We took Lost Elvis to the San Blas again. The first few days we spent with our friends Greg and Christine. The first stop was Portobelo where we caught the last night of Carnival. We toured through Chichime, Swimming Pools, Salardup, Carti and Porvenir. We met Hank and Betsy (SV Equinox) and their guests, Gary and Liz in Salardup where we set up a swim up bar using our dinghy as the bar. In Swimming Pools, Equinox and Lost Elvis hit the Monday night cocktail party where we met and in some cases re-united with Southern Belle, Runner (Reg and Debbie), Blow Me Away (Aaron and Cathy), Bubbles (Sheila and Alex) et al. Blow Me Away gave us the number of Eulogio (651-79850) who runs the jungle jeep ride back to Panama City from Carti. It's $30 per person and they pick you up from your boat in a nice panga. Greg and Christine left Carti on February 24 in the jeep ride. The jeep will drop you off wherever you want in Panama City. Our friend suggested Hotel Discovery (225-1140) in Panama City as it's only $25 per night. We stayed in Carti for an extra day as the Kuna were celebrating their 80 year revolution against the Panamanian armed forces. The celebration included a parade, dancing and a wandering play re-enacting the event. The grande finale was drinking Chicha in the Chicha hut (segregating men and women) as the Sailas (shamen) chanted. In Porvenir we lost our hold in the anchorage (again). It was a disaster and of course, it happened at night. We had to re-anchor in an uncharacteristic storm that came from the south. The southern storms usually blow in the summer. Our plans to leave Porvenir were dashed by the storm which gusted to 35 knots and was conistently over 20 knots with 5 foot seas at 3 second intervals. It took us over an hour just to make it back to Chichime where at the usually flat entry, waves were breaking. Chichime had 12 boats anchored and the entry was a mess so we went to Salardup again to wait out the weather. Hank and Betsy did the same. The next day brough fair weather, winds and seas and we had a lovely sail to Isla Linton. Sunbow (Sharon and John)was an hour ahead of us. Effie was in Panamarina. We all dined at Caballo Loco (a french restaurant). The next day Randy, John and Sharon took two dinghys through the mangroves to pick up Alan and Mac who are leaving their boat in Panamarina for a month or so while they head back to the US. The voyage from Islan Linton to Shelter Bay was and adventure; 6 to 78 foot following swells at 7 seconds or less and strong winds. Our auto pilot couldn't take it so Randy and Alan took Lost Elvis back to Shelter Bay in shifts. On the way in our furling rigging on the staysill broke at the furling drum so Alan furled it by hand with a wrench. As we were furling the main (in mast) the pulley on the boom broke. Time to call the rigger! Now we are poolside at the marina.... playing guitars and drinking beer.
We took Lost Elvis to the San Blas again. The first few days we spent with our friends Greg and Christine. The first stop was Portobelo where we caught the last night of Carnival. We toured through Chichime, Swimming Pools, Salardup, Carti and Porvenir. We met Hank and Betsy (SV Equinox) and their guests, Gary and Liz in Salardup where we set up a swim up bar using our dinghy as the bar. In Swimming Pools, Equinox and Lost Elvis hit the Monday night cocktail party where we met and in some cases re-united with Southern Belle, Runner (Reg and Debbie), Blow Me Away (Aaron and Cathy), Bubbles (Sheila and Alex) et al. Blow Me Away gave us the number of Eulogio (651-79850) who runs the jungle jeep ride back to Panama City from Carti. It's $30 per person and they pick you up from your boat in a nice panga. Greg and Christine left Carti on February 24 in the jeep ride. The jeep will drop you off wherever you want in Panama City. Our friend suggested Hotel Discovery (225-1140) in Panama City as it's only $25 per night. We stayed in Carti for an extra day as the Kuna were celebrating their 80 year revolution against the Panamanian armed forces. The celebration included a parade, dancing and a wandering play re-enacting the event. The grande finale was drinking Chicha in the Chicha hut (segregating men and women) as the Sailas (shamen) chanted. In Porvenir we lost our hold in the anchorage (again). It was a disaster and of course, it happened at night. We had to re-anchor in an uncharacteristic storm that came from the south. The southern storms usually blow in the summer. Our plans to leave Porvenir were dashed by the storm which gusted to 35 knots and was conistently over 20 knots with 5 foot seas at 3 second intervals. It took us over an hour just to make it back to Chichime where at the usually flat entry, waves were breaking. Chichime had 12 boats anchored and the entry was a mess so we went to Salardup again to wait out the weather. Hank and Betsy did the same. The next day brough fair weather, winds and seas and we had a lovely sail to Isla Linton. Sunbow (Sharon and John)was an hour ahead of us. Effie was in Panamarina. We all dined at Caballo Loco (a french restaurant). The next day Randy, John and Sharon took two dinghys through the mangroves to pick up Alan and Mac who are leaving their boat in Panamarina for a month or so while they head back to the US. The voyage from Islan Linton to Shelter Bay was and adventure; 6 to 78 foot following swells at 7 seconds or less and strong winds. Our auto pilot couldn't take it so Randy and Alan took Lost Elvis back to Shelter Bay in shifts. On the way in our furling rigging on the staysill broke at the furling drum so Alan furled it by hand with a wrench. As we were furling the main (in mast) the pulley on the boom broke. Time to call the rigger! Now we are poolside at the marina.... playing guitars and drinking beer.
Hello there! Great blog!
ReplyDeleteI also own a Mikelson 50 pilothouse cutter, and I'm also in Panama (Bocas). I'll be in Shelter Bay in April, if you are still there I would love to meet you guys and see another Mikelson 50!
Steve
captaintepper@yahoo.com