Santa Marta to Puerto Obaldia Passage Summary

Hi everyone,

We arrived in Puerto Obaldia, Panama at 1730 last night, 15 minutes before sunset.  It was a great passage with good winds throughout.

Panama Ho!

Here are the usual plots...

Overall Track

Arrival Detail

Graphs

Our track took us past the mouth of the Magdelena River.  We stayed 12nm off the coast there.  We continued west until north of a projected S-flowing current.  We gybed there and made good progress south.  First however we had adverse current but positive current appeared and pushed us south all the way.  The wind varied as we progressed south so reefs came out and went back in several times.  We motored the last few miles as the wind gradually died.

Here are the vital statistics...

• Distances/Speeds
• Route Distance = 293nm
• Log Distance = 297nm
• Track Distance = 297nm
• Duration = 2 days 6 hours (54 hours)
• Average boat speed = 5.5kt
• Average ground speed = 5.5kt
• Average day's run = 134nm (through the water)
• Best day's run = 134nm (5.5 kt)
• Minimum boat speed = 4 kt
• Maximum boat speed = 7 kt
• Weather
• Minimum wind speed = 4 kt
• Average wind speed = 15 knots
• Maximum wind speed = 31kt
• Apparent wind angle range = 100 to 170
• Seas up to 2.5m
• Swell negligible
• Mostly sunny with a few small cumulus.  A couple of light showers.
• Engine
• Total = 2 hours
• Failures
• None
• Stars
• The boat!
• Starlink for accessing GRIB files and email
• SailnSea SailingGen hydro generator
• Icom IC-7300 SSB for 12 hourly position reporting net with friends

The Puerto Obaldia anchorage provided good holding in 9m over silty mud.  Overnight a couple of rainstorms came through and we stayed put.  At other times however the wind dropped out and we were left rolling heavily beam-on to the seas.  Not much fun!

Zen Again at Puerto Obaldia

View from the Police Jetty

This morning sv Cerulean and sv Avanti arrived and anchored nearby.  We went ashore in our dinghy and visited the police, immigration, maritime administration and back to the police.  At the end of that, and US$260 poorer, we were cleared in to Panama for 3 months with a cruising permit for the whole country.

We had a quick look around the town.  It's very much a border town with many government offices and substantial police presence.  But everyone was friendly despite our limited Spanish.  We found hardware, clothes and general stores.

Back on Zen Again we hoisted the dinghy aboard and weighed anchor.  We didn't want to spend another night in that anchorage!  3 1/2 hours later we were in Puerto Oscoses, about 20nm west.  This is a very nice bay with calm seas.  Anchored in 8m over silty mud at 08 49.7N 077 38.0W.

Motoring west along the coast

In Panama!

There was very little wind so we motored along the coast.  Very jungly!

Overall Route

Arrival Detail

Graphs

Puerto Escoses

From here we expect to travel westward through the San Blas islands.  But first, a good night's sleep!

Panama Inbound

Hi everyone,
At 1200 today we were at 09 02N 77 05W steering 240M, sailng under double-furled main and single-furled yankee at 5.5 knots.  Happily we have about 0.5kt current with us.  It is sunny with small cumulus clouds.  The wind is 12G15 from the NNE.  Our noon to noon run was again 134nm (by the log).

Sunset Yesterday

Mid afternoon yesterday we rehoisted a double-reefed main as the wind gradually eased.  In the early evening that continued and we shook out a reef.  We had a few light rain showers later in the evening but the wind held in at 12G16 from the NE.  We had about 4/8 cloud.

In the small hours of the morning the wind started increasing and the second reef went back in the main.  The skies cleared and we enjoyed another great starscape.

At 0700 we again ran the Escapee SSB Net with four boats taking part. Cerulean was about 35nm behind us and trying to slow down so as to arrive at dawn tomorrow.  Meanwhile we hope to get in this evening, hopefully before last light.  If not we may heave-to off the port.

At 0900 this morning we gybed to head SW towards Puerto Obildia.  The NE wind had backed to NNE, taking us east of our route.  All the GRIB files say we shouldn't have much wind now, but it's holding in so far.  Won't last!  The current is certainly helping.  Here are the details for the last 24 hours…

Trust all's well where you are.

Colombia Outbound

Hi everyone,

We departed Santa Marta at 1130 yesterday after filling water, food and fuel for our time in eastern Panama.  We are bound towards Puerto Obildia from where we plan to cruise westward through the San Blas islands.

Dawn This Morning

At 1200 today we were at 10 58N 76 20W steering 210M and sailng under double-furled yankee only at 5.5 knots.  It is sunny with a few small cumulus clouds.  The wind is 15G20 from the NE.  Our noon to noon run was 134nm.  Here are the details…

We departed with a double-reefed main and double-furled yankee.  The wind got up to 28G34 for a short time and we doused the main.  We then sailed comfortably under yankee alone with the wind varying from 15 to 25 knots.  The sea state varied apparently independently of the wind, we think due to varying current.

Overnight we had about 2/8 cloud with thunderstorms far to the S.  The half moon was nice in the evening and after it set we had a magnificent starry sky.  Orion was overhead, the big dipper to the N and the Southern Cross to the S. During the evening we passed mouth of the River Magdelena 12nm offshore but saw no sign of debris.

We had a steady stream of cargo vessels passing by.  One we had to call to arrange separation.  Another kindly changed course for us.

Traffic!

At 0700 this morning we ran the Escapee SSB Net.  We spoke with boats in the western San Blas, in Santa Marta marina, in St Martin and in Carriacou.  The latter are over 900nm away.  Good propagation.

At 0900 we gybed S.  Currently only 150nm to go to Panama!  We're being pursued by our friends on sv Cerulean who departed Santa Marta yesterday evening.  And by a group of yachts who were planning to depart this morning.  All heading to Puerto Obildia.

Trust all's well where you are.