Panama - Colon, Shelter Bay Marina

We sailed 80 miles from East Lemon to Colon, overnighting in a bay at Puerto Linton. Most of the way we had nice winds, sometimes a little light, but we kept moving well and only started the motors when we approached the Very Busy entrance to Colon (which is also the entrance to the Panama Canal).

These are all the ships at anchor waiting their slot for transiting the Canal. Jenny visually counted 45 ships at anchor at sea.

We headed to the northern side of the Colon Bay (where the red square is), which is Shelter Bay Marina.

We had 6 months ago, ordered from them Antifouling Paint, and we headed there to overnight in the Marina and collect our Paint.

Ducking in through one of the two entrances of the Breakwater with this Ro-Ro bearing down on us

Tied side on at shelter Bay Marina

Checking into the marina, we were surprised at the costs. 

Diesel, which we are sort of getting ready to need, $5.98 a Gallon

Berths, are not cheap either; at $2.31 per foot per night for Meshugga. That $144 just for tying up. No electricity or water either, that’s extra.

Maybe the rates are justified by this beautiful pool

Or an area where the vendors hang out, and the Live-aboard Cruisers have a BBQ on Sunday nights

Or that they have a very small Chandlery which have limited stock, and most has to be ordered (like our paint)

However, after a month in the San Blas, we treated ourselves to a dinner night out. Great meal, which I did not have to cook, and Jenny did not have to do dishes