Panama - Linton Bay Marina

We arrived at Linton Bay Marina on Friday 24 June, and spent a few days washing down the boat, hi-pressure washing the teak decks, general upkeep and Jenny did the bright work. A few days later this weather system came racing across from W Africa in very low latitudes to the extent that all yachts took precautions to ensure all yachts are well tied up in the marina just incase it developed into a Tropical Storm with a big surge. At it was we had almost no wind or surge but a lot of rain. 

Meshugga

Walk-one with water, 110 and 220V electricity

Restuarant overlooking the marina

Huge Travel Lift which will lift Meshugga out 

The Marina

Fuel station

 The Linton Bay Marina Office

Nancy’s Restuarant for local food

Great pizza at the marina 

Buses run past the marina to Porto Belo, the village a half hour away and then onto Colon an hour away.

Very colorful 

We cleared into Panama, the Port Captain is located in the Marina grounds and does Customs and the Cruising Permit  

We then used a taxi to go to Immigration at Porto Belo. The taxi charged $25 fir the ride both ways and waited whilst we did Immigration which took at least a half hour. Lots of copies of all documents were needed  

Bahamas - Acklins Island to Panama - Linton Bay

A good weather window was forecast on all platforms and so we planned for an early Sunday morning departure. By 7am, the anchor was up, sails up, and we sailed from the southern tip of Acklins Island, hard on the light breeze trying to egg out as much easting as possible. Early afternoon the wind went north east as predicted and sailing became a pleasure with a beam / aft of the beam reach.

Leaving Acklins, the old abandoned Lighthouse still standing proud.

Great sailing, even though we had to keep in the Traffic Zone as we passed between Cuba and Hispanolia.

We hit the light spot (blue winds) and started the motors when we slowed to 3 knots. Luckily it was only a few hours and we were through it and into the Trade Winds. 

As we went through the light winds we had a Turtle Dove come aboard. He was exhausted and although skittish found a spot to perch, and if we disturbed him he would fly off Meshugga, round and come back aboard.

From there it was fabulous sailing with constant 15 knots apparent winds and seas of about 3m swell, with a long distance between crests.

We had many Ships pass us, all seen on AIS up to about 30 miles away, and some crossing or passing about 2 miles away. One was closer and I snapped this shot.

Our Dove stayed with us,

On the 4th day, he came inside

We arrived in Panama on Friday morning. 900 miles in 5 days. We had anticipated our arrival and were happy that we’d arrive at first light, but on closing the bay and islands we found it was still pitch dark - We had forgotten that we changed Time Zones and instead of 6am with lightening skies, it was 5am and total darkness. And then it began to rain with a Torrential downpour lasting about 2 hours. We entered the Bay on our Electronic Charts, not being able to ‘see’ the islands both due to darkness and then later a whiteout of rain.

Once the rain eased and daylight we saw that the water was disgustingly brown.

Our Dove did a few wing stretches and peered out of the window, giving us a wonderful Coo Cooing

He was ready to leave, but not the brightest, he kept flying towards our Salon windows. Nicholas gently caught him and put him into the Cockpit so that he could leave when ready.

Saying Goodbye to me!

Hello Panama. 🇵🇦 ⛵️

  

Bahamas - Cat Island, Beached Yacht

We were going slower and slower, so deemed it time to scrape off the barnacles and growth on our hulls. Quite a mammoth task. We’ve found it easier and quicker to beach Meshugga, rather than diving on the hulls.

Nicholas selected a beach at Old Bight on Cat Island which had a fairly steep sandy slope, and on Monday we went aground on the 7am High Tide, having carefully checked that the evening tide would be even higher making it easy to get off the bank.

A few photos of Meshugga beached

 

Nicholas and I were quite ‘Blue’ by the end of our work diving on the Skegs, Rudders and Props. Jenny helped us with the above water sections and cleaning out all our water outlets.

Bahamas - Cat Island, Exploring the Island

It was Great to meet up with Brad and Johanna of Selah whom we’d not seen since July last year, when we visited them at their home up the Wilmington River, Savanah. We had a great evening of drinks and freshly caught Tuna which Brad caught on their way over from Exumas to Cat Island.

Johanna, me and Jenny

Brad BBQing the Tuna Fillets on his ‘Egg’ aboard Selah

Brad and Nicholas

Nicholas and Johanna

Excellent meal of Tuna Fillets, Asian Slaw, Baby Potatoes, Grains, followed by Blue Berry Pie

We agreed to go Sight Seeing the next day. We anchored the dinghies on beach and walked about 200m to a Gas Station who rented vehicles. 10 minutes later we were all set to start our adventure

Map of Cat Island. We are anchored in New Bight, in the northern part of the big curve on the lower section of the map.

Ruins of a Church right next to the Gas Station

My new Hat

We went to look at the Government Dock, and found pubs open and the Dock empty of the Mailboat.

Bennet Harbour, where we anchored the two nights prior, was a charming Resort 

Lovely accommodation overlooking the sea was being renovated

Not much to stop and look at and driving north for 2 hours, was mostly sightseeing through the car windows

Beer-o-Clock, we went down a road to the beach to find a Bar and found a real quaint place but is was closed!

Low Hanging Fruit

Our trusty Steed

Almost at the northern most point we found Kizzeys Cafe, OPEN, and stopped for Drinks and Lunch, wiling away more than 3 hours shooting the breeze between us and with Roscoe, a local who was helping out Kizzey.

Stunning Mobile, made locally from Sea Fan and Shells

Roscoe

Nicholas and Brad enjoying a few games of Pool

Amazing views, right on the beach

Roadside Fruit and Art Vendor

Our last exploration was to Como Hill and the Monastery on the summit

The start of the walk

The Stations of the Cross are on either side of the steep path up to the summit. We all arrived at the summit rather out of breath.

Father Josephs Crib

Inside the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, it is tiny with 1 pew

A warren of passages leads to the Kitchen and Sleeping quarters

The Kitchen and Hearth

Father Joseph was apparently diminutive, and the entire scale of the Monastery is small with low ceilings everywhere

We took the easy walk down the grassed drive, photos at the Mount Alverin Gateway

We returned our vehicle and all retired to our yachts for an early night.

Next day, Selah was moving on north on their journey back to Savannah, and came round to say Bye. We hope to meet up with Brad and Johanna next year in Bahamas or somewhere