Well, it has been a while since we have updated the blog. After a lille over 2 months and several changes of plan, we are out of here this morning (Friday). We spent a reasonably quiet Christmas and New Year in the marina, and managed another canal crossing on a Manta 40 catamaran, Somerset 33 with owner Carol and partner Jim (owner of Mario's marina in Guatemala). We have been busy working on the boat, particularly since we decided to haul Five Islands out of the water and have our escape hatches removed and glassed over. These hatches have bothered us for a while, they were right on the waterline and hearing a couple of stories of hatches that had come open while underway hadn't done much to alleviate our concerns. The final straw was the arrival in Shelter Bay of another Lagoon 37 which had already had their hatches removed some years ago. We had a good look at it and then we found out that Ramon (the local fibreglass guy) had already removed and glassed over the hatches from another 37, Gecko, a couple of years ago. So we bit the bullet and decided to have ours removed as well. Ramon did a good job and we are pleased with the result, although the forward cabins are darker now without the light from these hatches. We went back in the water on Monday morning and the following day another 37 (Kokopelli) came into the marina and docked just a few boats away from us, and they have also had their hatches removed. The other main job we completed while out of the water was to clean, compound and polish the hulls. She looks much better but pleased to be finished that job.
We did a huge provisioning shop in Colon yesterday, took us hours to pack it all away. The big purchase was a tiny twin tub washing machine, cost US$85. We can run it off our inverter as long as we can find enough water to fill it up. Speaking of water, after weeks of torrential rain when we arrived back at the marina, it is now dry and dusty. The trade winds have set in and the weather is sunny and breezy, quite nice really. We still don't have a battery charger so have been relying on our solar panels to keep the batteries charged without any problems.
So we got our Zarpe this morning to head to Porvenir (San Blas) via Isla Linton. We still have to get our new bimini fitted at Linton, and then we will head off to the San Blas until we get a weather window to head to Providencia, a Columbian island off the coast of Nicaragua. We are using Chris Parker to provide us with weather routing information, so hopefully we will have a couple of weeks relaxing in the San Blas again before having a not too rough trip to Providencia.
Some photos of our last 2 months
The maintenance doesn't stop. So much for a leisurely retirement!
We partied just in case the prediction was true.
Our Christmas tree
Santa arrives with gifts for the 2 local families the Marina sponsored
The children are just gorgeous
And the teenage girls just love having their photos taken
Christmas lunch - Pig on the spit cooked by Pierre (cooking commenced at 0400)
Water balloon launcher game. John & Jim holding the sling shot while Chris pulls back to launch the ballon.
The water ballon is released (Its like watching 3 kids at play)
The crowd then had to catch the water balloon in a plastic gar bag without breaking it. Direct hits usually tore a hole through the plastic, but 3 were successful & won a bottle of Rum each.
Chris, the Dock Restaurant Manager & his Mum
One of the workers at the Marina
Frank, our most favourite Dock Master
Margarette (laundry) & Kooper
Haulout. Prop experiment - this prop had been painted with anti foul last March
This prop had been heated and Lanolin applied. Both props had been bagged for 8 months while we were away. We have now done both props with Lanolin.
Escape hatch on the inside Port hull. The hatches sat at the waterline (red area) when at rest. When sailing you could look through the water as it washed over the hatch.
Ramone applying the fibreglass to fill in the hatch holes.
Gelcoat on with only the anti foul to be painted on.
We had regular visits from the military chooks and one of the dogs.
Canal transit on Sommerset 33. John in his favourite position. This was our 6th crossing - we're old hands now.
In the locks on the way to the Pacific. We had 2 ferries a power boat and a yacht in front of us & a ferry behind. The yacht is Iolea owner by Kate and Paul, 2 Aussies on their way home.
Moet at the end of a successful crossing. From left to right Jim, Terry, Carole, John & Jerry. Jim and Carole (Canadian) are on their way to NZ.
Kennedy Loop walk at Shelter Bay. Jungle all around.
