Panama, 11th December 2015.
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| Gitte walking the Amador malecon. |
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| Laundry day! |
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| Jetty at Balboa Yacht Club |
We are bobbing up and down at the anchorage here in Panama.
It is hot. The wind has turned and the whole weather system has changed so that
the wind comes straight out of the Panama Canal. The winds are light, but
supposed to get stronger around Christmas. We are well protected by the malecon
(harbour wall) which we were being pushed, dragged towards, in a southern strong
breeze, when we had to move the boat to safety on the opposite side of Flamenco
Island, when we first arrived. The cruisers at anchor there are now watching
their boats very carefully in case of dragging.
We have a “love - hate” relationship with Panama. It is
extremely exciting here as the big ships to and fro the Panama Canal pass us
within a Mile and the whole area is always busy with pilot boats, and supply
and work boats to the big ships. There is about 100 big ships at anchor waiting
for permission to pass through the canal.
The anchorage is uncomfortable as work ships pass through our small-boat
anchorage without slowing down and make a big wake. The city of Panama is big, hot and noisy.
So, why are we here? Well, Panama is the hob, the place to
where you can send things and the last place where you can get things done
before taking off to the other side of the horizon. We are waiting for bottom
paint for the boat from Florida, which should be arriving as I write, and a new
inverter, also from the US. Next week
the boat goes up on the hard in Flamenco Boat Yard for painting and insurance
survey. In the meantime we have booked in to a hotel and shall have a bit of
luxury as we will have air condition for a week!
David is always busy. He is always checking systems and
cleaning up this or that! Just now he is re-assembling the sump pump (shower
pump). This morning he changed the gas bottle and shall go to town later to get
a new gas hose to the stove as it is old. Another cruiser is going by taxi half the way
across the isthmus to get gas bottles refilled. Our new sails have arrived from
Owen Sails in Benderloch, Scotland, and will be put up when we are back in the
water after the haul out. We are getting a new dodger and a new bimini made
here, as the old one had been subjected to wind and weather for possibly 15
years.
If all is well we hope to be able to take off to the South
Pacific in mid January. The French Polynesian Islands of Marquesas’ are 4000 Miles
away and will take between 30 and 40 days. The Galapagos Islands are 1000 Miles
away. We have been there last year and do not plan to stop as the formalities
are difficult and expensive. There are no islands in between so we hope for a
smooth passage. We plan to stay in French Polynesia till the hurricane season
is over in April and then continue west. We expect to reach New Zealand in October/November
2016.
The South Pacific
islands are supposed to be exceptionally beautiful. Our pilot-book is called “LANDFALL
OF PARADISE”. I can’t wait to see if
it’s true. There are a lot of exciting
and beautiful islands to visit such as Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji just to
mention some of the best known groups and there are many more. It’s the trip of
a life- time for us both, and we are very excited about it.
From Panama we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
From Gitte and David.
PS. We would love to hear back from you!
