January 2024 We welcomed the New Year in St Lucia with great anticipation about starting our greatest adventure with the World Arc. This organization provided a schedule and support for our fleet of 24 boats to make a 15-month circumnavigation. After a very busy week of seminars and last-minute preparations,
January 15, 2024 "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao Tzu The passage from St. Lucia to Santa Marta is about 850 nautical miles (980 statute miles). It was going to be our longest trip, and we were thrilled to be underway at
January 17, 2024 To say that we were relieved to get to Curacao after battling the elements for four and a half days, would be an understatement. How thankful we were to drop anchor in a quiet cove off the western shore of the island of Curacao! Daalboolbaai boasts a
January 19, 2024 Friday Today we motorsailed 30 nautical miles to Spaanse Water (Spanish Water) where visiting yachts must anchor in order to check in. We were glad we had waited until daylight to enter the very narrow entrance to this bay! To check in we had to take a
January 20, 2024, Saturday One of the best things about this cruising lifestyle is the opportunity to meet some pretty fabulous people! Victor Langerwerf was virtually introduced to us by Fergus, one of the W-ARC “Yellow Shirt” leaders. As Curacao’s Ocean Cruising Club Port Officer, Victor was able to
January 23, 2024 Tuesday We so enjoyed spending the day with other new boatie friends John and Marilyn (SV Faith) who were anchored next to us in Spanish Water. They had visited Curacao before and knew all the good places to walk to from the dinghy dock. After lunch at
February 3, 2024 Saturday After a rough and rolly passage, we were very grateful to be approaching Shelter Bay Marina off Limon Bay, Panama! It was very interesting to see all the boats awaiting transit through the Canal. Panama has been experiencing a record drought this year resulting in half
February 4, 2024 Sunday This afternoon we were treated to a walk through the jungle. Our tour guide, “Jungleman Carl” was very informative about the history of the area, as well as its flora and fauna. Shelter Bay Marina is located in what was once the French headquarters of the
February 6, 2024 Tuesday Our trip to Panama City was wonderful! Not only did we enjoy two scenic drives across this fascinating country, but we got to see Whitson! We were SO appreciative of him being our “mule” to bring us a new laptop, and lots of other little stuff.
February 7, 2024 Wednesday Happy Birthday, Captain! A trip to visit the Embera Indian tribe…what an unusual way to celebrate! An early bus ride took us through the interior of the country. We were dropped off at a point along the Chagres River (the river that was dammed to
February 11, 2024 Sunday Providentially, all the repairs were completed yesterday afternoon (bottom painted, weld repair and re-enforcements, electrical work with the radar and autopilot controller, hydraulic steering gasket replacement at the helm,…). This gave us a few hours to prepare for the day’s Canal transit. Each boat was
February 12, 2024 Monday After a morning shopping spree for new batteries and lunch in the cockpit, we decided that it was time for some fun! We took Whitson’s suggestion to check out the Old Town, and we were not disappointed. The area is most definitely a tourist destination.