FLEET UPDATE 2019-04-29

This weeks fleet updates – Headlines

Golfito, CR – Panama Posse Party Tuesday

New Panama Posse Marina Sponsor – Marina Ixtapa, MX

Pets in and out of Panama via Airplanes

Marina Papagayo, Costa Rica
Leaving the boat in Golfito, Costa Rica

No sail repair in Chiapas, MX – where to next ?
Departing Huatulco – Tehuantepec, MX
Anchoring at Isla Otoque / Panama Bad fuel in Golfito, CR ?

Panama Canal Transit (Southbound – no issues)

Panama Canal Transit (Northbound – damages)
Green Island, Jamaica

Rio Cacique- Pta Matador, Panama
Santa Ana Department, El Salvador
Mayor of Zihuatanejo, MX

1) Golfito, CR Panama Posse Party
SV Taliesin Rose I may miss the call this morning, so I wanted to formally announce that the Golfito Party will be this
Tuesday, April 30th at Banana Bay Marina at 5pm. If you are planning swoop in at the last minute…swoop a little faster. Taliesin Rose, Shearwater, Secret Water, Paradisea, and Sonomara, Ata Marie will be there – anybody else?

Victoria & Rowan

TALIESIN ROSE

2) New Panama Posse Marina Sponsor – Marina Ixtapa, MX

Happy to announce Marina Ixtapa just signed on as an official Panama Posse Sponsors –
20% discount on daily rates
25 % off rates if you stay 2 weeks or more

to make a reservation contact

Lic. Elsa Zuñiga Loeza
Manager Marina Ixtapa
Tel.+52 755 553-0222 /
Tel +52 755-553-2180 ezuniga@marina-ixtapa.com reservations@marina-ixtapa.com
3) Pets in and out of Panama via Airplanes, Panama

This is the link to what you need to do to bring your pet into Panama: https://www.aphis.usda.go/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/petravel-panama
We did not get the paper work “approved” by a Panamanian Consulat but we had no problems when we checked into Pedregal. We DID have email evidence of sending the paper work to cam@minsa.gob.pa three days prior. I think that is a must. Our Panamanian Vet indicates that all you need to pay is $3/day for the 40 days of home quarentine plus $10 to a Vet for a verification exam. BUT we also did not do that. We just filled out the paper work and emailed it and showed the Port Captain that we did so.
This is the link to what you need to do to remove your pet from Panama: https://wwww.minsa.gob.pa
We used our Panamanian Vet in Coronado (Vista Mar) that we heavily recommend. He did everything for us. He created the appropriate certification and dated it for us to have it be within 10 days of our exit. He also went into Panama City to get export permit for us, which you need. Our issue was for some reason the Airline we are using (United) thinks Panama will not permit pets on a plane and a third party has to be set up to ship (as cargo) your pet. If we did that, it was going to cost twice as much as our airline ticket. Our Vet said we should have used Copa Airlines. Don’t know if that works or not, but if I had to do it all over I would have checked their flight schedules first.
Out dogs are 10 and 15 pounds, they have flown with us under our seat many times. But we had to make them our “emotional support animals” in order to get them on the plane out of Panama. For United, they have three forms which you can read about and download: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/special-needs/disabilities/assistance-animals.html The three forms, one for you, one for the vet and one for the licensed mental health professional. For the Medical, We used an online service called CertaPet. After Jeariene finished her “certification” with them, she refered me and received a $15 Amazon reward for the referral. So if you want to go this route, I can submit your email (lol), or just try them yourselves. This also means you don’t have to pay the airline for the pet travel, but I would still gladly fork over the $125, that wasn’t our purpose. Our Vet is in Coronado (Vista Mar) Panama on Tuesday, Thursday and most Saturdays. His english is excellant, and his front desk staff also is semi fluent in english. Dr. Jorge E. Barriga F. +507 240-1468 jbarriga@cwpanama.net Good luck
Walt & Jeariene

KNOT RIGHT

4) Marina Papagayo, Costa Rica

Marina Papagayo long stay. On our way thru Culebra we took fuel at Marina Papagyo. The staff were very nice and helpful. It should be noted at that time around March 24th. The floating break water at the marina was not intact. The staff informed us that a tropical depression last summer created enough sea state that the breakwater broke apart and there was severe movement in the docks. We were surprised at the amount of fetch developed by a mild Papagyo blow while in the bay. Something to think about if leaving your boat there.
Timothy “Jake”, Burgandy & Violet

SASSAFRASS

5) Leaving the boat in Golfito Costa Rica I have an addition to SV Nirvana great info on bonding the boat in Costa Rica. We just went through the process and Maikol from Banana Bay Marina explained that Golfito is the only place in Costa Rica that has special permission to bond boats for 90 days and Customs does not charge a fee. There are three marinas here Banana Bay, Fish Hook and the new Golfito Marina. This 90 day bond also stops your original 90 day entry visa and your boat is treated as if it is not even in the country so when you come back any time after 90 days you will receive another 90 days to remain and travel in Costa Rica. Maikol at Banana Bay wants you all to know that if you have any questions not to hesitate to contact him at Banana Bay Marina. He has been wonderful to us and is a great guy that loves to help and definitely knows the system here, having worked for Customs for many years himself. His number: +506 876 1938 maikol@bananabaymarinagolfito.com We love the Golfito marina which is one of the best we have ever stayed in 22 years of cruising. Great service, friendly staff, help with checking in and out with Shuttle drive to all the offices. They make sure you are happy here.
The marina is currently going through a management change but will stay open during the transaction. The fuel dock is temporary closed until further notice and the restaurant has limited menu for the time being. But you can get fuel at Banana Bay has fuel. If you hear rumors the marina is closing that is just a that a rumor. The marina is in a quiet neighborhood. You can hear the howler monkeys in the morning and see the scarlet macaws fly over you boat, occasional Toucans. Dolphins skirting the docks and turtles taking a breath of air right next to your boat and yes you will see an occasional 1 or 2 crocodiles. The sunsets can be spectacular. A short 5 minute walk will take you to a Pharmacy and Mega Super Grocery story which in my opinion has by far the best veggies. I don’t buy my meat or eggs from Mega Super, just a few stores passed after the bakery is a great butcher, best pork ribs ever, plus eggs, plus fresh milk from the cow. Right next to the Pharmacy is Cocoa Bar, that is only open from 3 pm on, but on Friday at 11 am they open for the Ex Pats here and it’s always a lot of fun and nice to meet the locals. Ladies if you need a spa day, Rosi at Casa Roland is wonderful, you can find her on FB Rosibel Barboza or call Casa Roland and they will connect you with her. We love it here. Happy sailing

Sid & Manuela

PARADISE

6) Chiapas, MX
Hola, spinnaker blew out near Chiapas, MX. No good sail repair resource here in Puerto Chiapas. Heading south from Puerto Chiapas, what will be next good opportunity for a significant sail repair? While Top Cider is here for the summer we are getting fresh bottom paint, mast pulled and painted, anchor chain regalvanized. We’re liking marina Chiapas. Enjoyed touring with Miguel locally and will probably do more extensive in the fall.
Note: 18:52 SeaGlub Sorry about the Spinnaker, worst case you could have it shipped to Puerto Vallarta since you’re still in Mexico it shouldn’t be that complicated. There are two good sail repair shops in PV and one outfit near Playa Cocos in Costa Rica

Chuck & Sharon

TOP CIDER

7) Departing Huatulco – Tehuantepec, MX
Good morning all. Kachina departed Huatulco this morning, headed for Chiapas. Weather looks good but may have to motor most of the way. Light winds through Thursday. It’s like a lake out here right now. Making 7-7.2 with full main and engine. Just enough wind to keep the main pulling a little but not enough to support the jib. Want know actual wind speeds, as the Frigate Birds destroyed the wind instruments on the mast, in Acapulco. Have new ones that I’ll put up in Chiapas maybe. 08:25 SV Kachina Bill and Jean’s contact info please? 08:27 sv Singularity Bill & Jean Elsalvadorrally@aol.com 08:27 Rob Murray @SV Kachina phone +503 7490 6894 email elsalvadorrally@aol.com 08:31 sv Singularity Join their rally here and help support their cruiser help at Bahía del Sol http://elsalvadorrally.com
Robert

KACHINA

8) Isla Otoque, Panama
Has anyone anchored for the night at isla otoque, Panama ? Looks like a waiting point before the canal? 10:55 SV Knot Right I anchored close to the beach on the west village side. Pangas use the destroyed pier area for transit to the mainland. We hopped a ride in, walked the town. No stores or restaurants. We didn’t launch the dinghy because it was way too choppy. Very cute but nothing there. We think the east town has something but we didn’t stop. It might not have the protection, but if you do go into town, please let us know if anything commercial is there.

Bad fuel in Golfito, CR
FYI bad gas at Banana Bay Golfito, after 4 hrs had our 10 micron raycor filter blocked and shut the engine down 15:56 Mai Tai Johnson Put in 15 gal in a 59 gal tank 15:59 SeaGlub Water in the fuel or dirty? 16:02 Rhapsody We got fuel there, it was fine. 45 gallons, 15 hours motoring. We asked them about filters before fueling and showed us the filters on the pump. 16:08 Mai Tai Johnson My gauges say dirty, I have never had a problem with fuel until now, I should have used my Baja filters but have plenty of raycors on board 16:18 Footloose L When did u buy fuel?
MAI TAI

Argan & Gloria

9) Panama Canal Transit (Southbound)
Great crossing! We’re now in the Pacific! Everyone is awesome! Jamie Figueroa has been a wonderful host and Erick Galvez a great support! There was an ACCIDENT yesterday coming through the canal. Our friend/linehandler cruising full-time last 7 yrs and been through Canal on another boat last month. (this being his last and on way home to Houston to live on the land) is now In hospital had one surgery reconnecting his foot last night and another in 3 days if no infection. Comedy of errors starting with a boat that nested to us not paying attention to advisor. We need to stay in Panama City whole he’s in the hospital.. we also will go back to Shelter Bay to put their boat in storage as he won’t be able to walk for 3 months. They’ll be going back to Houston next week after clearance from drs. Question is – what marina can we safely leave the boat for a few days while in Shelter Bay ? 15:53 Mai Tai Johnson Location : https://maps.google.com/maps?q=8.4082489013671857,-83.149002075195284
Karen & ?

KOKOPELLI

10) Panama Canal Transit (Northbound)
We transited the Panama Canal on Saturday the 20th. Figment is now in Linton Bay. We had our entire family on board during the transit. It as special for all of us. We are now trying to get a few days in Kuna Yala with one of our daughters and her family before they all head back to New Orleans.

While checking in at Linton Bay Marina today I asked Brian Davis – seems to run the office or admin side of things – about Panama Posse. He’d not heard of the group. After my brief description he asked that he be contacted if/when the posse extends to the Caribbean side. So with that background I’m sending along his phone number. Brian Davis +507-6676-5967.

As noted in my Line comments we have a number of photos with the PP burgee on the bow pulpit with various PC background scenes. They are mostly in my children’s phones so will get what I can to you when I can get them sent my way.

Finally, since we’ve moved to the Pacific side we’ll not be attending any of the celebrations scheduled in May. Our plans are to leave Figment (and Blessed) at Shelter Bay for most of the summer. I think Blessed is planning some summer trips to Cartagena and Kuna Yala. Figment may make another/longer run to Kuna Yala as well. Then we’ll head north and east in the fall.

During our prep and transit of the PC I recall thinking at times – for all the research I’ve done, I didn’t realize … and thinking I should share it. However, at the moment those details escape me. I’ll reflect on the whole experience and see if I think I’ve any value to add to the group of those following.

I’ll relate one detail that caught us by surprise and in the end resulted in damage to our vessels. In our transit Figment and Blessed were nested together in each chamber. To refresh your memory – Figment is a 48’ Kadey Krogen and Blessed a 43’ Nordhavn. We’ve been running together since leaving Barra. The ACP (or the pilot on the large cat ahead of us) decided Figment and Blessed would nest together at the aft end of the chambers. Going up through the Miraflores/Piedro Migel chambers we made up just as we approached the lower Miraflores Lock sliding to the starboard side of the channel to do so. We stayed nested through all three chambers including crossing Miraflores Lake. Figment managed the propulsion. All went well.

As we reached the Gatun Locks we had to wait for a tub/barge unit to catch up with us. It was late afternoon. We finally received instructions to nest the two boats. We nested Blessed on the starboard side of Figment as we had earlier and started to move to the Gatun Lock ahead and to port to position ourselves to enter the chamber first. Just after beginning to move toward Gatun an ACP launch went by on Figment’s port side perhaps 50 – 75 yards off running at that speed they make where they throw a fearsome wake. I saw them pass us. There was no time to change heading to take the wake on the bow. Consequently we ended up with the two vessel rolling violently side to side – and of course out of synch. At one point I understand Blessed’s port gunnel was above Figments upper deck coaming as Blessed rose on the wave and Figment fell into the hole behind the wave.

The result was a series of enormous impacts between the two vessels. Damage was:
    Figment

o    teak cap rail dent and varnish removed

o    stern hawse cleat forward ear folded 90 degrees from its cast position as it failed before the stern line parted

o    we’ve decided to not pursue a claim though the cost may well be significant

    Blessed

I’ll leave it to John to describe in detail the damage to Blessed if he cares to do so and say only there was some distortion to metal fittings and a crack in some fiberglass. Figment stands taller and is a heavier vessel

To my knowledge it isn’t yet known if the crack is superficial or deeper

The advisers on both Figment and Blessed were very angry and got on their radios identifying the offending vessel and so on. We were instructed to report any claim issues to Erick Galvez – our agent. Frankly, he has gone very formal and skimpy with the info seeming to take a position that he doesn’t want to advocate for anyone as though it might compromise his position as an agent with the ACP even indicating in his email that his line handlers couldn’t server as witnesses should a hearing occur. One of those line handlers was Erick’s son Juan who indicated to me he’d discuss the whole event with his father. I think if he were allowed to speak freely he would be a credible witness.

Fortunately there were no personal injuries.

Since this event I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what we could have done to avoid such damage. A bit more background – while anchored four days in La Playita I was regularly stunned at how close the ACP launches would run to our anchored vessel with no reduction in speed throwing those fearsome wakes. Fortunately Figment has some at rest stabilization equipment which was deployed to counter some of this abuse. It only served to moderate the resulting movement. However, that wasn’t possible on Gatun Lake. Same type launch, same type inappropriate behavior. My present conclusion were I to do the same thing again is to object to the advisor’s decision to make up the nest as far from the Gatun Lock entrance as we did and insist on getting very close in before doing so to minimize the kind of wake exposure we experienced. The ACP vessel operators have no concept of wake damage to others or simply don’t care.

I’d like to thank you for the value you and the group added to our journey to Panama.

Figment Figment is now in Linton Bay Marina after a week in Kuna Yala

Don & Jan

FIGMENT

11) Green Island, Jamaica
Sprezzatura @ Green Island, Jamaica Between Negril n Lucea! (Lol) Hanover Hanover Parish Jamaica : https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.397542965372139,-78.271098525440706

Eric

SPREZZATURA12) Rio Cacique– Pta Matador, Panama.
We’re in 24 feet of water at +11 high tide right now. It is well protected and beautiful. N 8 18.220 W 78 54.161. 09:49 Ay Caramba! – Juan We broke shifting cable, fixed it. On to Pta Matador N 8 29.547 W 78 51.547 21feet At +7. Good protection from N wind and moderate protection from S swell. Fishermen use the spot to collect water bathe and wash clothes. We bought lobster from Pune Indians.

Juan & Michelle

AY CARAMBA !

13) Santa Ana Department, El Salvador
Santa Ana Department, El Salvador : https://maps.google.com/maps?q=13.886457869404097,-89.534567383542054 22:03 SV BlueOasis Blue Oasis on a land tour in El Salvador @ Mikiteria lake resort on Lago Coatepeque https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coatepeque_Caldera#/media/File%3ATeopan.jpg Very cool B&B on the lake which is a volcano caldron. A bit hazy so the scenery is not as vibrant, but the El Salvadoran people are so friendly. We also visited a small artsy town of Suchitoto.

Barry & Kathy

BLUE OASIS

14) The mayor of Zihuatanej, MX Great meeting with the mayor of Zihuatanejo today. Mayor Jorge Sanchez Allec, thank you so much for taking the time to tell us your great stories and plans for Zihuatanejo!! We’re looking forward to many years of bringing the Panama Posse to Zihua!
The public dock will be remodeled over the next 6 months and hopefully we’ll get a floating dinghy dock.