ARRIVAL IN THE SAN BLAS

JUNE 30, 2014

FROM THE SAN BLAS GUIDE BOOK

OUR FIRST LOOK

The first night out on our passage is the hardest. You need to sleep but you can't or you can sleep but your eyes won't close. As the long night ended the early morning hours before dawn were lit with bright flashes of lightening from a storm that shadowed us some 20 miles away. There had been a steady stream of huge freighters passing in the distance all night. They were either coming or going to the Panama Canal. As we watched on radar the storm over took us just as the sun began to rise. All morning we had low winds and light cool rain. By afternoon we were finally beginning to settle into a routine and get some rest.



The skies had cleared and bright stars littered the sky as I took watch and Rod went below. After a quick shower he was soon asleep. The sea was flat with little wind and the night was the darkest I have seen in a long while. We were 20 miles off mainland Panama but I could see no lights on shore, no passing boats. Nothing on radar or AIS, the still dark night was uncomfortable. Rod rose before 1am refreshed, checked the charts and took the helm. It was my turn for a shower and bed. 


Our final morning out the water was smooth and the air cool, there was still no other boat traffic. By 9am we began to see the beautiful islands of the San Blas. Another offshore passage was coming to an end.  Here is our first look at Porviner to check in.