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They are in Curacao, where they emailed me from Sarifundy's Bar - apparently a well known yachtie watering hole in Spanish Water.
Their trip from Trinidad to Bonaire was rather rough, but well worth it when they arrived. The journey from Bonaire was wonderful: hordes of flying fish and a huge whale (bigger than the boat) passed them about 40 metres away.
All is well, and they'll be setting off for the San Blas Islands in the next few days.
Finally managed to pick up the spinnaker pole - they hired a grotty old car, with no sunroof or roofrack, so they just had to tie the pole on to the roof!
On their way to the San Blas islands, having a wonderful trip. Another whale passed them - about 20 metres away. Mie is still not entirely convinced they are friendly!
They've been on the SSB radio to a Canadian called Herb (he's a weather expert) who has been predicting gales in the Caribbean.
If the Herb's predictions prove correct they'll have to change their plans and go into Cartagena in Columbia. The only problem is that they don't have any charts, so family and friends have been dispatched to find one and give them directions over the Satcom!
Herb was right!
The gales materialized, and they've had a terrible 20 hours battling it out with a sudden tropical storm, sustained winds of 50 knots, gusting up to 56. They took the sails down for a few hours just to ride it out.
Both are well, but they're heading into Cartagena to lick their wounds for a day or two.
Got into Cartagena at 22:30. It's an exceptionally difficult port to enter at night, but they managed it under radio instruction from their friends Hugh and Angela, and advice over the Satcom C from Tony Amery back in England (he had the chart!)
Hygeia acquited herself wonderfully - even in the heaviest of seas, with huge breaking rollers, she just carries on, lifts her tail end, and the sea goes whistling past her.
Having a great time in Cartagena, where they have met up with their friends Hugh and Angela on Spring Gold - they'll be going through the Panama canal together and on into the Pacific.
They are Loving Cartagena - it sounds wonderful.
They are now on their way to the San Blas Islands, and then on to the Panama Canal
They arrived today in the San Blas Islands, and called us with an update. The islands sound amazing - Kiko described them as 'way out' - fantastic white beaches, fringed with palm trees - tropical paradise.
It sounds as if they've had a pretty rough journey over the last week or so - 1000 miles of hard sailing in heavy seas. But the worst should be behind them now.
They had just been snorkeling (in the nude as far as we could tell!), in the crystal clear water, surrounded by beautiful fish and vibrant coral.
Poor things...
They just sent this report:
"We're still in the San Blas Islands.
"Needless to say we had a rather trying trip from Cartagena - 40 knots of wind the first night (force 9) and over 30 the second. But what a transformation here. We're anchored off the archetypal small sandy desert island with palm trees, surrounded by a gorgeous turquoise reef, with pelicans wheeling around and diving for fish. We spoke to a German on his third single-handed circumnavigation, and he reckons these islands are as close as one comes to paradise. I suspect he's right
"But paradise has teeth - yesterday we passed the wreck of a Hallberg-Rassy 42 which went on the reef only last week: a total loss. The Kuna Indian who came by in his canoe to swap some coconuts for some outboard fuel managed to salvage the aluminium and glass windscreen unit (as on our boat) and has incorporated it into his cabin. He now has the only opening glass window in this part of the islands!!!
"We are sailing with Spring Gold, an OCC boat that we met in the New Year, and are having dinner with them tonight"
Still in the San Blas Islands, they have spent the day snorkelling in the clear warm water, relaxing and enjoying themselves (well it is Valentine's day after all...)
They leave for the Panama Canal tomorrow.
"We are in yet another gorgeous anchorage - the surf is crashing on the reef, but we're calm and protected.
"The San Blas are a sort of reservation for the indigenous Kuna Indians - charming and gentle people. They exist by fishing and selling their 'molas' to the tourists - very beautiful embroideries. We have a boat full of them, so you'll see them in due course. They are not at all pushy - a contrast to the boat people in the Caribbean.
"We leave for Isla Grande today, and should reach the canal tomorrow"
We are sitting in the Panama Yacht Club, which is surrounded by a high wall and armed guards. It is too dangerous in Colon (!) for us to venture into town.
We are due to have the boat measured tomorrow - the official process that gives one access to the canal.
"We now have a definite date for our transit - we leave at 0800 on Tuesday morning and will transit the first three locks and spend the night on Gatun Lake. We will then set off through the Galliard cut to Pedro Miguel lock and will go through Miraflores Lock on Wed pm. We should know a precise time on Tuesday.
"We have got our car tyres [I assume these are to protect the sides of the boat!] and are stocking up on fuel for the next leg; we will finish off our provisioning this afternoon."
"We left at 0530 this morning to meet the pilot at 0600, but he never showed! When I rang they were unapologetic. We had three line-handlers on board, and food for 2 days so it was a bit of a pain.
"I eventually met and spoke to the American who runs the whole show. He was extremely helpful and apologetic, and is expediting our passage on Thursday am - he's given me his direct number so I can ring him tomorrow to check all is in order."
We got a picture of them going through the Miraflores lock this evening (16:20 local time) - take a look!
"We've now spent a couple of days in Balboa on a mooring: there's a water-taxi to take us ashore, but as in Colon (appropriately named) you cannot venture out unless in a taxi, due to the major risk of mugging.
"It was great to get through the canal, but very stressful; we had a rather cocky and incompetent pilot/advisor who made life difficult, and very nearly caused a major incident in the last lock through not accepting our advice. The problem is the amount of turbulence when 6 million gallons of water flood into the lock, and the massive turbulence when the ship only 30 metres ahead starts her props turning. The problems are even worse in the outer locks where salt water mixes with fresh.
"Anyway, we're now getting ready for the Pacific, and will leave for Galapagos as soon as David arrives."