sv evi

01/20/2007

Hope all is well where you are. We are currently anchored in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador and drinking liter bottles of cold beer for a buck. The passage from Panama City was safe, fast, fun and plentyful with fresh fish.

After spending the past 6 weeks in Panama we picked up brother Brian from Seattle at the airport, provisioned and with xmas and new years behind us, sporting a new mohawk, set sail facing the 600nm passage south across the equator.

Isla Parida, Panama – 11/20/2006 – 11/24/2006

Islas Secas, Panama – 11/25/2006 – 11/28/2006

Daily Commute

Crowd Free Surfing

Ecuador Arrival

Here’s to the Equator

Boca Chica, Panama – 11/29/2006 – 12/08/2006

Islita

Sunken Treasure

Bahia Honda, Panama – 12/11/2006 – 12/15/2006

Arco Iris

Bahia Benao, Panama – 12/17/2006 – 12/22/2006

High Tide Plastic

7.5 knots at the start gave us a 24-hour run for 160nmiles, 100% by sails. That is a new record for Guava. Along the way, it was impossible not to catch fish. Soon after departure for Isla de Contadora in Las Perlas archipelego, exactly as Cort requested, we landed a delicious sierra. It was a keeper but with 3 on board we set the line for another and while panning out line we hooked another sierra. Incidently Cort, with an eerie success rate, predicts not only a fish but the type and size. Think of the Pacific as a giant seafood menu.

The remainder of the trip went without a hitch, sailing a majority of the way and eating fresh fish for breakfast and dinner (we landed a 20+ lb dorado). Celebrating at the equator with champagne and an unannounced man-overboard drill. Fortunately, I was safely back in Guava in under 10 minutes and kudos to Bri and Cort for there diligent work. Special merit badge goes to my mate Cort who directed the crew, didn’t panic and turned Guava around, UNDER SAIL, and plucked me from 10,000 ft deep water!!

Balboa – 12/26/2006 – 01/01/2007

The 2 hour passage across the Panama Canal entrance was without a hitch tho we did land a delicious sierra while sailing…..of course. The sight of dozens of tankers anchored all about looked like some post apocalyptic ocean graveyard. I guess the wait was long for the holidays?

Our 2nd day in town we finally were dealt our storm……so to speak. While eating in a restaurant, 3 booths inside from the front door, a thief grabbed Corts purse from between us on the table and ran. I blitzed to the door, in my flip-flops, and chased the 6ft 5, lanky dude into the busy sidewalk, knocking over people. It was a downpour and the streets were like a flowing river. Running completely out of my sandals i chased him thru dilapidated apartment buildings, across busy streets, down alleys, in front of buses and into another building blocks away. Hollow-eyed people stared at me while i yelled and cursed, having lost him here after many blocks of pursuit. Then the police arrived. They were determined to help but a little too late. Somewhat lost i returned to find Courtney in my path.

At least we were safe and unharmed. The chase alone could have killed me. Walking the streets of latin american countries is most dangerous, not from the criminals, but the potential to step off a 3 foot sidewalk, fall in a manhole with no cover or step on a piece of rebar randomly sticking 8inches out of the cement. amazingly none of this came into my path. And what if i caught him in a scary building without shoes on his turf. I hadnt thought of these things while in pursuit.

We were escorted by the police to the station to make a report and identify suspects. There were dozens of people rounded up in this small cement building and very little communication among the officials. At this point we were willing to get back to Guava and accept our loss. Some cash, a digital camera (full of irreplaceable fotos) and Courtneys recipe/journal (irreplaceable). Again…we were safe.

The next day, with a report that they may have the thief and our camera, we started two eternal days, making statements and trips to the station. Bureaucracy, understaffed, under-qualified personnel (welcome to Panama)and finally here is your camera. But wait…you need to make another report to the value of the goods. Three people need to make this statement. Bri, Cort and I should be sufficient but they require you to be fluent in spanish. Finally with help from other people in the station we received the camera, but of course the journal and money were not located. We think the difficulty in returning the camera was that they had never caught anyone and didnt have a protocol for returning goods.

Bro Brian arrived from Seattle, pale, out of a snowstorm with a load of boat goodies. Books, movies, magazines, some requested official papers, and a fifth of bourbon…..the good stuff, Woodford Reserve. Welcome family and friends.

A couple of days of visiting old town, provisioning and officially checking out of Panama and we were off to Las Perlas Archipelago to stage for the passage to Ecuador.

Oh yeah……new years came and went.

Isla Contadora, Panama – 01/01/2007 – 01/03/2007

A 40nm run from the city to Las Perlas in a good wind we had a tricky anchoring at dusk. Saw our friends Scholarship and Creola and toured the island bought ice and rested before the long passage. The wind was brisk for our 5pm departure to Ecuador.

Now south of the equator, we plan on a few weeks travelling, surfing, etc. and then off across the Pacific to New Zealand…….first stop…..the Galapagos.

Abrazos y Besos