Careening at the Yacht Club

Our new shaft arrived just in time for the spring tides and here are pictures of our first careening. (first picture is of the break in the shaft) We woke up at 4:45 in the morning and with the help of 6 other cruisers (4 dinghies, two onboard), we were dinghied down to the yacht club wall to tie up and wait for the tide to ebb. By low tide the job was completed!! Ron had planned very well, the rudder came off quite easily and the new shaft was cut with little strain, thanks to Tom's (Leonidas) great saw. John (Nakia) and Tom (Leonidas) showed up to help just in time and Terry(Secret of Life) and John (Nakia) came back to help us move off the wall when the tide lifted us off the bottom. Notice how low the bow got at low tide!! Thank you Jack (Bella Via) for suggesting that we make our rudder "quick release". We never dreamed that we would be experiencing its benefits so soon!

Banos and Cuenca, Saiananda and Bahia

Our Trip to Ecuador, Complete with Tow

The 7 and one half day crossing from Western Panama started out great--we sailed and motorsailed in the company of Sarana and Leonidas, our good friends. In the first 2.5 days we covered over 250 miles, but when we encountered the current that would set us on our way to the Galapagos, we needed to motorsail to head in the direction of Bahia Caraquez, our destination. Upon turning the engine back on, we determined we had no forward propulsion and began to fall behind our group. That was when we realized we had a problem with our prop. Later we determined that the end of the shaft had broken off. So Leonidas suggested that they begin towing us so that we could continue on our journey and get to Bahia in a timely manner. Thus began the 4+day tow (300+ miles) using a 32' Dreadnought (Leonidas), with a 10 hp Saab diesel engine and a 31' Mariah (Sarana), with a 28 hp Yanmar diesel engine. The following are pictures of the trip from the view of Batwing some while under tow: First we have Batwing sailing, then being towed by Sarana, then we have Leonidas making some adjustments, Sarana in the sunset, Leonidas sailing nearby to be close throughout the night, Sarana dropping off a jug of fuel for Leonidas to pick up in the water while towing us, and Sarana towing us at dusk.

Needless to say, we are extremely grateful to have friends like these. They are our heroes!
Kudos to Tom and Ann, Leonidas, and Eric and Sherrell, Sarana!!!!!

Doing stuff in Panama

We spent many days around the Western Panamanian islands. From eating lobster at Isla Gamez, to swimming and hiking on and around Isla Paridita, fun fun fun! Our friend Marjean joined us for 4 weeks, overlapping Erica's 3 week visit. Later just before we set sail for Ecuador, Sarana and Leonidas rendezvoused with us and we toured Isla Paridita once more for the views and for a stock of mangoes for the crossing.

More Panama

Here are more pictures of our favorite places on the islands

Western Panama

We have been enjoying the beautiful islands of Western Panama. From Isla Parida, to Isla Gamez, Cebaco, and Bahia Honda, we enjoyed the swimming fishing and comfortable climate. The following pictures illustrate our trip with friend Marjean and daughter Erica who joined us once more for 3+weeks before heading back to Colorado to begin working and adjusting to living back in the States.
Soon we will be setting sail for Ecuador 600 miles or so south of Panama ........

Golfito, Golfo Dulce

Pictures of anchorage at LandSea, trip to north end of Golfo Dulce.