Passage to San Blas Islands near Panama Canal
Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Sun 5 Feb 2012 14:53
Passage to San Blas Islands near Panama Canal
Day 4 on the 5 February 2012
We left Bonaire at 09.30 (local time), on the 2 February, heading for the San Blas Islands near Colon and the Panama Canal.
>From 12.00 (local time) on the 4 Feb, to Noon on the 5 February 2012, distance travelled Noon to Noon run was 184 miles (log 12279)
24 hour sailing report
The wind speed varied from 29 knots up to 35 knots during the last 24 hours, with gusts up to 45 knots. The wave height is 2.5 to 3.5 m with more than the occasional wave peaking up to 5 m.
We are now running down the 1000 m contour to avoid any wave build up nearer to the shore and to keep a safe distance from main land Venezuela and Colombia.
We have had excellent sailing so far just under genoa alone.
The sea has now lived up to its reputation and we have had some very wild seas.
The wind is forecast to drop down in wind speed to about 14 to 20 knots with a reduction in wave height also.
We are now sailing in company with Karacool (the 53 foot CAT) who left at the same time as us. They are at present 87 miles ahead of us
Two other boats, Marite 111 (40 feet) and Camelot (53 feet) left a day later, i.e. they started on the 3rd. Marite 111 is 155 miles behind and Camelot is 120 miles behind.
We have about 180 miles to go, so it looks like we will have to stand off for part of the night before entering the islands, as there are lots of coral heads around these islands and they are best approached during day light
More news on the next noon report.
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