Shelter Bay Marina, Colon
Fleck
Sun 9 Dec 2007 21:48
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Position 9:22.10N 79:57.00W
After an overnight rather rolly anchorage in
Portobello, Fleck had a wonderful downwind sail to Colon Harbour two days ago. I
had ebooked into Shelter Bay Marina, (indeed very sheltered, within the Harbour
breakwater) and just as well as the place is heaving with boats, one or two
Europeans, but mostly American, and many of them, like me, returning home
for Christmas.
Portobello is another town that played a major role
in the pillage of South American gold and wealth back to Europe after Columbus'
voyages. Indeed so important was it that the Spanish built three
fortresses for defence against Privateer Pirates, and the English, in
the person of, yet again, Francis Drake. An Island just off the Harbour is
Called Drakes Island, they probably don't know that there is another Drakes
Island in Plymouth, UK. One named after a vicious pirate and fellon, the other
after a National Hero!
Not much gold in Portobello these days. A laid
back Afro Caribbean feel, even down to the old boat boy protection racket (Mind
your dinghy for you on the dock, Captain?), that was rife on the
Antilles Islands. I declined, but did a double quick tour of the town, just in
case!
This marina is built on the site of and old
American Military Base, Jungle all around, interresting walking. It's miles to
anywhere, but a free bus to a safe part of Colon, where there are big
supermarkets with USA stuff, but reasonable prices. The trip crosses
the canal, over the locks: they are an impressive site, but in principle just
like those on the English canals. If you google panama canal you quickly find
the live webcam of Gatun Locks: the first flight up from the atlantic side of
the canal. Downtown Colon is said to be very dangerous, and I'm not thinking of
testing this out!!
I am making preparations for the Canal transit, so
that there will be no long delays when I return, as Late February / March is the
busiest month for yachts passing into the Pacific. A man: the 'Admeasurer'
came this morning with a tape measure to check the overall length to the nearest
millimetre: the cost is related to length, but as the minimum size is 50 feet,
he didn't really need to be that accurate!! I have hired an agent to do all the
work for me, a good thing with my poco poco Spanish. He handles the
paperwork and the Port Officials and will acquire extra ropes and fenders
and four Panamanians who will handle the lines and live on the boat (where??!)
during the transit. Accidents are rare, but always expensive: so it will be an
interresting experience in three months time
I've been having my first hot showers for 12 weeks,
and trying to get rid of the accumulated dead burned skin. There are also
washing machines for my sheets: well overdue in this heat and humidity.
Therefore hope to pass as human again when I step off the plane at Heathrow next
Wednesday.
That's it for now, Happy Christmas to anyone still
reading this stuff.
Richard
PS Blog restarts around 20th
feb!
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