Wednesday 30th January
We have now landed in Colon after 8 days at sea!!
We arrived in with an Australian 57ft-er (Storyteller) and an American 53 ft-er. Rob had to let off a white anti-collision flare at around 4 this morning. A large cruise ship was coming in to less than 1 mile from our stern and not replying on radio. The watch officer, Scottish, came on then and changed course. I'm sure he was annoyed as that incident has to go into his log, and I'm also sure there would have been passengers saying I saw a flare over there for the next few hours.I've just heard another WARC boat contacting a merchant vessel for the same reason. Getting too close to land here! It was lovely to have a hot, stationary shower here at the marina upon arrival - the showers are about the best thing about this place! The marina is nice enough, but there is nothing else here. We are going to take the public bus into the nearest town in the morning to check it out - it is apparently safe!!
We are not sure what is happening about our Panama canal crossing. We were supposed to be travelling through in 3 groups on the 2nd, 4th and 6th but the port authorities have changed their minds, so there are no set plans. We may be heading through as early as tomorrow though. It takes about 1 day, but we may have to stop overnight in a lake along the way.
Welcome to the BlueFlyer blog...here Hugh and the crew will endeavor to keep you up-to-date as BlueFlyer sails around the world for a second time! This time Melbourne to South Africa, then Brazil, through the Panama Canal, through the Pacific Islands and back to Melbourne.
What's this blog about...?
- The BlueFlyer adventure
- This is the blog of Hugh's second round-the-world sail on BlueFlyer, a 49ft Jeanneau. The first trip took Hugh and Val from Dublin to Melbourne in 2007-08. This trip will take Hugh and his crew from Melbourne to South Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and the Pacific Islands, and back to Melbourne again. Check out all the latest happenings on board as Hugh navigates his way around the world!
Previous entries
Some BlueFlyer Shots
2 comments:
I am so delighted that you have finally reached Panama/ Colon ! Enjoy the safe feeling of solid earth beneath you - not so sure here - storm foce winds 2night &
2moro...force 9/11 with gusts of already @ 130m/PHR
Temps for next 2 or 3 days is 2/4degrees with sleet/snow widespread 2moro! Does that make you feel good in a lovely warm climate!? Hope your all well & enjoy !!!
Maggie x
Hi y'all,
great to see that you are all on terra firma in Colon, the free trade zone. (I'm sure tha JR had some fun with word plays on that name linking it up with irrigation I'm sure). It is an unusual name for a city, but it could well be named after that famous Italian seafarer called Cristobal Colon by their Royal Highnesses , El Rey Ferdinand and la Reina Isabella, the Moor Hunters who freed the Iberian Peninsula from Islam in the 15th century.His name in English is Christopher Columbus. Anyway JR, keep them tittering and teetering.
God bless all who sail in Blueflyer,
AOD
Post a Comment