Panama Departure

Hi everyone,
At 1200 today we were at 09 51N 079 42W steering 345M, sailng under full main and single-furled yankee at 4.5 knots.  It is sunny with scattered cumulus clouds.  The wind was 08G12 from the NE.  Our run since departure at 0830 this morning was 16nm (by the log).

Panama in our wake

Yesterday we cleared out from Panama.  It turned out to be an all day adventure.  We started on the $3 two hour bus from Linton Bay to Sabanitas at 0600.  From Sabanitas we took a $5 taxi into Colon to the Customs office.  They gave us a strange looking Zarpe (ship clearance) which turned out to be only a 'permission to issue a Zarpe'.

From Customs we taxied to the Immigration office at the Cruise Ship terminal in Colon.  They told us we had to go to the Protobelo Immigation office.  So we taxied back to Sabanitas, did some last supermarket shopping, and took a $2 1.5 hour bus back to Portobelo.  At the Immigration office they said they could stamp our passports, but only after we get our Zarpe at the Customs office in Linton Bay.  $10 taxi to Linton Bay where we just made it before they closed at 1200 and got our Zarpe.

Another $10 taxi back to Portobelo to the Immigration and we finally got our passports stamped.  We each had to pay a $50 fine for exceeding our 90 day visa.  After a final $10 taxi back to Linton Bay we were at last good to go, and ready for a beer!

We had a nice evening at the bar with the crews of sv Triton and sv Skyfall.  And this morning they cast off our lines for us.  Our two months in Linton Bay were tedious in some respects, but we made (and renewed) some good new friends.  That included sv Asha, Avanti, Grainne Mhaol, Jetlag, LaVida, LuSea, Mac, Packific, Ruffian, Tanager, Timmies Run, Triton, Skyfall, Zelda and Zoria.

On clearing Linton Bay this morning we set our course NNW in a lightish NE breeze.  The breeze lightened and early in the afternoon started to back.  At 1415 we tacked onto port and are now heading 090 at 4.5kt.

Trust all's well where you are!