SouthtoPanamaandColombia

Namaste'

April-June 2007

South to Panama & Colombia

We left Belize early in April with planned stops at the Bay Islands of Honduras, Banco Vivorillos, known as the (Cojones o Habbies, a very small reef system just off the coast of Nicaragua and Honduras boarder.), Isla de Providencia (a small Colombian Island with a large reef around it) and Isla de San Andres and finally on to Bocas del Toro, Panama. Sunrise off Plecencia

Leg #1- Belize to the Bay Islands

We left Placencia at first light and sailed across to Ranguana Pass near the south end of the Belize reef. The wind for the next 24 hours came from just about all directions and in varying strengths. We sailed some, motor sailed, and then finally just took all the sails down and motored. The last several hours we had 6-7’ following seas but we kept the autopilot on and with those seas and 24 knot winds we did just great. It was raining when we got just out side French Harbor where we planned to anchor. Visibility was very poor. Dave on S/V Expectations was a great help by coming out in his dingy and showing us the opening in the reef.

While in French Harbor, we met the owner of Tabutne 1, a 75’ live aboard dive boat. We spent several evenings with him and his crew, along with other cruisers. He has a great looking boat and is planning on running the dive operation out of Roatan (West End) until he makes the trip down to Panama next year. His lovely wife Val flew in the day before we left Roatan. We did get to visit a little with her and look forward to seeing her again.

After several weeks in French Harbor we started working our way towards Guanaja, the most eastern island of the Bay Islands, Honduras. We made short stops to Jonesville, to see Bob and the gang at Hole in the Wall and then on to Isla Barbareta for one night before jumping out and making the short 20 mile passage to Guanaja.

We spent a 2 days in El Bite before sailing a few miles east to Josh’s Caye where we picked up one of the mooring balls out front of Grahams Place. It is a wonderful little resort sitting right on the reef. We had a spectacular “wahoo” dinner prepared by Chef Reggie. The next morning we went in for a “Bloody Mary Breakfast” and drank too many of Fernando’s wonderful drinks.

In addition to checking that Namaste’ was ready for the 180 mile passage to Banco Vivorillos the next day, the Captain authorized naps for everyone.

We left again at first light and headed towards our destination.

Leg #2 – Banco Vivorillos

Way too much motoring is the way to describe this passage. Winds were very light. Light winds are good in the since that the sea’s are very calm. They are bad in that we only have 40 gallons of fuel aboard and that’s not enough to motor to Providencia, the next place where we can get fuel.

We actually by passed the Vivorillos and went a few more miles east to the Habbies where Gary and Renata, on S/V Yellow Rose, were anchored. Yellow Rose was our neighbor in Watergate Marina and we had not hooked up with them in over 3 years. They had done the Eastern Caribbean and are on there way to the Rio Dulce to leave the boat and then head back to the states.

It was really great seeing them again. We shared waypoints and other information on the places we each have been to. Gary, Paul & Sandy had spear fishing lessons from Mike, on S/V Windfree. Mike and his wife Gloria have been in and around Panama for 8 years. Mike spearfish’s nearly everyday. The basic difference between us is that he actually catches fish with his spear gun as opposed to Sandy, who simple provides entertainment for the fish.

Billy on S/V AnnVeraLynn caught up with us here. We met Billy in Guatemala on the Rio Dulce and he is also on his way to Panama. We had a progressive dinner/happy hour. Happy hour was on Namaste’ and dinner on AngelHeart. One of the local fisherman brought over some lobster to Billy’s boat in trade for some food supplies. He cooked it and brought it over for happy hour along with a great sauce. What a treat. Mike and Gloria brought some delicious hummus she made and Gary and Renata also provided a snack. We then made our way over to AngelHeart for a really good dinner. We served Paul’s jambalaya and Cheri’s chicken & okra gumbo.

Leg #3 Providencia, Colombia

Since we had to motor sail so much to the Hobbies we knew we could not motor all the way to Providencia. We sailed out of the anchorage at 5pm on May 12^th with really light winds, but at least they were from the right direction. We sailed until 1am the next morning and then started the motor sailing again. We ran out of fuel several hours outside of the Isla Providencia and Gene and Brenda on S/V Queen Mary along with Sonny & Kay on S/V Valentina met us outside in the channel. We sailed all the way to the last marker and turned to port, dropped the sail, then Gene pushed us tugboat style into the anchorage where we dropped the hook.

Gene & Brenda have been cruising for several years in this area and are one of the best “go to” boats for just about anything. Gene is also the best spear fishing guys around. They both love to dive and have invited Sandy to dive with them. They have a beautiful CSY 44 sailboat.

Sonny & Kay were in the Rio with us and Cheri met them for the first time when she did the trip to Copan. They are a very delightful couple.

Another boat we met for the first time was S/V AKKA with Monty & Chris on board. We all spent a wonderful evening on Queen Mary and quickly became friends.

Leg #4 Providencia to San Andres

Four boats (Namaste’, AngelHeart, Queen Mary, and Valentina) left at 3AM for San Andres about 40 miles south. Our course was to take us just off the Nicaraguan coast so this was definitely a case for “the more the merrier. We arrived in San Andres in the anchorage just after lunch. The channel was really well marked and again we had some great waypoints from gene and Brenda on Queen Mary.

Isla San Andres is a busy place. It looked sort of like a little Miami when we sailed by. It is a popular place for the Colombians to vacations from the main land. The big attractions are the party boats that pile everyone on and take you out in the water for a tour of the bay with the music blaring. We were going to make it a short stop even though there is a lot to do and see because we are flying back to the states for the birth of our first granddaughter.

We got Namaste' settled in at anchor, got us checked into the country and chilled for a day or so.

Gene & Brenda on S/V Queen Mary suggested several of us go in on renting a golf cart for a week since we all had much shopping to do, boat and otherwise. I think we all agreed it was a life saver. San Andres is not really big but, going around in circles for hours at a time can wear you out.

With in the next two weeks we were joined by Monty & Chris (S/V AKKA), Hugh and his crew on (S/V Bare Necessities) who sailed from Galveston to here with a short stop over night in Isla Mujeres, Tony (S/V Andiamo), Billy (S/V AnnVeraLynn), Mary & crew (S/V Back Stage Pass), Bob, Marge and Alex (S/V Island Time)

We have taken a tour of the Island, checked out several of the local restaurants for lunch. and this week we are going to finish our boat chores.

Paul and Mary Margaret had flown back to the states and will return in a few days, then we are off again to complete our last leg of this passage which will end in Bocas del Toro.