Travel letter 12 – April 17, 2007

Above: Windward from Cuba to GC

31.3.07: Hello all you 8 to 4 workers back home!

Who is Sandra? She is a diving instructor from Canada living in St. Vincent. She knows everything about sailing. She is a “yes-girl” who even knows how to fish, make sushi and bake bread. 7 pm and the sun is still up, unlike Sandra’s native St. Vincent, where it would already be dark… so, it must still be Happy Hour! Seems Sandra also prefer the native cerveza with the name FUERTE over the much coveted (elsewhere) Heineken. First come, first served, she says. Will be an easy passage to Grand Cayman, weather is fair, seas moderate, and each of us comfortable with the other. Arrival time is estimated to be between 7 and 8 in the morning.

Gran Cayman: Arrival in North Sound 2.4.07 at 0800 am. Instead of walking 4 minutes the customs required us a 2h roundabout to the west side of the island. Initially fed up – but they did us a favor because later it was clear that the marina was to shallow despite info from the manager who never(?) listened to ch 16. Our neighbours at the (far from tax free) anchorage were 4 cruise ships – 2 Norwegians (wonder if we should take down our flag) – blue hair and all the tax free rest. At least most of the 6000 passengers had dinner onboard. Accounts checked.

Above left: Graig and Steff                      Above right: Erik wirh his Tuna
with "their" Vahoo

5.4.07: Isla de Providencialis: After passing the shallow ship cemeteries (Thunder Knoll, Rosalind Bank) we finally reached this Columbian primitive island with friendly people. A lot of heavily armed military (Nicaragua has claimed the island). No police, no customs – so not possible to check in or out. Practical! We climbed the 6590 ft. mountain in 38 d. C.

7.4.07: St Andre: A luxury coke-and FARC-free resort island for rich Columbians. Whatever you do – go to the east of the little island in the entrance – we did not. A party island – no more. Recommended for Barvegians! Two days to the canal – little wind – big thunderstorms. Mostly a Volvo Penta passage.

9.4.07: Arrived Shelter Bay midnight tru the brakewater – counted 32 ships with AIS. Shelter lights not working – but the plotter was fairly accurate just here. My God we are great navigators!
Colon: Quote the guide book: “It is not safe to walk anywhere, anytime”. Guess what we did?
Christobal: The Rambo track in the former US Marines jungle training camp is highly recommended.

The Panama Canal: Normal price: $ 600.- - (2 - 4 weeks waiting). Agent price with fenders and linehandlers: $ 2200.- (2 weeks max). Special price for you my friend: $ 4 500.- (tomorrow= manana=4days). Thanks heaven - my credit card accepted it. Got on board the pilot and three local linehandlers – very nice gang. We transited the canal “nested” in two days with a stopover anchored in Gatun Lake. Piece of cake – don’t listen to the guide books telling you how difficult and dangerous the transit is. Just be friend with your VISA or AmEx and keep at least 30 ft distance when you swim with the crocs in the lake.

No - it,s not timber. It,s the croc in Gatun Lake. 45 minutes after our morning swim

Just out of the canal at the Pacific side. Sandra and the linehandlers, ready to drop a silver dime under the bridge. Brings luck!

Arrived Amador 14.4.07: Here Froia II is going on hard stand with usual maintenance and repair of all the things the dealer did not do. Rudder is to be taken off – slack in the bearings. Rust on the keel bolts. Did you say new boat? Yes - believe it or not. Good bye to Sandra.

At hard stand in Amador. Barvegians: We could’nt get any closer.

25.4.07: Panama City: Here I had several friends of friends and life was pleasant and easy. Lot of planning and organizing for the dock work. Leaving tomorrow. Flying tru Madrid and home.

Above: Nested at Miraflores

Above: Tuna fishing boat from St. Vincent