Day 13: The San Blas Islands to Panama – 18/01/10

We leave around 8 am, noting that most boats have already left before us.  Immediately we get beyond the reef the sea starts to get quite rough.  It’s the first time we have been on a beam reach and we average 8.5 knots. 

I decide to take a sea sick tablet just in case and settle down to a two hour repose in the salon.  When I come to we are close in to the mainland, with only a short distance to go.

Peering out from the helmsman’s seat, to my horror I see something fall from the direction of the mast but don’t hear anything actually drop onto the deck.  Mike goes to investigate and discovers that it is a tiny flying fish – he’s probably been up in the sails!

Photo:  A bit small for dinner!

We see quite a few tankers and container ships as we sail down – proof that we are nearing the Panama.

We get the sails down and motor into Portobelo.  It’s not exactly a metropolis but we see cars for the first time since St Lucia.  Civilization!  Very civilized in fact as there are wifi signals to choose from but here they are bright enough to encrypt them so we can’t get on to the internet.  That will have to wait until we are in Shelter Bay Marina tomorrow or the next day.

When we arrive, Ocean Jasper and Crazy Horse are already in.  These are two very fast yachts (Sundeer 60s) and get everywhere before most people.  It takes us three goes before the anchor sets and each time I winch it back up, it comes up covered in a gloopy, slimy mass of grey mud – yuk!

Half an hour after we arrive, Brown Eyed Girl arrives despite having left half an hour before us from Chichime.  Ha!  Beat you!!

Jim and I get the hose out and attach it to the salt water pump so that we can wash down the chain and the decks.  Mike spots some local guys who are stranded in their little boat, unable to start the engine and he and Jim get the dinghy down and go to the rescue.

I discover that the freezer isn’t working when I go to get some ice for cocktails.  I search through and find that apart from the ice cubes, it’s just some chicken that has defrosted so it’s chicken curry tonight.  Mike fiddles with the wiring and the freezer jumps back into life.  It looks like we will have to keep a closer eye on it.

Whilst making a cup of tea, Jim turns into Mr Paparazzi and snaps a picture of Mike and I having some ‘quality’ time alone on the bow!  Old people in love – how revolting!!!

Photo:  Watch where you’re putting your hands, Mike!  Jim’s about!

We have a bit of a disaster with the rice.  Trying to cut down the cooking time of brown rice we do it in the pressure cooker but it never cooks and we end up having to do it in the microwave otherwise we would be eating at midnight. 

Our midday position is:  9 deg 33 min N, 79 deg 41 min W

Distance so far:  1156 nautical miles