Panama To The Dry Tortugas

Okay, I think we're ready!  Deb and I headed into the grocery store for the roast chickens on Wednesday morning and I did the last load of laundry Thursday morning.  Dennis had originally said he wanted to leave around noon, so I planned my time accordingly.  Well, he changed his mind, but the laundry was busy so it was noon when we left.  Helped and waved off the dock by Lili and Steve on LiWard and Judy on Quest.  Last minute dock waves from Terry and Gerry on Gymnopides.  I took the helm while Dennis stowed lines and fenders, put up the main, and Mark and Deb get to see how the boat works.  We've decided to do our log every 6 hours with our position and the conditions, so that's what will follow.

April 5, 2012   12:15 p.m.   POSITION    9.2N  79.51W      Shelter Bay Marina

WIND  N/10    SEAS  N/E 2' swell    SPEED  6 knots     SAILS   full main, motor sailing
Checked in on the 6209 SSB net at 5 p.m. with George on Silver Sea

6 p.m.     POSITION  09.54N    79.58W
WIND  N/10   SEAS  N/E swell 5-6'   SPEED  5.5 knots   SAILS  reefed main, motor sailing
DISTANCE TRAVELED  33.7 nm
Too much static to hear the NW 6209 net

April 6, 2012    12:00 a.m.   POSITION    10.27N    80.03W

WIND   Calm, light and variable out of the North   SEAS  3' with a NE swell  SPEED  5.7 knots
SAILS  reefed main, motor sailing    DISTANCE TRAVELED  67.2 nm
Full moon - Engine off at 4 a.m. with Mark on watch - 212 nm to the first waypoint with a reefed main and Yankee
Deb at the helm and Mark and Allayne in the cockpit with a ship spotted at 4:30 a.m. - had to turn the motor on to avoid ship, which changed course and crossed our bow.  Mark hailed 6 times with no response.


6:00 a.m.    POSITION   10.57N   80.06W
WIND   N 10-15   SEAS  4-5'   SPEED   3.8  Average of 4.3-5.2   SAILS  reefed main and Yankee
DISTANCE TRAVELED  97.9 nm and sailing a close reach
Allayne spoke to Russell on Luterna on the 6209 SSB net - position at 8:15 a.m. was 11.09N  80.09W


12:00 p.m.   POSITION 11.31N  80.12W
WIND  NE 10-15   SEAS  4-5'  SPEED  5.4   SAILS  reefed main and Yankee
82 degrees with scattered clouds  -  Checked into the SW Caribbean net at 5:00 p.m.
Dennis, Deb and Allayne have been taking medication for queasiness, just getting our sea legs back after 2 weeks at the dock - Mark solved the problem by staying in the cockpit :)


6:00 p.m.  POSITION  11.58N   81.17W
WIND NE 8-10   SEAS  2' from the N/E   SPEED  3.5   SAILS  reefed main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  160 nm
81 degrees with scattered clouds


April 7, 2012   12:45 a.m.    POSITION  12.28N  80.22W


WIND  NE 10-14   SEAS 3'   SPEED 4.5   SAILS  reefed main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  190 nm
79 degrees with scattered clouds and full moon
A bird committed suicide on Mark's watch by flying into the wind generator and landing in the cockpit.  Dennis awoke from a sound sleep, picked up the bird and threw it overboard, then went back to sleep.
Watches have been working out great, switching out every 2-3 hours.  Dennis takes the first shift after supper; then Mark gets up between 11 and 12 and does anywhere from 2-4 hours, waking up either Deb or I to take over.  Every other night Deb and I get almost a full night of sleep.  It's working for us :)


6:00 a.m.   POSITION 12.49N  80.26W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  2'   SPEED  2-4.5   SAILS  reefed main and Yankee until 6:00 a.m., when Dennis let the reef out of the main and our speed came up to 4.5
76 degrees with a full moon still up




12:00 p.m.   POSITION  13.21N   80.31W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  2'   SPEED  5.6   SAILS  full main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  245 nm
82 degrees with scattered  clouds    Checked in with the 6209 net at 5:00 p.m. with our position at 13.46N  80.32W
We had showers in the tub today!!!   Felt fantastic.
Glad I made many meals ahead of time and froze them.  We had the roasted chicken for the first couple of days with salads and bread, and are starting to move on to the freezer meals.




6:00 p.m.   POSITION  13.51N  80.32W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  2-3'   SPEED  5.4   SAILS  full main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  275 nm
A pod of dolphins were jumping and swimming around the boat after dinner - good luck?  It sure made all of us smile. 


April 8, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION 14.18N  80.36W




WIND  ENE 10   SEAS  less than 2'   SPEED  4.4   SAILS  one reef put in the main at dinner because of squall line
Mark was assaulted by a flying fish on the side of the head at 10:30 p.m.  Arrived at our first waypoint and changed to Waypoint 2 at 11:00 p.m.  We wanted to leave Shelter Bay at noon because, by our calculations, it would put us off the reef early morning.  Made such good time, the guys passed through the reef in the dark with lots of room to spare.
Started the motor at 1:200 a.m. and ran until 3:45 a.m. for power
The wind changed at 4:00 a.m. so we changed course slightly and our speed increased to 6-6.5
You have to give it to Mark, he's always good for a laugh.  When I spoke to Judy on Caribbean Blue on the SW 6209 net, I thought she was going to choke when I told her about first the bird and then the fish.  She laughed through the rest of the net :)



6:00 a.m.   POSITION  14.46N  80.42W
WIND  10-12   SEAS  less than 2'   SPEED  5.5-6.5   SAILS   full main and jib

Plane circling with Columbian flag

Dennis shook out the reef at 5:30 a.m. and adjusted the course from 336 to 343 degrees
DISTANCE TRAVELED  331 nm
At 11:15 a.m. we were circled twice by an AWAC surveillance plane from Columbia at 15.14N  80.50W




12:00 p.m.   POSITION  15.17N  80.51W
WIND  NE 10   SEAS  2'   SPEED  4.5   SAILS  full main and jib, heading for Thunder Knoll waypoint
DISTANCE TRAVELED  363 nm
Changed course at 4:15 p.m., 15.36N 80.58W, on a heading to Cuba and 433 nm, with a reefed main and jib
Checked in on the 6209 net at 5:00 p.m. with a position of 15.39N 81.01W with a speed of 5.6 and a distance traveled of 388 nm


6:00 p.m.   POSITION 15.44N  81.04W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  2'   SPEED  5.6   SAILS  reefed main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  394 nm






April 9, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION  16.08N  81.22W

WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  1-2'   SPEED  4.5   SAILS   Single reefed main

The Captain on deck

The moon rose at 9:00 p.m..  We ran the engine in neutral for 2 hours for power.  Passed one vessel around 8:00 p.m. with white lights only.
DISTANCE TRAVELED  424 nm

6:00 a.m.   POSITION 16.26N  81.39W
WIND  NE 5   SEAS  1'   SPEED  2.6   SAILS  full main and Yankee
DISTANCE TRAVELED  448 nm with 373 to the Cuba waypoint
I relieved Deb at 6:00 and Dennis shook the reef out and moved the solar panel.  Ghosting along in flat seas.

12:00 p.m.   POSITION  16.43N   81.52W
WIND  NE 8-10   SEAS  flat   SPEED  4.4   SAILS  full main, Yankee and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  469 nm with 351 to the Cuba waypoint
We were visited by2 sparrows around 10:00 a.m. and we got to take showers at 4:30.  Talked to Russell on Luterna on the 5:00 p.m. 6209 SW net

6:00 p.m.   POSITION  17.07   82.05W
WIND   NE 8-10   SEAS  flat   SPEED  5 with 1 knot of favorable current (7.5)  SAILS  full canvas
DISTANCE TRAVELED  496 nm with 325 to the Cuba waypoint
Speed has varied all afternoon from 3-5 knots
Waning full moon, up at 10:15 p.m.

April 10, 2012    12:00 a.m.   POSITION  17.36N   82.27W

Frick and Frack

WIND  NE 12   SEAS  flat with a long 2' swell    SPEED  7.8   SAILS  full canvas
DISTANCE TRAVELED  534 nm with 288 to the Cuba waypoint

I don't know if we've ever
gone this fast!

We are like a rocket, sailing along at 7.5.  Spotted two freighters around 9:00 p.m., running south to our east.  Two swallows hitched a ride at dinnertime.  The winds started building after dinner and neither Dennis or Mark would take any sails in because it would have knocked the sparrows off the lifeline.  Granted, Deb and I couldn't move, as we were pinned to the port side bulkhead!!  Not a good night's sleep.  Ran the engine for 2 hours in neutral for power.

6:00 a.m.   POSITION   18.11N   82.53W
WIND  NE 12   SEAS  2'   SPEED  7.5   SAILS  full canvas
DISTANCE TRAVELED  578 nm

12:00 p.m.  POSITION  18.46N   83.18W
WIND  NE 12-14   SEAS  2' plus   SPEED  6.5-7.5   SAILS  reefed main, Yankee and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  619 nm with 204 to the Cuba waypoint
We still have 1 knot of current in our favor.  Checked into the 6208 SSB net and spoke with George on Silver Sea.

6:00 p.m.   POSITION  19.18N  83.37W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  1-2'   SPEED  5.7   SAILS  reefed main, Yankee and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  656 nm with 167 to the Cuba waypoint

April 11, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION  19.45N  83.47W

WIND  NE 5-10   SEAS  2'   SPEED  3   SAILS  reefed main, Yankee and staysail
Waning full moon rose at midnight.  The winds died at 12:45 a.m. so we motorsailed.

6:00 a.m.   POSITION  20.80N  84.03W
WIND  NE 12   SEAS  1'   SPEED  5   SAILS  reefed main and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  713 nm with 113 to the Cuba waypoint
At 4:30 a.m. spotted one northbound freighter 1/4 mile to starboard, and at 6:30 a.m. spotted a southbound freighter 3 miles to starboard.
Ran the engine for 4 hours in the morning for power.  Checked in on the 6209 SSB net.  Freighter, High Strength, at 20.30N and 84.13W altered course after we called him on Channel 16

12:00 p.m.   POSITION  20.37N  84.15W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  1'   SPEED  5.2   SAILS  full canvas
DISTANCE TRAVELED  744 nm with 82 to the Cuba waypoint
Added 15 gallons of water, so that we have approximately 65 gallons on board.  Added 10 gallons of diesel, so that we have 43 in the tank and 20 still on the deck.  Heavy shipping traffic.  Started the engine about 4:30 p.m. when the wind died.  Checked in at 5:00 p.m. on the 6209 SSB net with Russell on Luterna and Judy on Caribbean Blue

Coming up to the green flash

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEB  :)

6:00 p.m.   POSITION   21.02N   84.29W

WIND   NE 3-5   SEAS  flat   SPEED  5.4   SAILS   main only
No traffic, but heard voices on the VHF.  Too long at sea???   At 7:00 p.m. we saw the green flash!!!

April 12, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION  21.23N  84.48W

WIND  N 10   SEAS  2'   SPEED  4   SAILS  main only
DISTANCE TRAVELED  801 nm with 27 to the Cuba waypoint
Fighting a 1/2 knot current and wind on the nose, hoping to find the Gulf Stream.  Turned the engine off at 1:45 a.m., having run since 4:30 p.m. yesterday.  Dennis put on a harness to put a reef in so that we could run a reefed main and staysail at 2:00 a.m.  All hands on deck.  Speed at 5 knots.
Sometimes the guys (I mean Dennis) think they can do things without us - NOT!  Anyone on deck in the dark requires everyone on deck.

6:00 a.m.  POSITION  21.48N  85.04W
WIND  NE 15+   SEAS  3-4' choppy   SPEED  5.7 with a 1 knot current   SAILS   reefed main and staysail, close reach
DISTANCE TRAVELED  831 nm
Rounded the west end of Cuba at 5:30 a.m..  Saw a little sliver of land, which was Cuba.  First land seen in 7 days.  Talked to Chris Parker and he said we need to be in in 36 hours.  A new system developed and the winds and seas would be building to 20-25 by Saturday.  Changed course to the next waypoint 5 miles early.  Took a wave over the side while Deb was at the helm and she got drenched.

Deb's bird

I thought he was on watch,
but I guess not

12:00 p.m.   POSITION  22.22N  85.06W
WIND  NE 10-12   SEAS  1-2' wind chop   SPEED  5-6   SAILS  reefed main, Yankee and jib
DISTANCE TRAVELED  865 nm, with 183 nm to the Dry Tortuga waypoint.  Mark and Dennis are finally napping. They were both up most of the night.  We had a hitchhiking bird which kept jumping on Deb!  At 3:30 we rolled in the Yankee and jib and started the motor.

6:00 p.m.   POSITION  22.45N   85.01W
WIND  NE 14   SEAS  2'   SPEED  4.5   SAILS   reefed main, and staysail, sheeted tight
DISTANCE TRAVELED  894 nm with 164 nm to Dry Tortugas
Motorsailing since 3:30 with the main and staysail

April 13, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION  22.59N  84.56W

WIND  NE 12   SEAS  2'   SPEED  4.5   SAILS  reefed main and staysail
DISTANCE TRAVELED  914 nm
We changed course at 9:30 p.m. to a bearing of 347.  We turned the engine off and had a reefed main and staysail.  No evidence of the Gulf Stream yet.  (Turns out, we never did find it :(  )

6:00 a.m.   POSITION   23.23N   85.04W
WIND  NE 10 or less   SEAS  2'   SPEED  3.5-4.5   SAILS   reefed main and staysail
DISTANCE TRAVELED  940 nm
We have 1/2 knot of current against us with still no evidence of the Gulf Stream.  The wind started picking up at sunrise, around 5:50 a.m.

12:00 p.m.   POSITION   23.49N   85.00W
WIND  NE 10   SEAS  1.5' and choppy   SPEED  3   SAILS   full canvas
DISTANCE TRAVELED  967 nm
Still picking up a 1/2 knot of current against us.  Started the motor at 2:45.

6:00 p.m.   POSITION  24.05N  84.45W
WIND  NE 5   SEAS  Flat   SPEED  4.5 with 1/2 knot still against us   SAILS  double reefed main
Motorsailing since 2:45 p.m. with still no evidence of the Gulf Stream.  Dennis added 10 gallons of diesel to the tank.
The next entry will be in Daylight Savings Time.  We have been on Atlantic Standard Time up until now.

A scary picture - Dennis and Mark
discussing what to do :(

Once again, trying to get a
Globalstar signal

Mark at the helm

April 14, 2012   12:00 a.m.   POSITION  24.12N  84.21W

WIND  NE 10   SEAS  1'   SPEED 4.8   SAILS  double reefed main
DISTANCE TRAVELED  1013 nm with 56 nm to the Dry Tortugas
We are expecting the winds to shift east to 15 before dawn.

6:12 a.m.   POSITION   24.13N   83.49W
WIND  ENE 10   SEAS 1-2'   SPEED  between 3.5 and 4.5   SAILS  double reefed main and motoring
DISTANCE TRAVELED 1041 nm
A ship on the horizon.  Everyone else asleep - beautiful morning, even though it's still dark.  Spotted a ship on the horizon.  Shut off the motor at 9:00 a.m. and ran a reefed main, Yankee and staysail.  Shook out one reef on the main at 8:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m.   POSITION  24.33N  83.30W
WIND  ESE 12   SEAS  2' chop   SPEED  6.7   SAILS  reefed main, Yankee and stay - close reach
DISTANCE TRAVELED  1070 nm
We're trying to reach the Dry Tortugas before the front that is supposed to have winds of 30-35 knots.  Started motorsailing at 2:00 p.m.  Took in the Yankee and staysail at 3:00 p.m. and motored with a reefed main at 3.4 knots.  Frustrating!!!  No Gulf Stream and not making any headway.

6:00 p.m.   POSITION  24.41N   83.04W
WIND  E 15-20   SEAS  confused with a 3' wind chop   SPEED  3-4   SAILS  reefed main and motoring
DISTANCE TRAVELED  1099 nm
We had dolphins along side again.  We're slogging along with the wind on the nose, trying to reach the Dry Tortugas before the front blows in.  Have a double reefed main. The winds are getting stronger and the clouds quite black.  We're not going to be able to make Loggerhead Key or the Dry Tortugas.  The front moved in around 9:00 p.m. with 30-35 knots. We could see Ft. Jefferson, but never having been there, didn't feel confident enough to attempt it in the dark with all the reefs.  Dennis wanted to continue on to Key West, but he was out-voted (I love having other people on board!!!) and we hove to around 9:30.  We'll continue on in the morning when we can see.  Dinner was sandwiches while we got tossed around.  Not real fun.  Deb slept on the port setee, which is a double that backs up to the table so you're stable.  I took the starboard setee cushions and slept on the floor.  Mark and Dennis kept watch, hour on, hour off, for awhile.  Decided they weren't in the shipping channel, there were no reefs, so Mark took the port seat in the cockpit and Dennis took the floor with his feet in the companionway.  Wish I had a picture of that, but we were all to busy hanging on, trying not to get too many bruises.
No midnight or 6:00 a.m. log.  Everyone sleeping, or trying to.  The guys couldn't have been very comfortable sleeping in the cockpit in full rain gear.  YUK!

April 15, 2012   6:00 p.m.   POSITION  24.37N  82.52W   600' off of Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas

WIND  E25   SEAS  1' in the harbor, wind chop

THE PREVIOUS 12 HOURS --  (written by Mark)  As noted, we missed dropping the hook off of Loggerhead Key by one hour as the front dropped on us, bringing 35-40 knot winds and rapidly building seas.  At first we tried to bear off to Key West, but it was a close haul and hard to hold.  We hove to at 24.33N 82.57W.  By midnight we had experimented (he and Dennis) with the position of the main, but were still lying a little too beam to, but were safe and riding comfortably at .5 knots. (His idea of comfortable and mine are obviously different)  Our midnight position was 24.33N 82.58W.  By 7:00 a.m. we were at 24.53N 83.01W.  The wind around 5:00 a.m. was a constant 40 knots and gusting.  We ended up drifting back around 15 miles.  Turned the staysail around and headed back to Loggerhead Key with the stay and a double reefed main with 35 knot winds and 10' seas.  (Took quite a few over the bow, which actually made their way down below, with Deb and Allayne mopping up continuously)  At 11:30 a.m., at 24.33N and 82.58W we tacked into the channel behind Loggerhead Reef and arrived at Fort Jefferson at 1:30 p.m.  Wet, salty, soggy, tired, but still a happy boat.

Yes, Mark is right, 10 days at sea and we're still a happy boat!!  Dennis and Mark have great debates about what should be done, but end up coming to the same conclusion ... after much discussion.  Having Mark and Deb on board has been wonderful and we all work together great.  Now we're going to relax, catch up on sleep and cleaning, and tour Fort Jefferson when the seas die down!

Anchored off of Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas

                                   

                                                       ~~~ _/) ~~~      On to Key West next

Leaving The San Blas For The Last Time

Said goodbye to Michael, Edie
and Bella

This is it, the last time we'll be sailing in the San Blas, but it's time to move on to new adventures.  Waiting for weather and want to take advantage of the marina prices by staying longer than 15 days.  We left Salardup on March 12th to head to Porvenir to check out with the Port Captain, and had a great sail until the last two miles.  By then, of course, it was 5-8' seas and on the nose.  Dropped the anchor back out of the way, hoping for no roll, and Dave on Elysium picked me up to do our check-out.  Sea Cycle pulled in a couple of hours later from their private anchorage off of Green :)  Decided to wait an extra day, hoping that the waves would die down a bit.  That extra day was pretty miserable with the roll coming in to Porvenir.  Sea Cycle was going directly to Portobelo and into the marina before us, while we decided to stop off in Linton so that we could see Sid and Manuela from Paradise.  Had a wonderful sail, still wondering why those 'backpacker boats' need to come so close when they have the whole ocean.  Seriously, you need to come that close to pass behind me?  At first I thought they were heading for mid-ships!  Then, going into Linton there was another boat that decided he needed to be in ahead of us -- hey, knock yourself out.  Turns out he'd never been there before so then they slow down right in front of us and grab the binoculars, doing circles in the anchorage behind us as we're trying to anchor.  Hmmm, maybe I'm ready for a change!

Salardup

Called Manuela and she was heading into town to do some shopping, so I tagged along with her, picking up a few things.  Right now it's getting stuff off the boat instead of more on.  Sold a lot of stuff in the San Blas and gave Manuela my FoodSaver sealer. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see Sid because he was busy working on Runner, but they promise to come and visit in Shelter Bay before we leave.

Left Linton at 8:15 on March 17th to head into Shelter Bay Marina.  We had a reefed main and the jib, and it was an okay sail, but a lot of wallowing from the waves.  Finally docked at Shelter Bay around 2 p.m., with Mark and Deb from Sea Cycle and Lili from LiWard helping us into our slip.  Woo hoo, laundry facilities again, a fantastic restaurant with happy hours and catching up with friends.

It's amazing how fast two weeks goes by when you're busy working!  We did have time to hit the pool once or twice, celebrate Dennis' birthday with Sid and Manuela at The Dock Restaurant and catch up with Mike and Linda on Casa del Mar.  Mark and Deb are putting their boat on the hard for an extended time, so every time I turned around she had more food for us.  I'm sure it will get eaten underway!

Chris Young, Manager of  The
Dock Restaurant with his
cute dog Cooper

The time is getting closer to leave.  Subscribed to Chris Parker for a 5 day forecast and he thought we should leave on the Thursday to avoid weather off of Cuba, instead of the Tuesday we had planned.  I've been busy cooking and freezing meals for underway, and our last stop is for Deb and I to head into the grocery store Wednesday morning for some roasted chickens.

The big trip coming up!!!!

                                                         ~~~_/)~~~

Still For Sale

Back at Shelter Bay Marina, and here's a few photos, but the majority will be posted in our Picasa Web Albums, in the sidebar on the lefthand side of the page.  Audrey Paige is a wonderful boat, solid and sails great.  We've owned her for 11 years, sailed away 10 years ago, and lived aboard full-time for 8 years.  Explored many islands and anchorages, with many memorable moments, but can't afford to go home to visit the kids and grandkids, sail, and travel to the places we can't get to by boat.  We bought a condo back in Michigan this past summer to be close to the kids and grandkids.  We're both looking forward to being land based again.  The boat will be in Panama until the beginning to mid-April, and then we'll sail back to the States and leave her on the hard in Green Cove Springs to dry out for awhile.

Chart table

AUDREY PAIGE FOR SALE  - $95,000 US

36' Bayfield Cutter   -   Built in 1987
LOA 41' 3" LWL 30' 6" BEAM 12' DRAFT 5' 6" DISPLACEMENT 18,500 lbs
100 gallon water tank 54 gallon diesel tank 40 gallon holding tank Macerator with diverter
44 HP Yanmar Balmar 100 amp alternator/Smart regulator

New sheets, main halyard, topping lift and lazy jacks 2010
New dodger, bimini and side curtains, November, 2011

Port setee

Cockpit

Awlgrip 2007 - Hood furling systems on jib and staysail - New Doyle jib 2006 - New Doyle full batten main 2009

New stainless steel lifelines 2007

5 step stainless steel folding boarding ladder
44 lb. Bruce anchor with 150' 3/8" BBB chain - 22 lb. high tensil Danforth anchor - 15 lb. Guardian aluminum anchor

60' 3/8" chain - 150' 1/2" line - 50' 5/8" bridle line - 6 30' 5/8" docklines

Lofrans manual windlass
4 water jerry cans - 2 diesel jerry cans - 2 gasoline jerry cans

4' x 4' rain catcher - splash cloths - sun curtains and full cockpit enclosure
New Air X Wind Generator, 2011

3 Solar panels - 150 watt, 120 watt, 65 watt
Kato stainless steel davits with floodlight

Stainless steel outboard lifting crane

2 stainless steel fishing pole holders

Avon 9' 6" rib dinghy, 2002

15 hp. Yamaha, 2009, with 6 gallon gas tank

Magma bbq grill with 6 lb. propane tank

450 amp house battery bank and separate starting battery

Cockpit  --

New cushions - 2" closed cell foam covered with waterproof material

Folding table
VHF radio

Depth and Speedometer
Raymarine autopilot with 24,000 lb. core pack
Edson outboard motor bracket

Cabin Equipment and Accessories
New Jabsco head
New stainless steel faucets with soap dispenser in head and galley

Whale galley salt water foot pump

Nova Kool refrigerator and Engel 35 qt freezer

Origo 2 burner non-pressurized alcohol stove/oven
Origo 5,000 BTU cabin heater

Nav station VHF radio

ICOM 700 PRO SSB with auto tuner - 2009
Garmin 230 GPS

Garmin 430 chartplotter with chips for the Eastern and Western Caribbean
Jensen AM/FM stereo/CD player with 6 speakers

Teak dish rack, spice rack and all galley dishes, etc.

5 cabin Hella fans

Globalstar phone
Tools and fishing gear

Safety Equipment

2 Sospenders life jackets - 2 offshore lifejackets - 2 dinghy lifejackets

Lifesling Rescue Pack

406 EPRIB - new battery in 2010

25 millimetre flaregun with flares, etc.

Emergency Ditch Bag

Any inquiries, email us at sailingdream@aol.com

                                                          ~~~_/)~~~

Gail's Visit

Wow, this is so way past my bedtime! Roger picked me up around 9 p.m. and off we went to the airport. Stood around, checking the flights, and it looked like the Delta one was going to be a little late. I had told Gail, when she came out of Customs, to turn right and I'd see her. So, of course, all my attention was focused to the right. She turned left and then walked right, but I was too busy watching people exiting to notice her walking by. Luckily, she stopped, looked around ... she looked back as I looked her way! I think she was a little worried:) Kind of hard to appreciate Panama City in the dark, but I think she was as surprised as we were the first time we saw it. You don't think of Panama City and skyscrapers, but that's it! Roger dropped us off, Gail checked in and we headed up to our room to say hi to Deb (who had just returned from her card games!) and pick up wine and snacks. Kept Deb up till after 1 a.m., and then Gail and I headed off to her room. Up talking till after 3:30 ... tomorrow is going to be a l-o-n-g day!


Met up with the group down in the restaurant around 8:30 and had another wonderful breakfast. It's kind of nice not having to prepare food, clean up and do dishes. Gary and Adam are off at noon in the jeep, and Mark will pick them up from the dock in Carti. Deb said she wanted to hang around to make sure they got off okay, so Gail and I headed off to Albrook Mall. I am really getting my walking in and I love it. These women in South and Central America love their shoes, and shoe shops outnumber clothes shops easily. Found one amazing store that sold shoes made out of Columbian leather. We Hudson girls have a shoe thing, so Gail had a great time. Turned out they didn't have her size in what she wanted, but ... this mall is SO huge they actually have two stores ... so off we went to the other one. On the way to the next shoe store we found her a sundress, a couple of souvenirs, and then the perfect CFM shoes. Oooooh, red leather, ankle strap sandals and a 3 inch heel. Then they looked at me, in my beautiful peach colored Keens, and wondered if I'd want anything. Well, I did get a great deal on a pair of Tommy Hilfiger flipflops at another store. I can say this because Dennis never reads the blog and one pair of flipflops looks the same as another to him. Works for me:)


Back to the room, a couple of snacks, and then the three of us walked to the Miraflores Lock. Unfortunately, the third and fourth floors of the museum were closed for renovations, and that's where the best exhibits are. Took a taxi to the Rey Supermarket and picked up the meat and everything else we needed, since our jeep ride will pick us up at 5 a.m. Had dinner and we were off to bed early. We were all in the same room, and set our alarms for 5 minutes apart. Gail's actually had us up and going. Can you believe that 3 women can get showered and dressed in less than 45 minutes? We did. Gave Gail a Stugeron and put her in the front seat, since she's had motion sickness forever. Wasn't quite the wild jeep ride that we had on the way, but we were all glad to get out at the river before Carti. We're going to arrange a flight back from Nargana for Gail, which actually works out better all the way around, so that we can make a circle instead of doubling back.

Dennis, Gary, Gail, Deb and Adam at the East Lemmons

Gail at the Helm

With a Starfish

Found a panga to drop us off at Sea Cycle, since Eulogio was nowhere to be found. Deb was thrilled because Gail's first ever sail was on Sea Cycle. We've decided we'll make her an honorary sister :) Mark took us all down to the East Lemmons, with a lot of tacking and some motoring. Of course, the wind was on the nose! Got Gail settled on the boat, went for a swim, cracked open some wine and sat back and caught up. Tuesday morning we went to shore and looked at molas. Gail, Gary and Adam all picked up some beautiful molas and other good stuff. Gail is only on the boat for 4 days :( so we picked up anchor and headed down to the Swimming Pool in the Hollandes. Had Gail behind the helm and she did a great job. After we anchored, Victor came out to collect the customary anchoring fee, but it worked out to our advantage for a change. We told him we'd be in the next day to look at molas (they certainly weren't as nice as the East Lemmons), and while Gail bought one, Victor gave us avocados and mangos ... and they were all really, really good. The wind has really been high, but the sun is out, so we splashed our way around the little islands, and actually got some snorkelling in. Gail was a little panicky the first time, but by the time we went down to Green Island, she wanted to try it again and was much calmer. Dennis, as usual, put bait out in the Pool, and we ended up catching a fish. He told Gail it was all hers to bring in. I wish I had the "Dennis Coon, get your ass up here and help me" on video! It was an edible fish, a yellowfin jack, but we'd all had a little too much to drink to bring it in and filet it, so it gets to swim on!

The Hudson girls snorkel

After breakfast and the local nets on Thursday we headed off to Green Island to visit Katrina, who makes beautiful jewelry out of the tagua nut. The seas were unbeliveably high in the channel, so Gail was quite proud of herself that she was handling 8-10 ft seas -- kind of. We let her take the helm again, which helps, until we got into the lee of the West Coco Banderos, and then the seas settled down.

Watching Dennis clean lobster

Anchored in 'our spot' and went over to see Katrina. They were having lunch when we pulled up to the boat, so we went into Green Island and walked around. Didn't tell Gail about the croc that hangs out there sometimes, but I sure was looking around. Picked up a couple of sea beans and urchins for her to take back home. Back to Katrina and her beautiful jewelry. Gail bought some and so did I! Had lunch, and then sailed down to Nargana for her to catch the plane Friday morning.

Buying molas

 Our only complaint about her visit was that it wasn't long enough. We had a lot of laughs (she really has to stop laughing at Dennis' jokes and stories, because it just encourages him!), and a few tears. I've missed my sister and it was so amazing and wonderful to have her visit us here, see our lifestyle, and get to know Dennis.


Of course, the plane was late, but off she went. See you soon, Gail. We both love you and miss you.


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