Not as close as the other shark spotted snorkeling at Isla Coiba but a large shark kept pace with Ceilidh while rounding Punta Mala to enter the Gulf of Panama. Didn't know they swam on the surface with their scary back fin out of the water. Ugh. Must admit it gave me the creeps. No way am I jumping off the boat while underway. I had thought about it and actually asked Rich if I could sometime - while we were going slow and me tag along on a line. Now, no way no way. We set out from Benao about the same time as 2 other boats - Wander and Clare de Lune. Clare de Lune was quite a bit further off shore than us and going slower. They called on the radio and reported a large hammer head shark circling them. Ugh. Who would have figured? Didn't know that Panama had so many resident sharks.
So, we are now anchored on the south side of Contadora in the Perlas archipelago. Only 38 miles into Balboa, Panama City and the canal. We pulled in yesterday afternoon and slept. The trip around Punta Mala was a breeze. We were able to sail the entire way and it was actually pleasant. All the way around and into the Gulf of Panama we experienced a negative 1.7 knot current and that was actually lucky. There are times that it is a 3 knot negative current and that would just suck. So, we sailed most of the day and then the wind got too light to sail against the current and we started the engine - making slow going but heading in the right direction. Thought there would be more tanker traffic from the canal but no tankers where we were - a blessing. I had prepared a stew the day before we left for our underway dinner. I heated that and was just finishing the dishes when the wind started picking up. This is around 6:30pm or so. We turned off the engine, put out the genoa, and away we went. Then the wind built, and built some more. At 20 knots we pulled in the genoa, put up the staysail and put a reef in the main. It continued to build and stayed between 18 and 25 knots for the rest of the night and the next morning. I think it finally lightened up around 3am. While it was blowing a consistent 22/23 knots the wind waves were bunching up on the current and swell and made for some really spectacular seas. This is the first time the diesel jerry cans tied on our deck were jostled about by boarding waves and pushed down flat on the deck. They couldn't fly off but they did get pushed around. Rich plans on purchasing additional line and tying them even more securely when we get to Panama City. Ceilidh did fine and so did we, all thru the wild ride. Good news is that we were able to sail all thru this windy night and early morning at 6 + knots (with staysail and reefed main!) and even make headway on our intended path. How cool is that? So all is well and Ceilidh rocks!
Happy to be anchored and getting rested again. After sleeping most of yesterday afternoon and all last night I woke up this morning with happy energy. Good thing, too, because Ceilidh was one huge salt crystal. Rich helped and we desalted the darling all morning. She is looking spiffy again and we'll be go exploring on the island this afternoon when it gets a bit cooler. I think I'll talk Rich into having dinner out tonight! Besides, we are out of lettuce, beer, rum and very low on vodka. A breeze just started up and feels ever so refreshing. Oh, it was sadly a fish free passage. Had the lines out the entire time but none took our offered lures. Better luck between here and Panama City I hope. Take care all and love to each...
from the yin side
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