YOUR ADVENTURE – ENJOY !
FROM  OUR EXPERIENCE here is what 
you WILL need !

WHAT PAPERWORK DOCUMENTS DO I NEED
INSURANCE ?
INSURANCE IS GETTING TOUGHER – vessels over 25 years under 100 K in value – fogetabout
It’s an ongoing internal discussion between our particpants – so if you join we let you in on our findings …

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PANAMA POSSE AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE ? WE ARE PLANNING A SOUTH PACIFIC CROSSING IN FEBRUARY

1) The Panama Posse has a pre-season for planning purposes ( now – Nov ) and an active season ( Nov ’23 -May ’24) ( aka hurricane season vs non-hurricane season )
and covers this area
Panama Posse Route and

2) The South Pacific Posse has a pre-season from (Dec ’23- Feb24) and an active season ( Mar’24 – Nov ’24 ) ( aka cyclone season vs non-cyclone season )
and covers this area
South Pacific Posse Routes
To make the choice easier you can register now for the Panama Posse and star getting perks and benefits now and then add / extend the South Pacific Posse in December
This option gives you 50 % off the SPP registration fee and you can do this anytime prior Mar ’24 (add $ 149 vs $ 299 )

Here are the BENEFITS / PRE-SEASON vs IN SEASON IN DETAIL

WHAT ABOUT PROVISIONING ?

THERE ARE FOOD MARKETS EVERYWHERE IN CENTRAL AMERICA – HUGE SUPERMARKETS AND STORES ON THE MAINLAND – only on outer islands doe sit get more difficult –

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO SEE WHERE THE MAYOR PROVISIONING SPOTS ARE >>

 

WHAT ABOUT BOATS WITH KIDS, PETS OR VERY YOUNG CREW ?
Many particpants bring their pets and kids along and even buddy boat to share some of the parenting tasks – follow this link if you have kids

 

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.”

ANNAPURNA Rob ANNAPURNA Debbie
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 Inaugral Panama Posse run from Barra de Navidad Mexico to Vista Mar Marina in San Carlos Panama.”

INTERLUDE Michael
Mike

SV 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 

 

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