ARRIVAL INTO PORTOBELLO

JULY 14, 2014

ENTRANCE INTO PORTOBELLO, PANAMA

We left Porviner last Tuesday for Portobello. It is only 60 miles but with a late start we arrived at Green Turtle Bay as the sun began to set. This is suppose to be a calm protected anchorage. Today the waves are breaking in over the shore in this small anchorage, there will be no rest to be had at anchor here. We pulled up the anchor and headed back out into the open water as the sun set. It is only 20 miles on to Portobello but going into an unknown anchorage in the dark is not a good idea. We will slowly make our way west, staying offshore till first light, just another overnight passage to add to the books. We spent the night dodging huge container ships and freighters all coming or going into the Panama Canal less than 50 miles ahead.

As the sun rose we turned into a large calm bay surrounded by low emerald green mountains. There are many other sailboats here, some we have seen before. Time to set the anchor, have a hot shower and a nap. This afternoon we will check into Customs in Portobello.

After a light lunch we were in the dinghy heading for sh0re. The town hugs the coastline and is very poor. There are narrow streets lined by small homes and derelict buildings . The main street in town is two lanes and busy with taxi and bus traffic. We cleared in and took a taxi about 20 miles to Sabinitas, the first large town with banks, groceries and parts stores. On this first trip we loaded up the taxi with the beginning of our provisions. It may take two more trips before we will be ready to go back  in the to Blas Islands.