MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SAN BLAS ISLANDS loo

Rich, Emilie, Issy and Max wish all our followers a Merry Cristmas from Sunday Island

We awoke in Cartagena on 21 December, enjoyed a coffee and breakfast before Rich headed to the fuel station to top up on outboard fuel while Emilie secured the boat for sea. We departed Cartagena at 0800 and motored down the magnificent harbour enjoying the scenery of old forts and beach huts with the city skyline in the background. Cartagena is a very busy port, with two container terminals, two LNG terminals, and numerous other ports within the harbour.

After reaching port limits we continued to motor as the wind was light, and finally managed to set sail in the afternoon as the winds increased to 12 kts. By midnight the wind was gusting 24 kts, but we were experincing a 2kt counter current making our progress towards the San Blas islands slower than expected. We continued to experiance a 2kt counter current until our arrival in the San Blas the following evening.

Normally you must clear in through immigration in San Blas (Panama) on the island of Porvenir, however on our approach to San Blas eastern islands we still had another four hours of sailing remaining, and the sun was getting low, so we made the decision to divert to Banedup Island for the night. We approached Banedup after sunset with great caution, and anchored amongst the tropical islands. The next morning waking up in paradise.

We then sailed to Porvenir to officially check into Panama, before sailing to Chichine Cays. We found checking into Panama in Porvenir astoundingly easy, probably the most relaxed (no shoes required) and fastest check in we have ever experianced! Once anchored at Chichine Cays all the toys came out. We inflated the big zodiac tender, pumped up the sups, put the sails on Tidler, and bought out the snokling gear.

After an enjoyble lunch featuring bread made by Max, We spent the afternoon sailing Tidler around the tropical islands of Chichine Cays, then snorkliing in the tropical waters! On a sad note is the amount of plastic that is floating through the islands, bought in from Atlantic currents and swell. It is good to see the local islanders do as much as they can to keep their islands and beaches clean, but the plastic just keeps on comming!

Tomorrow we wil sail five miles to the island of Yansaladup where there are a few more yachts anchored and we hope to find a few other families to celebrate our Christmas day.

Best Wishes to you All