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"