08.38N 079.03W Las Perlas Islands

Mojo 2
Andrew Partington
Tue 5 Jul 2011 00:36
Mojo 2 is finally moving again, Today at around 11am we sailed out from Las Brisas and made the short trip [35NM] to the Las Perlas islands off the coast of Panama.
Our first day sailing with Jane and Dean aboard could not have had a better start. With the skyscrapers of Panama City around 10 miles behind us we landed our first fish, a stripey bonito. Within minutes we had landed, a much larger, yellowfin tuna and finally a good sized mahi-mahi. We have just cooked them for dinner and they were delicious!! Our fishing fortunes seem to have changed since we hit the Pacific [and Dean arrived at the boat]. Dean and Daniel had a bit of  fishing contest but I think it ended up a draw.
We were able to sail for a good distance to the islands with the wind at around 70 degrees off our starboard bow and blowing up to 10 knots at times. We arrived in the islands around 5.30pm and are now anchored in a small bay opposite Isla Contador. Mojo 2 now sits adjacent to a coconut lined beach and just along from a small fishing village. There is no wind but already we can hear the rumbling of thunder off in the distance. I am hoping it rains tonight so I can test out my new cabin rooftop "Watermaker". I have made a PVC device to catch water and the MK 1 model looks like it will work a treat.
We were hoping to catch up with Patrick and Megan and their yacht "Night Cloud" before we left Las Brisas but unfortunately they had not made it through the canal before we had to leave. We met Patrick and Megan in Shelter Bay Marina when we were waiting to transit. They are a terrific couple from the United States who had us over for a pasta meal before we left. They also introduced us to Hereford corned beef which has added a bit of "spice to our life" Very sad to have missed them and hope they catch up to us in the Las Perlas Islands. It never ceases to amaze me at the number of wonderful people we have met since we left La Rochelle. These guys and our Aussie friends from Shelter Bay have continued that trend.
Not really sure what tomorrow will bring but none of us are really that bothered.
Andrew Partington.