| Lat | Lon | Boat name | Note | Created at ▲ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24º 13.998' N | 110º 31.002' W | Nirvana | almost 10 years ago | Show | |
| 20º 40.002' N | 105º 17.4' W | Nirvana | over 9 years ago | Show | |
| 20º 40.668' N | 105º 22.212' W | Nirvana | Greetings all, This morning we left Marina Vallarta after a glorious, fun-filled 10 day shore vacation at Harry and Cindy's casa in downtown Puerto Vallarta. We ate too much, drank too much, saw many new things and spent time with a number of friends on New Year's Eve and Day as well as with Harry and Cindy when they arrived on the 1st. Back to sailing, reasonable meals and travels south in a few days when the weather is favorable. Hasta luego, B&S | over 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 34.992' N | 105º 7.842' W | Nirvana | This morning we are anchored in Chemala, Jalisco, Mexico, about 100 miles south of Puerto Vallarta. Air Temp 80F, Water Temp 80F, Sunny, Clear and Un Dia Bonito! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 16.998' N | 104º 49.998' E | Nirvana | GREETINGS. WE'VE MOVED AND ARE ANCHORED IN TENACATITA BAY, ABOUT 12 NM NORTH OF BARRA DE NAVIDAD. IT BEGAN RAINING HERE LAST NIGHT AND IS RAINING THIS MORNING, SO NIRVANA HAS HAD A NICE FRESH WATER WASH! ALL IS GOOD | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 34.992' N | 105º 7.842' W | Nirvana | We've moved! We're hanging on the hook in Cuate Comaste, about 5 nautical miles from Barra de Navidad, with Alcyone and Lovely Rita. All's good on Nirvana!!! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 10.998' N | 104º 40.998' W | Nirvana | We're in the Barra de Navidad Marina for a few days! Wash the boat, wash some clothes, reprovision (replenish our beer supply!), and enjoy the pool!! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 13.8' N | 104º 43.8' W | Nirvana | We've left that Barra de Navidad marina and are back on the hook in the "Secret Anchorage" - that everyone knows about...Cuate Comaste. We'll hang here for a day or two, and then move south to Bahia de Santiago nearby Manzanillo for a few days. All's good on Nirvana!!! | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 19º 6.0' N | 104º 22.8' W | Nirvana | We're anchored in Bahia Santiago, just a couple miles from Manzanillo, the major western shipping port in Mexico. We sailed the entire passage from Cuate Comaste to Santiago...one of the best sailing days we've EVER enjoyed sailing anywhere! We'll be here until next week when we'll set sail for Zihuatenejo. Cheers, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 40.8' N | 101º 39.0' W | Nirvana | We're anchored tonight in Isla Grande, about 8 miles from Zihuatenejo. We left Bahia Santiago yesterday morning at 8am, and during our 175 mile passage had winds up to 25 knots, lumpy seas, a gorgeous full moon night with stunning formations, passed through a cold front, dolphins doing Sea World tricks along side the cockpit in the middle of the night, and several great meals from the galley! Its a beautiful sunny afternoon here in Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo. We're tidying up Nirvana which is encrusted everywhere with salt crystals from sea spray and hitting the sack to catch up on lost sleep. All is GREAT! Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 37.98' N | 101º 33.6' W | Nirvana | After spending 2-1/2 glorious days anchored in beautiful Isla Grande, we made a grueling passage - actually not...we could have towed a water skier behind Nirvana on silky seas - we are now anchored in Bahia de Zihuatenejo. It is about 89 degree F here this afternoon in 80 degree F water, clear skies and just enough of a breeze to take alleviate the intensity of the sun. We'll be here for about a week after which we'll return to Isla Grande to enjoy the beaches, the snorkeling and a spectacular anchorage before departing southbound for Acapulco. Hasta luego from Bob & Sherry aboard S/V Nirvana | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 15.6' N | 101º 3.0' W | Nirvana | Hi All! We're on the move again. We spent several great weeks in ZTown with friends from LA, and other boats, repaired a broken engine exhaust pipe, and left this morning southbound for our next major stop in Acapulco. Tonight we're anchored in a sweet little protected anchorage Papanoa, about 40 miles south of Zihuatenejo and about 80 miles from Acapulco. Great sailing day Bob & Ahwery today!!!! And to top it off, a beautiful sunset. Sailing with Alcyone and Moontide! Next major update from Acapulco, later tomorrow - unless the universe has a different plan for us! Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry S/V Nirvana | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 9.69' N | 100º 52.11' W | Nirvana | We are underway from Papanoa to Acapulco. We left at 03:45am this morning under brilliantly clear, starry skies, no moon, and only us, Moontide (another sailboat) and a bunch of shrimpers working the 120 foot depth line. All is good aboard Nirvana currently at 17 degrees 09 minutes North, and 100 degrees 51 minutes west, with light winds from the east. Cheers from Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 49.998' N | 99º 54.0' W | Nirvana | Hi All from Acapulco! We are anchored in a little nook in Isla la Roqueta which is kind of like being in Avalon on July 4th, but on steroids!!!! Great sail down today. Caught a bunch of fish at sunup, but regrettably they were all bonita, so back to the pond they all went! Acapulco is HUGE, best we can tell. Vincente, our newest best amigo is coming at 5pm to pick in his ski boat with banana floatey to do a harbor tour for the crews of Nirvana, Moontide and Alcyone. Hasta luego from your sailing troubadors, Bob & Sherry abordo Nirvana | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 51.0' N | 99º 52.998' W | Nirvana | Good morning from downtown Acapulco. We moved to the inner harbor of Acapulco this morning and are now anchored off one of the main beaches in the harbor, with a view of the entire surrounding Acapulco skyline. 85 degrees, 80% humidity, 81 degree water temperature, with a few puffy white cumulus clouds over the mountains and out on the sea horizon. All is good on Nirvana! Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 50.268' N | 99º 54.264' W | Nirvana | We moved to a guest slip in Club de Yates Acapulco! Beautiful bar, restaurant and swimming pool! We're here for one night gratis!!! Love those Cal Yacht Club reciprocal privileges instead a $3.00 US per foot per night! Hasta luego Bob and Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 16º 48.654' N | 99º 48.18' W | Nirvana | Greetings! We're outbound from Acapulco enroute to Huatulco. We are currently anchored in Bahia de Marques, just a few miles around the point from the main Acapulco harbor complex. Sunny skies, light winds, sandy beach and our newest amigo came along side in his panga as we were anchoring to offer his menu for mariscos at his restaurante en la playa! Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 9.69' N | 100º 52.11' W | Nirvana | Buenos dias, A great night, albeit with little to no wind, and relatively smooth seas. We're at 16 degrees 6 minutes north, by 98 degrees 27 minutes west. We should make Huatulco early tomorrow morning unless the wind picks up and we are able to sail, probably more slowly than if motoring. For Marnee, a meatloaf dinner evening after really tasty fish and shrimp tostados in a little palapa on the beach in Bahia de Marques yesterday afternoon before weighing anchor. All is good aboard Nirvana. Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry (in loose accompaniment with Alcyone, Permanently Temporary and Heavy Metal) | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 15º 45.81' N | 96º 7.302' W | Nirvana | Hi All, Tied up at Marina Chahue in Huatulco this morning at 8:30 local time. Great passage from Acapulco to Huatulco. Big swells, occasionally good sailing winds, motoring mostly. Lots of frolicking dolphins, hundreds of giant sea turtles, and one hitchhiker frigate bird that sat atop our mast for seven hours, decorating the boat with its droppings...one day after we washed Nirvana and was she was sparkling! Oh well. Here for a few days before sailing on to El Salvador, either or not with an enroute stop in Chiapas, the last stop in Mexico. Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 9.69' N | 100º 52.11' W | Nirvana | Greetings from NIrvana, underway from Huatulco to Puerto Madera (Chiapas), Mexico. We have crossed about 1/2 way across the Golfo de Tehuantepec since yesterday afternoon. Sunny clear day, little wind, no seas, easy night last night with nearly full moon. Should arrive Chiapas about noon on Friday 4/3. Our 1430Z (0830am local time) position was 15 degrees 52.9 minutes North by 94 degrees 29.1 minutes west. Hasta luego from Bob & Sherry on Nirvana | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 41.898' N | 92º 23.478' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Nirvana! We docked this morning in Marina Chiapas, in Puerto Chiapas, the southernmost harbor on Mexico's west coast, after crossing the Golfo de Tehuantepec, potentially one of the stormiest areas in Mexico's Pacific waters. We had a great, smooth and easy crossing after leaving Huatulco about 5pm on the 1st of April. We'll be here several days to check out of Mexico (after the Easter weekend holiday) to sail on south to Bahia del Sol in El Salvador. Hasta luego from Bob & Sherry S/V Nirvana | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 17º 9.69' N | 100º 52.11' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL FROM EL SALVADOR! WE ARE ABOUT FOUR HOURS FROM OUR DESTINATION AND LOOKING AT THE EL SALVADOR MORNING SKYLINE WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH VOLCANO-LIKE PEAKS. EASY PASSAGE FROM CHIAPAS; MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, FRIENDLY WINDS, MOSTLY SMOOTH SEAS, SAILED SOME, MOTOR-SAILED SOME. EVERYTHING IS GREAT ABOARD NIRVANA ENROUTE TO BAHIA DEL SOL, EL SALVADOR | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 13º 16.53' N | 88º 53.91' W | Nirvana | Buenas tardes! We are anchored outside the surf line off of Bahia del Sol, El Salvador awaiting slack high tide in about 5-1/2 hours so we can cross the bar into the anchorage. The sun is brilliant, the sky is clear, it is 91F in the cockpit, the water temperature is 84.2F and life is good aboard Nirvana! Our position is 13 degrees 16.53 minutes North, 88 degrees 53.91 minutes west. Time for a cerveza, a shower, short naps, and get ready to cross the (sand) bar! Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 13º 18.12' N | 88º 53.868' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Bahia del Sol, El Salvador! After four years of sailing under a Mexican Flag, we and Nirvana have entered a new country, El Salvador! We made it across the entry sandbar to Bahia del Sol just about dusk last evening, and are in the marina at Bahia del Sol. Let the next adventures begin...All is great aboard Nirvana. Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry | about 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 18.6' N | 89º 9.6' W | Nirvana | Greetings from San Ignacio/La Palma, up in the northern mountainous region of El Salvador, and about 15 miles from its border with Honduras. We (us and our bubbas Betsy and Kenny from SV Alcyone) are on an inland road trip (our second such trip) for a few days to see more of this beautiful country, its people, its countryside, culture and art. Yesterday we left Bahia del Sol and drove through downtown San Salvador (wish we'd had a dash mounted movie camera as we worked our way through Centro and its HUGE market of street vendors). We drove to San Ignacio/La Palma and checked into hotel "EntrePinos" which is in the. midst of pine forested tall peaks and lush valleys. We'll be here for a couple days visiting La Palma - known for its very trippy murals and painting throughout the small town - and the surrounding region before moving on to Suchitoto, a couple hour drive further east from here. Watch our blogsite in the next couple weeks for new updates on our El Salvador side trips (www.sailblogs.com/members/southbound). Hasta la vista, Bob and Sherry S/V Nirvana | almost 9 years ago | Show |
| 14º 30.996' N | 90º 47.286' W | Nirvana | On The Road (Trip that is) Again! Nirvana is still in Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador, but we (Bob & Sherry), along with cruising friends Kenny and Betsy (SV Alcyone) rented a car and are doing inland touring of Guatemala and probably Belize. We have been in Antigua for the last four days - what a splendorous place. Beautiful countryside, very friendly and congenial people, and a city that is bursting with extraordinary history and multi-faceted cultures. Strongly encourage all cruisers to visit Guatemala! Hasta luego from Nirvana | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 13º 15.702' N | 88º 54.702' W | Nirvana | We're back aboard Nirvana in Costa Del Sol, El Salvador after several weeks of inland touring of Guatemala (don't miss this country!!!) and El Salvador. We'll be heading for western Costa Rica and Panama in November. Cheers, Beto y Cereza | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 13º 10.86' N | 87º 54.21' W | Nirvana | Greetings,
Our position tonight is 13 degrees, 10.8 minutes North, 87 degrees, 54.2 minutes West. We are anchored in a small harbor, Amapala, El Salvador, which is located on the southern reaches of the country. This harbor is on the El Salvador portion of Golfito de Fonseca, which is co-owned by three nations - El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. We finally "escaped" Bahia Del Sol, El Salvador this morning at about 0730, when we crossed the Bocana (Sand Bar) which is the gauntlet one must cross to enter the estuary Bahia Del Sol, and then cross it again to depart - always at a slack high tide, and when the ocean swells are tolerable. As you may recall, we crossed the bar coming into El Salvador on April 8th, more than 7 months ago. NEVER did we imagine we would be here this long, even accounting for the TransPac race in July which pretty much ate the months of June and July alive. But...on the upside, we toured a great portion of El Salvador by car, surfed many of its famous surf breaks, became aggressive motorists is downtown San Salvador (now qualified to drive taxis anywhere in the country), and besides that, also toured a considerable portion of Guatemala. So, as is easy as it was to be tied to the dock for a while longer in Bahia Del Sol, it was time to "move on down the road"! One of the problems that arises when in one location for this long is that preparing the boat to leave is on a par with selling the home in which you've lived for 15 years...with a 30 day mortgage. We were on top of it this time - we thought - until last night when we had a dinner party with all our friends (five boats left this morning), when unpredicted, it began to rain. Now this is not a new phenomenon-it rains most nights-but last night was not predicted, and it didn't just rain as in a thunderstorm...no it came down in steady buckets for hours! And, because we had stuff stacked everywhere on deck without the normal coverage of our sun/rain shades, it all got soaked! And it became more humid. And it was late when we were working hard to stow, now wet, stuff, which we'd just driec out over the last couple days. At 11 pm last night - the heck with it - I'll be up at 0500 and deal with sticking stuff somewhere so we can make our date with the harbor pilot at 0645 to get off the dock and cross the bar. And we did! Five boats - we were 4th. As we headed out, the swells picked up and on several of the swells, Nirvana's bowsprit was scraping the early morning sky. And because the swells picked the nose of the boat so high (and subsequently slapped her down in the resultant trough), our radar slipped its axle above the cockpit bimini and deposited itself (fortuitously) lodged forward of the solar panels. At the Skipper's (Sherry) urging, I went forward to ensure that we still had a bowsprit and dolpin striker in place and as I wandered aft, saw the displaced radar and thought "Whaaaaattt the heck is that about!!!". So, lifevest on, tether, climbing (sort of) adroitly (only a sip of coffee thus far this morning at that point), climbing atop the bimini frame, hanging on the aft end of the boom, wrestling the radome back on its mount, retightening the allen retention screw, cable tying it in place as a precaution, clamber down, shed the safety stuff, and on to COFFEE!!!!!! After that, off 60 miles south to a new anchorage (for us) and of course, arriving in the dark (its the way we roll on Nirvana). Som here we are, headed for Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, anchored in a calm, serene anchorage tonight (no karaoke singers, no repetitive boom box music on the dock at Bahia Del Sol...just heavenly bliss). Tomorrow we'll move on...so stand by for another update from TBD tomorrow eve. Cheers from the Nav Station aboard Nirvana and Bob and Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 13º 10.5' N | 84º 14.55' W | Nirvana | Greetings All,
We have moved again. Our new position is 13 degrees, 10.5 North, 87 degrees, 41.5 West. We are anchored off a small town on the north side of Isla Manguera, pretty much smack dab in the middle of Golfo de Fonseca. It is brilliantly hot this afternoon, with cloud buildups over the mountains to the north and east. Last night about midnight - not surprisingly - we had a thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds move through our anchorage. Sherry wasn't even aware it had occurred. Two Agua de Mamas after we anchored last night put her in the v-berth early, although given that we'd arisen at about 0430 yesterday morning to cast off from Bahia del Sol, probably well earned. We'll be here tonight unless the wind comes up with any gusto, in which case we'll pick up and move to a more sheltered anchorage on the south side of the island. Currently we plan to leave here tomorrow morning about 0500 and motate on down the Nicaraguan coastline to Puesta del Sol, a marina about 50 miles south of here. A Papagayo wind event - which blows for a few days with winds from off of Lake Nicaragua out into the Pacific at 25 - 35 knots. So, we think we'll hunker down in a marina until it blows itself out, and then on to Costa Rica. All is good on Nirvana, except that my Michelada needs more ice, and my right arm is being roasted in the epic afternoon sunshine. We're overachieving on our 80-80 rule (sail only in locations where the air is warmer than 80 degrees and the water is warmer than 80 degrees); today we're running about 90-90!!! Hasta luego from B&S aboard Nirvana, where it is ... just that! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 12º 37.8' N | 87º 20.502' W | Nirvana | Late yesterday afternoon, anchored in a small bahia off the north shore of Isla Manguera, Golfo de Fonseca, we watched as the daily thunderclouds gathered themselves, soared to epic altitudes, and became angrier by the minute. As dark fell, we were treated to an epic lightening show on all sides of the boat. But...no rain, or no more than just a couple sprinkles as we sat in the cockpit, enjoying a Chicken-Feta Cheese-Lettuce salad in the cool evening air. Early to bed, as we planned a 0500 departure to head south into Nicaragua's waters and to make fast at Marina Puesta del Sol. The weather forecasts have been pretty steady about the onset of a Papagayo wind event, starting late tonight (Friday) and continuing in increasing strength through next week. To make Costa Rica, we'd have to sail through those winds (25 knots +) which kicks up the seas pretty fiercely along this chunk of the Central American coastline. But...at 0400, here came the rain - in buckets! We delayed our departure until there was enough dawn to dodge the fishing nets that are strung all about El Golfo, and headed out with the rain lashing us, and the radar clobbered in every direction with heavy showers and squalls. By the time we cleared El Golfo, the rain abated, the wind slackened and we ran blissfully down the coast about 40 miles to our destination. We had three fishing lines out, and as luck would have it, caught a very nice Sierra (excellent eating), which we quickly dispatched, fileted and put in the fridge. About that time, and just a couple miles from our navigation fix where we're to turn in to enter the estuary, here came the squalls and heavy rain. It poured buckets for another hour while we slowed our pace, and waited out the squall which was moving westerly along the shore. The rain lifted, we followed our route into the estuary, and voila, here we are in a sweet little marina in Nicaragua. It took about an hour to clear into the country - including waiting for the Migracion and Customs officials to show up, and filling out skatey eight forms and paying fees (about $80 for us and NIrvana), and we're officially in Nicaragua. We'll be here for a few days, going to try to get in some surfing, hanging at the pool, et al, before heading farther south to Costa Rica. All is good aboard Nirvana! If this report shows that we're somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean, just write it off to ineptitude on my part. I just can't seem to put the Longitude info into Farkwar to put us where we really are. Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 12º 26.37' N | 87º 14.868' W | Nirvana | Buenas tardes,
We drove to Managua, Nicaragua yesterday to pick up our replacement starter and returned to Nirvana about 7:30pm last evening. The drive to a from Managua was all in all stunning: lush green rolling countryside, dotted with smoking (no kidding!) volcanoes along our route. We took a taxi from the marina to Chinandega, about a 35 minute drive, rented a roller skate Suzuki car, and drove the 106 Km to Managua, arriving around lunchtime. While waiting for our package to clear the final customs hoops - we had Federal Express serve as our agent - we went to TGIFs (who knew?), had a swell lunch, picked up our stuff and andale! It took about 45 minutes to get the starter installed and tested out, after which it took another three hours to reassemble the rest of the cabinetry, re-install the refrigerator in its spot under the counter, and so on. To put this in perspective, we pulled the refrigerator out of its spot forward, in front of the stove, wrapped a surf board strap around the fridge, suspended a boat hook from port to starboard in the interior hand rails, and hung a come along on the boat hook pole to lift the fridge vertically. We then set it on a folding camp stool, leaving just enough room for me to wriggle under the refrigerator to its normal cavity, where I could then re-install a new starter, replace all the wooden bulkheads, route cables and hoses, lower the fridge and nuzzle it back into its spot. Voila...by 1245am, all done. Glass of wine, bite of chicken, into the sack and up at 5:30 to get ready to head south. Migracion showed up at 1000 am, we cleared the country and at 1120am were off the dock. So, just another day of EASY cruising!!! All for now from Nirvana, who is currently at 12 degrees, 25 minutes North, and 87 degrees, 13 minutes West. Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 11º 8.448' N | 86º 4.59' W | Nirvana | Buenos dias!
We are at 11 degrees, 08 minutes north, 86 degrees, 04 minutes west. We are just about to cross the imaginary extended borderline between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The seas which for the most part yesterday and until about 1 this morning are now quite lumpy and disorganized with winds between 15 and 18 knots on our port beam. We should arrive around noon today in Playas Del Cocos, Costa Rica, where we'll hang out for a spell. All is good on Nirvana! Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 33.492' N | 85º 41.97' W | Nirvana | Hi All,
We are at anchor at 10 degrees, 33 minutes North, 85 degrees, 41 minutes West, in Playas Del Cocos, Costa Rica, which is on the northwest coast of the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica. Continuing from my last position update, we had winds that ranged from 17 to 32 knots from beginning at about 0300 hours,which continued generally speaking until about two miles from our anchorage. We enjoyed an epic sail from about 4am this morning until arrival here this afternoon at about 2 pm. Now I know, many of you are wondering, "So what's that about? I thought you sailed all the time?". Well we do...but often the wind is too low to get Nirvana romping across the pond, or more often, there are winds that are sufficient in strength, but they're on the nose (which means, we're bobbing like a cork and going no where despite that we have beautiful white dacron decorations hanging from all our rigging (dacron decorations meaning sails). But today, we contributed to minimizing global emission controls and sailed without combusting ANY diesel for 12 hours. That said, we are always awed, after sailing Nirvana about 15000 miles, that we can go from here to there ut (g only the wind to get there (albeit sometimes VERY slowly - much more so than if we were to fire up Diamond Lil and head for the next place). This is our first time in Costa Rica with Nirvana, but our 2nd time in Costa Rica. The last(actually first) time was in 2004 on a 12 day surfing safari/land-based touring vacation. So...we'll tell you in a later update how its changed, and how we look at it from the perspective of mariners! All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.46' N | 85º 40.848' W | Nirvana | Greetings!
So this evening for all of you who may be plotting where we are (or aren't), this evening we are anchored in Bahia Huevos, a sweet little tranquil anchorage, not too far from Kenny and Betsy on Alcyone, our long time friends and cruising bubbas, who led us here this afternoon to take refuge from the windy,rolly anchorage in Playas del Cocos, Costa Rica. You may have read that we arrived here yesterday afternoon from Nicaragua at about 2pm. Seemingly minutes later, we're on our dinghy, made a surf landing (I know it sounds epic, but not a big deal) and headed for check into the country with the Port Captain, Immigration and Customs. But, as things would have it, we completed all but Customs (Aduana) before they closed for the day (they're a 30 minute or so taxi ride from Playa del Cocos), so off to the nearest bar for snacks and "we've survived another passage" adult beverages. With that behind us, including a very comfortable night, up this morning, back to another perilous beach dinghy landing (actually not...pretty mundane), into a taxi and off to Liberia's airport, where we finished up with Aduana. Back to town, new "chip" for the (now) Costa Rica phone, out to Nirvana, where the wind is now blowing about 20 knots in the anchorage, yanked the hook and off the Bahia Huevos! Another great day aboard Nirvana, where ... all is Nirvana!!!!! Hasta manana from Bob & Sherry aboard Nirvana. | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 24.21' N | 85º 48.942' W | Nirvana | We are at 10 degrees, 24 minutes north; 85 degrees, 48 minutes west, anchored in 20 feet or blue-green 86 degree water about an 1/8th of a mile off sandy, inviting beaches that are generally almost isolated in an anchorage by the name of El Conchal in Bahia Brasilitos. We moved here yesterday from Bahia Huevos a few miles north of Playa de Cocos where we checked into the country on Friday. We're once again buddy boating with Kenny and Betsy on Alcyone who have been in the area since late October. The waters are beautiful, remote anchorages plentiful, provisioning easy, and people friendly. We'll be in the area for about a month before we move on further south in Costa Rica and on to Panama. All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana!!!! Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 34.308' N | 85º 41.058' W | Nirvana | This morning finds us at 10 degrees, 34 minutes north, 85 degrees, 41 minutes west, in Playa Hermosa on the Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica. It occurred to me that it might be helpful to point out that we are on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, on the northwest coastline, about 5-10 miles from Liberia International Airport. This part of Costa Rica is loaded with resort hotels dotted along this stretch of coast, and its also famous for many of its surfing locations. We have been moving around various anchorages in the area, generally within a couple hours of Playa de Cocos where we first made landfall and checked into the country last Friday. All of the anchorages in which we have stayed are along side beautiful clean sandy beaches, some of which have surfable waves. Several days ago we spent a day and night in Brasilito. I took the stand up paddle board from the boat into the surf break and spent a couple hours catching and riding small waves near the beach. The waves were good enough to drop in, turn and run for a modest ride and then either sort of kick out, or mostly get rolled over as the wave broke. However, given that the water is 86 degrees and very clean, falling off is not exactly a burden. That same evening we took the dinghies to shore and went to a small restaurant and bar with about six or eight tables, excellent margueritas and superior dishes ranging from classical fajitas to delicious fish preparations ranging from mahi mahi to red snapper to grouper. After a somewhat rolly night in Brasilito, yesterday we moved a couple hours to Playa Hermosa which afforded no surf but is a sweet little setting. Still somewhat lumpy with the ocean swell that is running, but all in all quite sweet. We are cruising with Alcyone who on Saturday will go into marina Papagayo and get ready to fly back to the states for Christmas. We're going to hang around this general area, move from anchorage to anchorage, find somewhere ashore for Xmas and New Years celebrations, etc., and when they return, move farther south in Costa Rica and eventually on to Panama. Today is another beautiful day - high 86 degrees, light breezes, sunny skies, crystal clear blue-green 86 degree water. All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana. Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 35.61' N | 85º 39.048' W | Nirvana | Buenos dias! We are at 10 degrees,35 minutes North; 85 degrees, 39 minutes West.
We moved here to Playa Panama yesterday after a perilous(NOT) passage of three or so miles from Playa Hermosa. We are anchored just off another pristine beach and forested area in which are located several quiet resort hotels. The water is clean and clear and swimming is very refreshing and pleasant. This morning it is dead quiet, no wind, no swell, and clear blue skies. Kenny and Betsy on Alcyone leave us today to go into the nearby Marina Papagayo where they'll leave Alcyone for a couple weeks while in the US for Xmas and New Years. We'll be hanging on the anchor in this general area of Costa Rica while they're away, whereupon after they return we'll be soon thereafter headed south toward and ultimately to Panama. All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob & Sherry | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.496' N | 85º 39.228' W | Nirvana | Happy New Year to all from Bob & Sherry aboard Nirvana in Marina Papagayo, Costa Rica, where all is Nirvana!!! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.472' N | 85º 39.24' W | Nirvana | Greetings to all from Bob and Sherry aboard Nirvana currently in Marina Papagayo where all is Nirvana, under a brilliant blue sky, light breezes, 85 degree air and 83 degree ocean temperatures. Happy New Year! Best wishes for a bountiful and safe 2016, wherever you may be and be doing throughout 2016. Felix Ano Nuevo y Hasta Luego!!! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.748' N | 85º 39.456' W | Nirvana | Greetings All! We're back aboard Nirvana after several offboard trips over the last several weeks. Just before Christmas we left Nirvana in marina Papagayo and took a five day trip to Fort Myers, FL to be a part of our son Dustin's marriage to Sylvia on a lovely Gulf Coast beach in Naples, a truly wonderful event! We enjoyed the wedding and Christmas with Sylvia, Dustin, Sylvia's parents and her brother and his wife. Then the day after Christmas, back to Nirvana and in early January off to Rica's volcanoes/rain forests around Lake Arenal for a few days (rain forest hikes, thermal baths, etc.), and then to Guanacaste, northern Costa Rica's dry pacific forest region and home to its Sabaneros (cowboys), for a few days at a great resort. Horsebike rides, river rapids tubing, zip lining, rapelling down deep ravines, rock face climbing, hikes to idyllic waterfalls with the clearest, cleanest water imaginable, and thermal springs bathing. Oh yeah, and some great food, a few cervezas and some nightly Baja Rummy card games with Kenny and Betsy from SV Alcyone, with whom we did this traveling. So this morning, we're tidying up Nirvana, taking care of some last minute lesser boat projects, and readying to put to sea and head south for Panama. It'll take us a couple weeks with stops along the way to make our way to the southern reaches of Costa Rica and then on into Panama's pacific waters and the Las Perlas Islands. We'll keep you posted along the way. Hasta luego from Bob & Sherry aboard Nirvana where all is, after all, Nirvana! | over 8 years ago | Show |
| 10º 33.348' N | 85º 41.532' W | Nirvana | We've left the building!!! Marina Papagayo that is. And we're headed south down the pacific coast of Costa Rica and on to Panama. We'll be moving bit by bid daily...unless we stop somewhere and like it enough to hang out a day. Today's passage was about 4 miles to Playas de Coco, where after all. we can go ashore and watch the NFL playoff games. But on top of that, we've got to get our brains off the dock and onto being away from shore, so we're making certain that we, and Nirvana too, are all systems go before plunging off down the Guanacaste region coastline. So, there you have it. Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry aboard SV Nirvana, where all is, after all, Nirvana! And ps, I hope our pindrop doesn't land somewhere in the Indian Ocean instead of Costa Rica. | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 42.15' N | 83º 40.212' W | Nirvana | Our present position is 08 degrees 42.15 minutes N, 083 degrees 40.21 minutes W.
We pulled into Bahia Drake about 730PM local time, in the dark (never fun), have the hook down and are ready to flop into bed after completing our 1-1/2 day passage from Bahia Papagayo in northwestern Costa Rica. Its REALLY nice to be out of the 20-40 knot Papagayo winds! Today we did a slow drive by Quepos and Dominical where we vacationed/surfed in 2004. Costa Rica's southwestern coastline and mountains are even more glorious when viewed from the sea on a sunny day than when we were driving about in a car! We'll probably hang here in Bahia Drake for a couple days before making our way around the bend to Golfito where we'll check out of the country and move on south to Panama. Hasta Luego, Bob & Sherry | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 42.15' N | 83º 40.212' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL!
OUR CURRENT POSITION IS 08 DEGREES 37.29 MINUTES NORTH 083 DEGREES 09.21 MINUTES WEST. WE ARE ANCHORED IN FRONT OF LANDSEA, A SMALL MARINA IN GOLFITO, COSTA RICA. WE ARRIVED HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO, GOT THE HOOK DOWN AND IT VERY KINDLY BEGAN TO RAIN ON US. A TRULY WELCOME CLEANSING OF THE BOAT AND (THEORTICALLY) LIKELY TO COOL DOWN THE ENVIRONMENT. WE HAD A REALLY PLEASANT DOWNWIND MOTOR SAIL/SAIL FROM BAHIA DRAKE, BUT ONCE IN THE BAY THAT LEADS TO GOLFITO, IT WAS INTENSELY HOT IN THE AFTERNOON SUN. WE WILL CHECK OUT OF COSTA RICA HERE TOMORROW - AT LEAST THAT'S OUR CURRENT INTENTION AND HEAD FOR PANAMA. SUNDAY'S SUPERBOWL MAY HAVE A BEARING ON THIS PLAN, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT OUR FRIENDS IN PANAMA,ABOUT A DAY SAIL FROM HERE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT VIEWING POSSIBILITIES WHERE THEY ARE. SO, WITH ALL THAT SAID, ALL IS NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA!!! HASTA LUEGO, BOB & SHERRY | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.29' N | 83º 9.21' W | Nirvana | Our 0915 CST (1515Z) position was 08 degrees 23.8 minutes North 083 degrees 10.3 minutes west. We left Golfito Costa Rica this morning at 0645 local and are headed for Boca Chica or Isla Parida, with a potential overnight stop at Puerto Balsa depending on winds and way made. All is good on Nirvana this morning. Hasta luego, Beto y Cereza | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 1.2' N | 82º 54.798' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Nirvana!
At 14:08 (EST)/1908UTC) was 8 degrees 1.2 minutes North 082 degrees 54.8 minutes West. We are abeam Punta Burica which defines the border between Costa Rica and Panama. We left Golfito earlier this morning, have had a great passage thus far which winds at 11-12 knots, mild but increasingly lumpy seas as the usual afternoon winds build. We're bound for Isla Parida, but won't make it until long after sunset, so are going to look at the anchorage just around the point from our current position (Pta Balsa) and if it looks reasonable in terms of winds/waves, we'll stay there tonight and press on to Boca Chica in the early morning to arrive there in daylight and with a beneficial high tide. Lots of shallows in this part of the pond (around Boca Chica anyway). All for now from Nirvana where all is Nirvana. Hasta luego, Beto y Cereza | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 1.2' N | 82º 54.798' W | Nirvana | Greetings All,
Our present position is 08 degrees 04.6 minutes North 082 degrees 50.9 minutes West. So with the hook in the sand we can now say we are officially in Panama. Woohoo! There are only a couple knots of breeze, a mild swell kind of wrapping around the point (Burica) and almost no wind chop. The anchor's in about 25 feet of water and the stern is in about 60 feet of water. Pretty steep bottom slope here. About 300 feet the depth is 200 feet and 1/2 mile about 600-2000 feet. We don't have quite that much anchor chain, so drove in toward the beach in quickly shallowing water and at 25 feet let the anchor go. And the good news is that it stuck the first time! So, early departure tomorrow to head for Boca Chica and tag up with Alcyone (Kenny and Betsy) who have been down here for a few weeks already. All is good aboard Nirvana where all is after all, Nirvana. Hasta luego, Beto y Cereza | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 3.948' N | 82º 28.968' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL,
POSITION 08 DEGREES 3.9 MINUTES NORTH, 082 DEGREES 28.97N MINUTES WEST WELL WE'RE UNDERWAY AGAIN, BOUND FOR BOCA CHICA THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A GLORIOUS NIGHT ON THE HOOK IN PUNTA BALSA. THIS MORNING WE SAILED FOR ALMOST THREE HOURS OFF THE HOOK UNTIL THE MID-DAY WINDS DIED AND IT WAS ENGINE TIME. WE ARE SAILING/MOTORING UNDER BRILLIANT BLUE SKIES WITH PUFFY CUMULUS OFF TOWARD THE SOUTH, DEEP BLUE SEAS, 86 DEGREE OCEAN WATER TEMPERATURE, 91 DEGREES AIR TEMP, WITH ABOUT 75% HUMIDITY. WE SHOULD MAKE BOCA CHICA THIS AFTERNOON ON A RISING TIDE WHERE WE'LL ONCE AGAIN TAG UP WITH ALCYONE (KENNY AND BETSY) WHO'VE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS ALREADY. SO, LOOK FOR OUR NEXT POSITION REPORT WHEN THE HOOK'S ON THE BOTTOM LATER TODAY. CHEERS FROM NIRVANA WHERE ALL IS NIRVANA. HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 3.948' N | 82º 28.968' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL,
POSITION 08 DEGREES 05.6 MINUTES NORTH, 082 DEGREES 20.34 MINUTES WEST SO, THERE WE WERE, BOUND FOR BOCA CHICA ABOUT 15 MILES NE OF ISLA PARIDA WHICH WE HAD TO PASS AROUND, WHEN WITH NO WARNING, THE WIND PIPED UP TO 20 KNOTS +. AND WE GOT A WINDS REPORT FROM A FELLOW SAILBOAT (THE RED THREAD - OUTBOUND FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS TODAY) THAT THEY ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED WINDS JUST A LITTLE EAST OF OUR THEN POSITION, AS IN 33 KNOTS AND BUILDING. WE REACHED ALCYONE ON THE VHF AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY TOO WERE EXPERIENCING BIG WINDS IN BOCA CHICA...NONE OF THIS FORECAST, OF COURSE. SO, GIVEN THAT WE WERE WITHIN 5NM OF ISLA PARIDA'S ANCHORAGE, WE ALTERED PLANS AND ARE NOW ANCHORED IN 13 FEET OF WATER IN A SWEET LITTLE LAGOON THAT IS NOMINALLY SURROUNDED WITH SANDY BEACHES, SOME ROCKY OUTCROPS, AND PALM TREES GALORE ON ALL SIDES. OH DARN, WE HAD TO PUT IN HERE...OH WELL, BOCA CHICA NEXT, WHEN THE WINDS ABATE. NO INTERNET HERE SO DON'T TRY TO REACH US ON THE USUAL PHONE. BUT OF COURSE THE SAT PHONE WORKS HERE, SO IF NEED BE, YANK OUR SATPHONE CHAIN. ALL FOR NOW, FROM ABOARD NIRVANA WHERE ALL IS NIRVANA. HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 5.61' N | 82º 20.34' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL,
OUR POSITION IS UNCHANGED FROM SEVERAL DAYS AGO. STILL ANCHORED IN ISLA PARIDA, SURROUNDED BY IDYLLIC SAND BEACHES, ROCKY PROMONTORIES, PALM TREES, IN A SHELTERED ANCHORAGE, PROTECTED FROM THE N-NE (STRONG AS IT TURNS OUT) WESTERN PANAMA WINDS THAT WE'VE LEARNED, ARE TYPICAL OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. ALCYONE (LONG TIME FRIENDS/CRUISING BUDDIES) JOINED US HERE A COUPLE DAYS AGO, SO WE'VE BEEN CATCHING UP, AND GOOFING OFF LIKE ALWAYS. WHILE SITTING IN NIRVANA'S COCKPIT LAST EVENING HAVING A COUPLE SUNDOWNERS, WE SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BARGE COME BENDING AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE NORTH, ENTERING THE ANCHORAGE. AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS A BARGE...WITH ABOUT SIX LITTLE CASITAS ABOARD, EACH WITH AIR CONDITIONERS, AN AFT MOUNTED SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR THE WHEELHOUSE AND UP ON THE BOW...A COVERED "VERANDA" COMPLETE WITH TABLES, CHAIRS, RED FRINGED LIGHTS, A BAR AND A HALF-DOZEN TO DOZEN FOLKS SITTING OUT ENJOYING THEIR OWN LIBATIONS. THEY CAME BY OUR STERN, WENT FURTHER IN, THREW DOWN THE HOOK AND VOILA, STARTED BARBEQUING WHATEVER ON THE AFT DECK. TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE, IMAGINE A HOUSE WITH A COVERED PORCH OUT FRONT, COVERED WALKWAY DECKS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE AFT OF THE VESSEL. BUT EVEN BETTER THAN THAT, AS THEY MANEUVERING IN AND ANCHORING, HERE COMES FIVE OR SIX "WHALER"-STYLE FISHING BOATS THAT CAME ALONG SIDE, PUT IN THEIR FOOD ORDERS, STOOD OFF UNTIL THEIR FOOD WAS READY, AND THEREAFTER TOOK OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE. PUT THIS IMAGE AGAINST A SANDY BEACH WITH VERDANT PALM TREES BACKDROP SET AGAINST A SETTING GLORIOUS SUNSET, AND YOU HAVE A PERFECT SCENE FOR A PETER MAX CARTOON/PAINTING OF A PANAMANIAN OUTER ISLANDS CRUISING SCENARIO. AND FINALLY, CONCH HORNS WERE BEING BLOWN IN THE BACKGROUND FROM ONE OF THE SMALL ISLANDS THAT SURROUND THE ANCHORAGE, CALLING HOME THE 15 AND 18 YEAR OLD PANAMANIAN BOYS WHO LIVE ON THE ISLAND WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THREE OR FOUR OTHER SIBLINGS. UNREAL!!! TOMORROW WE'LL MOVE TO BOCA CHICA, ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF HERE, AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS MAKE A PROVISIONING RUN INTO CUIDAD DAVID - REPORTEDLY THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN PANAMA, WHICH HAS ALL THE MODERN STORES (COSTCO EQUIVALENT FOR EXAMPLE), PROPANE, ETC. WHEN DONE WITH THAT AND WEATHER DEPENDENT, WE'LL BE MOVING FARTHER EAST, HEADED TO THE PERLAS ISLANDS ABOUT 40 MILES DUE SOUTH OF PANAMA CITY, WHICH ARE APPARENTLY EVEN BETTER THAN HERE. IN CLOSING, AS HAS BEEN OUR CONTINUOUS EXPERIENCE WHEN CHATTING IT UP WITH LOCAL FOLKS THROUGHOUT OUR CENTRAL AMERICAN PASSAGES, THE PEOPLE HERE ARE FRIENDLY AND INVARIABLY HELPFUL WHEN WE SEEK ANCHORING, FISHING, WATER, ETC., QUESTIONS. SO, WITH THAT BEING IT FOR TODAY, ALL ABOARD NIRVANA IS, AFTER ALL, NIRVANA! HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 12.918' N | 82º 12.582' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS FROM NIRVANA,
WE ARE AT 08 DEGREES 12.9 MINUTES N 082 DEGREES 12.5 MINUTES WEST AFTER A FEW IDYLLIC DAYS IN ISLA PARIDA, WE MOVED THIS MORNING ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH TO BOCA CHICA, WHICH IS A LITTLE TOWN ON PANAMA'S WESTERN PACIFIC COASTLINE, AND ABOUT A 45 MINUTE TAXI RIDE TO CUIDAD DAVID, WHICH WE ARE TOLD IS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN PANAMA. WE'LL BE HERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WITH AT LEAST ONE TRIP INTO DAVID FOR PROVISIONS, PROPANE, ETC, BEFORE CONTINUING ON EAST TOWARDS THE PERLAS ISLANDS AND PANAMA CITY WITH ENROUTE STOPS ALONG THE WAY WHEREVER IT MAKES SENSE OR WEATHER DICTATES. ALL FOR NOW FROM NIRVANA. HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA "ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST"-J.R.R. TOLKIEN | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 7º 59.502' N | 82º 1.902' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Nirvana.
Our position is 07 degrees 59.5 minutes North, 082 degrees 01.9 minutes West. This morning at 0645 on an outgoing tide we left Boca Chica, Panama where we spent the past week in an anchorage that was variously idyllic or that had Nirvana swinging around our anchor like a kite in an overpowering wind. This due to 20-25 knot winds that roared through the anchorage for a few days and the local tidal ebb and flow (about a 12' range from high to low). When pulling up the anchor our chain was twisted in knots from having spun about the anchor so many times during our time there. We had a tough time getting the kinks out in order to stow the chain and an equally challenging time getting the chain out of the locker through the windlass. So, we've got to untwist our chain when we get out into deep water. But for now, we are anchored on the NE side of Isla Seca, about 10 miles offshore from the mainland, where we are over a sandy bottom, in 85 degree water that is so clear we could see our anchor on the bottom in 45 feet of depth and count the fish going by. We've already taken a quick swim/snorkel to reconnoiter the scattered coral heads and zillions of fish that are all about. So, we are off to do more exploring this afternoon. All is well aboard Nirvana where all IS Nirvana! We'll likely be here for a couple days before heading on east. Cheers, Bob & Sherry PS-"All who wander are not lost" J.R.R. Tolkien AND PS 2: HAPPY 94TH BIRTHDAY BILL (MOLINA) (SHERRY'S DAD IN YUMA, AZ) | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 7º 45.702' N | 82º 32.028' W | Nirvana | Our position is 07 degrees 45.7 minutes North, 081 degrees 32.0 minutes West
Greetings from Nirvana anchored off "Domingo's" playa in Bahia Honda (no cars made here - in fact we ARE in the outback it appears). We left Islas Secas this morning in a bit of a wind on the nose and chop in the anchorage which settled out after a couple hours and eventually led to a nice sail for a reasonable part of the passage. Along the way we encountered a Panamian fishing boat (panga) with one hombre and three teenage ninos whose outboard engine and battery were dead. We got all their info, gave them soft drinks and water plus some spark plugs (don't think they'll help at all), and then between us and another sailing buddy boat that was closer to shore than us (we were about 10 or so miles off the coast when we came across these guys who had jury rigged all the rags and bags they could to "sail" dwnwind to the mainland) and got word to the Panamian police who are on their way to rescue them. We are not anchored in another idyllic spot and already visited by three or four local families who are anxious to trade for fishing line, fishing lures, small batteries and help with their shore generator (a tomorrow project) in exchange for fresh papayas, limes, grapefruits, bananas, and plantains. Life is good! All is after all, nirvana aboard Nirvana. Hasta luego, Bob & Sherry "All who wander are not lost" J.R.R. Tolkien | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 7º 38.598' N | 81º 45.318' W | Nirvana | OUR POSITION IS 07 DEGREES 38.6 MINUTES NORTH, 081 DEGREES, 45.32 MINUTES WEST.
GREETINGS FROM NIRVANA, PRESENTLY ANCHORED IN BAHIA ROSARIO AT THE NORTH END OF ISLA COIBA, IN A VERY NICE LITTLE BAY SURROUNDED WITH SANDY BEACHES AND LUSH GREEN FOREST, IN CLEAN WATER AND OUT OF THE WIND AND SWELLS. WE LEFT BAHIA HONDA THIS MORNING WITH SANTA CATALINA OR ISLA CEBACO IN MIND AS OUR DESTINATION. BUT, THE LURE OF THE ISLA COIBA GROUP A MERE DOZEN MILES TO THE SOUTH WAS TO STRONG TO PASS UP, SO WE DECIDED TO DO A DRIVEBY AND CHECK IT OUT. BY THE TIME WE DID SO AND GIVEN IT WAS PROBABLY TOO LATE TO COMFORTABLY MAKE THE 30 MILES TO CEBACO, WE DECIDED TO STAY HERE FOR THE NIGHT. THESE ISLANDS ARE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE CRUISER'S GUIDE DESCRIBES. THE ANCHORAGES WE SAW WERE OFF REALLY STUNNING BEACHES IN BLUE / GREEN CLEAR AND CLEAN WATERS. WE ALMOST DROPPED THE HOOK ON THE PRIVATE ISLAND TO THE NORTH OF THE RANGER STATION, BUT THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND WAS NOT FAVORABLE SO WE WENT FARTHER ON TO OUR PRESENT LOCATION AND DROPPED THE HOOK. WE'LL STAY HERE TONIGHT AND IN THE MORNING SAIL FARTHER EAST TO ISLA CEBACO. SO, HERE WE ARE - ALL IS NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA. CHEERS, BOB & SHERRY "ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST" - J.R.R. TOLKIEN | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 7º 29.52' N | 81º 13.512' W | Nirvana | OUR POSITION IS 07 DEGREES 29.5 MINUTES NORTH, 081 DEGREES 13. 51 MINUTES WEST.
Greetings from Nirvana anchored this evening in Isla Cebaco. We spent a spectacular afternoon, evening, night and morning in Panama's Coiba National Marine Park which is comprised of six major and a number of smaller islands before sailing on to Cebaco around noon today. Parque Coiba is a biogical preserve, and is teeming with sealife, animals, birds, breathtaking sand beaches, fish, sharks (white tips, tigers, bull and whale), and world-renowned snorkeling and diving. We saw white tip sharks, white face monkeys, all kinds of birds, coral, and zillions of fish. The waters were crystal clear and clean, with stunning snorkeling visibiity. We could easily have spent a week there, but hadn't planned on doing so, and regrettably spent only one night. It costs $60 US to anchor each night, and the various anchorages are patrolled by Rangers who maintain order and ensure that the islands are not despoiled. On our way out today, we passed by the National Geographic research vessel "Sea Lion" which we've run across now several times in Costa Rica. They had a bunch of people snorkeling around a little island "Granito de Oro", which looks like something staged on a movie set. If you have a few minutes, google Isla Coiba Parque Nacional in Panama and have a look. All that said, , we are mindful of the weather that awaits us getting around the major point in Panama's Pacific waters - Punta Mala - where we've had friends sitting for as long as two weeks waiting for the northerly/north easterly winds to abate sufficiently to head for Panama City. We have a reasonable window for the next few days, so we're on a roll and tomorrow night will probabaly make a long passage to the anchorage where we'll await for a good window around Pta Mala. So, all is good on the hook here in Isla Cebaco, where we have a setting sun, stew brewing in the pressure cooker, and a 8-10 knot wind blowing through the anchorage. And, as a final footnote, the water termperature has dropped 10 degrees in a our last 20 miles of easting. Who'd have thought that!!!??? All is nirvana aboard Nirvana. Hasta lumbago, Bob & Sherry "All who wander are not lost" J.R.R. Tolkien | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 7º 25.632' N | 80º 11.67' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL
OUR POSITION IS 07 DEGREES 25.63 MINUTES NORTH, 080 DEGREES, 11.67 MINUTES WEST. AS I REPORT OUR POSITION EACH NIGHT, I'M ALWAYS INTRIGUED WITH THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ONLY 7 DEGREES NORTH OF THE EQUATOR. AND TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE WERE HOMEPORTED IN MARINA DEL REY, WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP, I RECALL IT IS ABOUT 33-1/2 DEGREES NORTH OF THE EQUATOR. DANG...WE'RE A LONG WAYS FROM WHERE WE EMBARKED ABOARD MS NIRVANA. AND I SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO MENTION WE ARE NOW ABOUT DUE SOUTH OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BUT ALMOST 1,500 MILES, A CANAL AND THE CARIBBEAN AND CUBA... AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET...BUT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. SO, TONIGHT WE'RE ANCHORED IN BAHIA BENAO WHICH LIES A FEW MILES FROM PUNTA (POINT) MALA (SPANISH FOR "BAD") WHERE THE WIND - IF THERE IS ANY WHICH GENERALLY ALWAYS IS - WILL PREDICTABLY BE STRONGER THAN PREDICTED, AND WITHOUT ANY DOUBT WILL BE ON THE NOSE AS WE TURN THE CORNER AND HEAD UP THE GULF OF PANAMA FOR PANAMA CITY, ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HERE. TODAY WAS LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTRY-SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE AS WE LOOK AT THE SHORELINES AND MOUNTAINS, WITH VIEWS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WE'D EVER IMAGINED. LUSH STEEP VERDANT TREE LADEN DROPS OF THE TIERRA INTO THE OCEAN, OCCASIONALLY INTERRUPTED WITH A SWEET LITTLE PRIVATE SANDY BEACH AND SINGLE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEEMINGLY NOWHERE. AND MORE THAN ONCE WE'VE SAID TO ONE ANOTHER "WOW, THIS IS LIKE SAILING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, BUT WARMER. OK, WE'VE BEEN BRAGGING ABOUT 85-90 DEGREE WATER, BUT IN THE LAST TWO DAYS AND A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAS DECLINED NEARLY 20 DEGREES F. DANG, ITS COLD WATER HERE - 74 DEGREES F! THE ADDITIONAL GREAT NEWS ABOUT BENAO - COULD IT GET BETTER THAN A GOOD ANCHORAGE? - IS THAT THERE IS SURF HERE FOR SURFING, AND RESTAURANTS, AND FOR OUR SAILBOAT GEEKERS - ROMPING STRONG INTERNET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A NUMBER OF DAYS. SO, WE'LL BE HERE UNTIL WE AREN'T AND WHEN WE'RE WHERE WILL BE NEXT, WE'LL SEND A NEXT UPDATE ON THE PASSAGES AND SPOTS WHERE AFTER ALL, IT IS NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA. I'M CERTAIN THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO US POLITICAL EVENTS...AS WE RECALL YESTERDAY WAS SUPER TUESDAY...AND WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHO DID WHAT IN TERMS OF OUTCOMES. AND EVEN THO WE MAY HAVE INTERNET, WE MAY NOT LOOK TO SEE! CHEERS Y HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA "ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST." J.R.R. TOLKIENGREETINGS ALL OUR POSITION IS 07 DEGREES 25.63 MINUTES NORTH, 080 DEGREES, 11.67 MINUTES WEST. AS I REPORT OUR POSITION EACH NIGHT, I'M ALWAYS INTRIGUED WITH THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ONLY 7 DEGREES NORTH OF THE EQUATOR. AND TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE WERE HOMEPORTED IN MARINA DEL REY, WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP, I RECALL IT IS ABOUT 33-1/2 DEGREES NORTH OF THE EQUATOR. DANG...WE'RE A LONG WAYS FROM WHERE WE EMBARKED ABOARD MS NIRVANA. AND I SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO MENTION WE ARE NOW ABOUT DUE SOUTH OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BUT ALMOST 1,500 MILES, A CANAL AND THE CARIBBEAN AND CUBA... AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET...BUT MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. SO, TONIGHT WE'RE ANCHORED IN BAHIA BENAO WHICH LIES A FEW MILES FROM PUNTA (POINT) MALA (SPANISH FOR "BAD") WHERE THE WIND - IF THERE IS ANY WHICH GENERALLY ALWAYS IS - WILL PREDICTABLY BE STRONGER THAN PREDICTED, AND WITHOUT ANY DOUBT WILL BE ON THE NOSE AS WE TURN THE CORNER AND HEAD UP THE GULF OF PANAMA FOR PANAMA CITY, ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HERE. TODAY WAS LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTRY-SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE AS WE LOOK AT THE SHORELINES AND MOUNTAINS, WITH VIEWS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WE'D EVER IMAGINED. LUSH STEEP VERDANT TREE LADEN DROPS OF THE TIERRA INTO THE OCEAN, OCCASIONALLY INTERRUPTED WITH A SWEET LITTLE PRIVATE SANDY BEACH AND SINGLE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEEMINGLY NOWHERE. AND MORE THAN ONCE WE'VE SAID TO ONE ANOTHER "WOW, THIS IS LIKE SAILING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, BUT WARMER. OK, WE'VE BEEN BRAGGING ABOUT 85-90 DEGREE WATER, BUT IN THE LAST TWO DAYS AND A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAS DECLINED NEARLY 20 DEGREES F. DANG, ITS COLD WATER HERE - 74 DEGREES F! THE ADDITIONAL GREAT NEWS ABOUT BENAO - COULD IT GET BETTER THAN A GOOD ANCHORAGE? - IS THAT THERE IS SURF HERE FOR SURFING, AND RESTAURANTS, AND FOR OUR SAILBOAT GEEKERS - ROMPING STRONG INTERNET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A NUMBER OF DAYS. SO, WE'LL BE HERE UNTIL WE AREN'T AND WHEN WE'RE WHERE WILL BE NEXT, WE'LL SEND A NEXT UPDATE ON THE PASSAGES AND SPOTS WHERE AFTER ALL, IT IS NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA. I'M CERTAIN THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO US POLITICAL EVENTS...AS WE RECALL YESTERDAY WAS SUPER TUESDAY...AND WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHO DID WHAT IN TERMS OF OUTCOMES. AND EVEN THO WE MAY HAVE INTERNET, WE MAY NOT LOOK TO SEE! CHEERS Y HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA "ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST." J.R.R. TOLKIEN | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 14.982' N | 79º 5.91' W | Nirvana | OUR POSITION IS 08 DEGREES 14.98 MINUTES NORTH, 079 DEGREES 05.91 MINUTES WEST
GREETINGS ALL FROM OUR ANCHORAGE THIS MORNING IN ENSENADA GRANDE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF ISLA SAN JOSE, THE SOUTHWESTERN MOST ISLAND OF THE ISLAS PERLAS ARCHIPELEGO, WHICH LIES ABOUT 50 MILES SSE OF THE PACIFIC SIDE ENTRY INTO THE PANAMA CANAL. WE LEFT ENSENADA VENAO EARLY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON TO MAKE OUR ROUNDING OF PUNTA MALA IN LIGHT(ER) WINDS, A FAVORABLE TIDE AND HOPEFULLY LIGHT COUNTERING CURRENT; PTA MALA IS SOMEWHAT AKIN TO CALIFORNIA'S PT CONCEPCION, OFTEN PRESENTING STRONG WINDS AND CURRENTS TO VESSELS ENTERING THE GULF OF PANAMA FROM THE WEST. BUT AS PREDICTED, WE HAD EASILY MANAGED WINDS AND SEAS AND HEADED UP INTO THE GULF AND EVENTUALLY INTO AND ACROSS THE PANAMA CANAL HEAVY SHIPPING TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME - IN THE DARK OF NIGHT OF COURSE. NOT UNEXPECTEDLY, THE HEAVY SHIPPING TRAFFIC OUTBOUND FROM AND INTO THE CANAL TO AND FROM POINTS ALL ACROSS THE PACIFIC WAS HEAVY - FOR WE SAILBOATS, NOT UNLIKE TRYING TO RUN ON FOOT ACROSS ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE 405 FREEWAY IN AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE AIS (AUTOMATIC IDENTICATION SYSTEM) ELECTRONICS ABOARD NIRVANA SO WE WERE TRANSMITTING OUR POSITION, COURSE AND SPEED OVER GROUND TO ALL THE HEAVY SHIPS, AND RECEIVING THEIR INFORMATION IN KIND. WE TALKED BY RADIO WITH THE BRIDGE OF SEVERAL SHIPS THAT WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO US AS WE CROSSED THE INBOUND AND OUTBOUND SHIPPING LANES TO CONFIRM OUR PRESENCE AND INTENTIONS US AND TO ENSURE THEY SAW US. 15 TONS OF NIRVANA DOESN'T FARE WELL AGAINST MANY-THOUSAND TON CARGO SHIPS MOVING AT TWICE TO FOUR TIMES AND SOMETIMES MORE OUR SPEED. BUT, WITH FAVORABLE WINDS AND REASONABLE CURRENTS WE MADE IT THROUGHT THE TRAFFIC SCHEME BY ABOUT 0300 THIS MORNING AND CONTINUED ON WITHOUT FURTHER ADO TO OUR CURRENT ANCHORAGE. WE ARRIVED OFF ISLA SAN JOSE JUST AS THE SKY WAS PINKENING, HUNG ABOUT UNTIL THE SUN WAS UP, STEAMED INTO OUR DESTINATION ANCHORAGE AND DROPPED THE HOOK IN A NICE EAST-FACING BAY THAT IS LINE WITH ROCKY PROMONTORIES AND SANDY PALM-FRINGED BEACHES. THUS AFTER BEING UP ON WATCH FOR THE BETTER PARTS OF THE NIGHT PLAY BOAT DODG'EM DURING OUR 85-MILE PASSAGE, WE'RE HEADED FOR THE SACK TO CATCH UP ON SOME SLEEP. AND FOR MARNEE, BEFORE LEAVING VENAO WE DINGHIED ASHORE AND BOUGHT FRESH SALADS AND STEAK BURRITOS FOR OUR PASSAGE, WHICH WERE EXCELLENT! GREAT NIGHT PASSAGE COMFORT FOOD... I SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IT WAS CHILLY ENOUGH LAST EVENING THAT WE HAD TO WRAP OUR LEGS IN OUR COCKPIT BLANKETS AND WEAR A LIGHT JACKET TO WARD OFF THE CHILL - WHAT'S THAT ABOUT!!???? WELL FOLKS THAT'S IT FOR THIS MORNING, WHERE ALL IS SLEEPILY NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA! HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 14.982' N | 79º 5.91' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS ALL,
OUR POSITION THIS MORNING IS 08 DEGREES 34.95 MINUTES NORTH, 079 DEGREES 01.28 MINUTES WEST. WE ARE ANCHORED OFF ISLA CHAPERA AND NEXT TO ISLA MOGO MOGO WHERE THE TV SHOW "SURVIVOR" WAS FILMED. WE ARE WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING FOR THE LA PLAYITA ANCHORAGE JUST OFF OF PANAMA CITY, ABOUT A 35 MILE PASSAGE TODAY. WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF FOOD, LOW ON DIESEL, COULD STAND SOME GASOLINE, AND TAPPING INTO OUR LAST SUPPLY OF MIXERS FOR SUNDOWNERS. SO ITS TIME TO REPLENISH, SEE THE BIG LIGHTS (AS WE UNDERSTAND IT) OF PANAMA CITY, AND THEN BACK OUT TO THE PERLAS ISLANDS IN A FEW DAYS. HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 54.552' N | 79º 31.668' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS FROM NIRVANA, CURRENTLY ANCHORED AT LA PLAYITA ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE ENTRY INTO THE PACIFIC END OF THE PANAMA CANAL.
OUR POSITION IS 08 DEGREES 54.55 MINUTES NORTH, 079 DEGREES 31.67 MINUTES WEST. THERE'S ABOUT A TRILLION HEAVY SHIPS ANCHORED AND MOVING IN EVERY DIRECTION ABOUT THE AREA. AND, WHILE WE'VE SEEN PHOTOS OF PANAMA CITY'S BUILDINGS, THE PICTURES DO NOT DO JUSTICE TO THE SCALE OF IT ALL! UNREAL, WE'LL BE HERE FOR A FEW DAYS FOR PROVISIONING, TOURING, FIXING, REPAIRING, ETC., BEFORE HEADING BACK OUT TO THE PERLAS ISLANDS. WE'LL GET ASHORE TOMORROW AND FIGURE OUT INTERNET FOR THOSE WHO ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS FOR PICS AND OTHER...IN THE MEANWHILE, HASTA LUEGO FROM PANAMA CITY, PANAMA! BETO Y CEREZA "ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST." J.R.R. TOLKIEN | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.458' N | 79º 2.232' W | Nirvana | Greetings! After Just about a month in La Playita anchorage in Panamá City we escaped to the Perlas Islands, about 30 miles southwest. We aré anchored of Isla Contodora in a lovely spot with clear, clean water and no wakes from passing Canal-bound ships and work boats. All is good aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.428' N | 79º 2.19' W | Nirvana | GREETINGS AMIGOS! WE RETURNED TODAY TO THE LA PLAYITA ANCHORAGE - ACTUALLY I THINK IT SHOULD BE NAMED LA MAYTAGITA AS IT IS A WASHING MACHINE HERE ALL THE TIME DUE TO PANAMA CANAL SHIPPING AND THE GAZILLIONS OF SERVICE BOATS THAT MAKE HEAVY SHIPPING AND THE CANAL RUN SMOOTHLY. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE'LL BECOME PART OF THAT CANAL TRAFFIC AS WE AND NIRVANA ARE MAKING THE TRANSIT TO THE "DARK SIDE" (THE CARIBE) WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CRUISE FOR A MONTH OR SO BEFORE LEAVING NIRVANA IN A MARINA NEARBY PANAMA CITY FOR A COUPLE MONTHS THIS SUMMER. BUT FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO DAYS WE'VE BEEN ON A MOORING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RESORT ISLAND ISLA CONTADORA IN THE LAS PERLAS ISLANDS ( THE PEARL ISLANDS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHOSE SPANISH HAS GOTTEN A TAD RUSTY) ON A MOORING JUST OFF A BEAUTIFUL SAND BEACH. WE WENT ASHORE EVERY AFTERNOON AND PLAYED SEVERAL ROUNDS OF BACCHI BALL, FOUND A BAR WITH GOOD MARGARITAS ( I KNOW-SHOCKER!), ENJOYED IDYLLIC SUNSETS, REALLY CLEAN WATER, AND SOME GREAT MEALS WITH CRUISING BUBBAS ON ALCYONE (KENNY AND BETSY), AND RAPSCALLION ( HENRY). AND WHILE THERE WE CELEBRATED OUR 45TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY (OBVIOUSLY AN ARRANGED MARRAIGE WHEN WE WERE THREE AND TWO YEARS OLD, RESPECTIVELY). AND AS A FINAL TREAT - WELL, OTHER THAN SPENDING THREE DAYS CLEANING NIRVANA' S HULL OF A FEW MONTHS ACCUMULATION OF GROWTH ( "WOW...IS THAT A PROPELLER OR A CORAL REEF OUTGROWTH?"), UNBEKNOWNST TO US, ISLA CONTADORA IS A SKYDIVER'S HAVEN. WE WATCHED 100s OF SKYDIVERS AND THEIR JUMP PLANES MAKE COUNTLESS CIRCUITS AND SPECTACULAR APPROACHES TO THE SMALL RUNWAY ON THE ISLAND. AFTER FIGURING OUT IT WAS NOT A FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOOL, WE BEGAN DOING OLYMPIC RATINGS OF THE PILOTS' APPROACHES TO THE STRIP. SO, TOMORROW NIRVANA WILL BE MEASURED FOR FEES DETERMINATION FOR THE CANAL. IF WE CAN SQUEEZE HER TO ANYTHING LESS THAN 50 FEET IT'LL SAVE $500 OF FEES. SO TONIGHT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME OBSCURATION DUST TO KIND OF DISGUISE THE TWO FEET OF EXCESS LENGTH...WE THOUGHT ABOUT REMOVING THE BOWSPRIT BUT... SO THERE YOU HAVE IT- WE'RE CHANGING FROM ECUADOR AS OUR NEXT DESTINATION TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN. WHERE? KEEP READING OUR FARKWARS AND YOU'LL KNOW WHERE EXACTLY WHEN WE'VE LEARNED IT AS WELL! HASTA LUEGO FROM BOB AND SHERRY ABOARD NIRVANA WHERE ALL IS... NIRVANA | about 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 21.972' N | 79º 55.782' W | Nirvana | Greetings from the CARIBBEAN!!! Well after completing our Canal Transit paperwork (we acted as our own Agent which was very straight forward and easily done), being assigned a Ship Identification Number (Nirvana's number forever when we transit the Canal), paying our fees - we weren't able to shrink Nirvana to less than 50 feet in length so paid "Big Boat" fees - rounding up friends and one professional to be Line Handlers, renting BIG fenders and four 125' 1 inch diameter lines, loading up Nirvana with food and drink for the Transit, we were set to go. And so we did at 0615 Friday morning, April 22nd. We motored out to the designated location to rendezvous with our assigned Panama Canal pilot/advisor and at about 0730 headed to the Pacific entry side of the Miraflores locks. We "locked" with 'Sextans', a 655'', 106' beam chemical transport ship, and a 125' two deck Canal tour boat that was loaded with passengers who were going through the first two sets of locks and thereafter disembarking to bus back to Panama City. We entered the locks in trail of the big vessel and then 'mated', meaning tied along side the tour vessel, and readied to be elevated when the lock gates closed behind us . The inrush of water to flood the lock was epic-it filled quickly and with considerable turbulence. Then it was filled, we loosed the lines from our 'mate' and motored into the next chamber to do it again., in exactly the same way, three more times in the first set of two locks. After that we motored for the better part of the day in the canal with ships coming the opposite direction throughout the day. We reached the western entrance to the Caribbean locks, and at about 5:30pm entered the first of the three lock chambers that would take us down about 90' to the level of the Caribbean Sea. This time we were ahead of another 655' bulk carrier ship in the chambers. Pretty mind boggling when you hear the pilot on the bulk ship saying "All engines stopped" as this ship pulls within about 100' of Nirvana's stern. Canal hand line handlers threw us 'monkey fists' with light lines to which we made fast our 125' lines to keep us centered and motionless as the water dropped about 30' feet in each of the three chambers. And so, with all that, we cleared the final chamber at about 7pm, and were officially in the Caribbean! It was a grand experience to say the least. So we and Nirvana are off to explore a completely different set of anchorages, traditions, customs, languages, and Rum! All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana. Cheers and Hasta Luego, Bob and Sherry, soon to head south to the San Blas Islands along the eastern coastline of Panama | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 35.268' N | 78º 40.722' W | Nirvana | REETINGS FROM NIRVANA, CURRENTLY ANCHORED IN THE "SWIMMING POOL" ANCHORAGE IN THE SAN BLAS ISLANDS ALONG EASTERN PANAMA'S CARIBBEAN COASTLINE. RAINSHOWERS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON EN ROUTE HERE AND OVERCAST/THREATENING SKIES AGAIN THIS MORNING. WE'RE ANCHORED CLOSE TO A REEF THAT IS LIKE ALL THE PICUTURES YOU'VE EVER SEEN OF THE CARIBBEAN...SAND BOTTOM, CORAL REEFS, BLUE. GREEN AND CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER. ALL IS NIRVANA ABOARD NIRVANA, HASTA LUEGO, BETO Y CEREZA | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 29.892' N | 78º 48.792' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, Yesterday morning, just ahead of what promised to be a rainy, squally, probable thunderstorms passage, we pulled the anchor along with two other sailboats in the Green Island anchorage (Kenny and Jessie aboard Makai, and Cinco-a Panamian boat with folks we've only made brief acquaintence), and headed about 15 miles west through the Nargana Cays and other shallows to Isla Banadup. It was one of our most epic sailing passages-12 knots of wind on a perfect point of sail for Nirvana-we sailed all but the last 1/2 mile of the passage at between 5 and sometimes nearly 8 knots under increasingly leaden and threatening skies. And yes, the storm did catch us! The winds quickly piped up to 24 knots, raining buckets-rolled up the head sail, took a reef in the mainsail, and continued on. The first storm cell went by, headsail back out for another hour or so until the next blast hit us, this time somewhat more violently. Headsail in, dropped the mainsail, and motored the last 1/2 mile under bare poles. We pulled into Banadup where to our surprise there is a flotilla of sailboats anchored-many more than we've seen anywhere in the eastern San Blas Islands. So we anchor plopped into 20 feet of azure green water in a continuing rainstorm, rigged a quick rain deflector above the salon hatch and tucked in for the rest of the evening. So, all is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 28.764' N | 78º 38.256' E | Nirvana | Greetings All Our position on 10 May was at 09 degrees, 28.762 minutes N, 078 degrees 38.175 minutes west, anchored in 20 feet of blue/green waters, in the lee of Green Island with six or so other sailboats. Like all other islands in the San Blas, Grren is Grren, loaded itch palm trees, sandy shores, beautiful light green or nominally clear near shore waters. Green Islan also has its own crocodile that courses the waters around the island, so we all are mindful of this guy's presence when swimming. We tried to come here a few days earlier under gray, storm cloud darkened waters which made threading our way to (actually Waisaladup, about 1/4 mile south), very challenging. When we had only 6 feet of water under the keel we abandoned the effort and returned to Nargana for what turned out to be a rainy three day stay anchored off the town. The other real bonus is meetin Kenny and Jessie, a pair of really fascinating folks aboard the 51 foot spotless ketch Makai; they are both musicians! He plays a mean harmonica (blues, jazz, rock), and she plays piano-beautifully! They have a full size keyboard that is stowed on the underside of a custom made salon table (51 foot, 16+ foot beam sailboat). So we did several evenings of piano, harmonica, mandolin and fiddle together along with sundowners and snacks. One of the most fun musical days in recent memory. So, all is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 34.512' N | 78º 51.318' W | Nirvana | Greetings All,
Our position is 09 degrees 34.51 minutes North, 078 degrees 51.32 minutes west. For those of you who get out your nautical charts and plotting tools to locate us, you'll immediately notice two things: first, we aren't in Sri Lanka, where it appeared in one of our last posts, we were-a minor problem with entering data in Farkwar; and two, we've moved about 1.6 miles from our last location. Regarding our last location anchored off Isla Banedup, the other morning the weather looked sort of threatening...about like every morning with the potential for rain showers,maybe a thunderstorm. But, an hour later we were in a 40 knot, two hour squall with heavy rain showers, rollers through the anchorage, boats on alert and some dragging about, and seemingly no end in sight. But, happily, about 11:30am, the clouds relented, the skies cleared and it became another epic snorkeling day. No towels or laundry blown away in the wind off the clothesline, so all was good. We've been playing a lot of music with folks from several different boats, and the next couple days will be no different. We've moved to Hootenanny Central here off of Yansaladup, where tonight we've going to have a five boat jam session! Should be fun. Two weeks from today we'll be flying out of Panama for the states and our summer break off of Nirvana. So, among other things that means we are coursing (no pun intended) through all the consumable food items we can possibly eat before leaving the boat. And drinking all the perishable fluids (beer cans explode in the heat if left for too long, so they MUST be emptied!) so that they don't turn sour while we're away. For Marnee, Sherry has been cooking up a storm of really delicious items: this morning was spinach-bacon-egg-and pepper cupcakes (really) which she baked. Last night-pasta and italian sausage. The night before-a southeast asian caggage, pork, peppers, tumeric, cumin, chinese chili stir fry. Zowie. So, a few more days of music and snorkeling, not necessarily in that order, and then a several day return to Shelter Bay Marina to break down and stow all our gear before leaving Nirvana for a spell. All for now from Beto y Cereza aboard Nirvana where all is...Nirvana!!! Cheers | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 36.666' N | 79º 35.196' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, After nearly a month in the spectacular waters, coral reefs and vistas, along with many musical nights aboard several vessels in different anchorages of the San Blas Islands, we pulled the hook this morning to head back toward Colon and Shelter Bay Marina where we'll leave Nirvana for several months while vacationing back in the US. Yes, I know "vacationing", seems like an odd term when it appears that's all we do. And you're more or less correct if you think that. But Nirvana is our home, so technically we're coming to visit many of you in the next several months while leaving our casa in Panama. We enjoyed a great sail on our 47 mile passage today. After motoring / needle threading our way through the reefs which surround Yansaladup, when in clear water we hoisted the sails and sailed all but a mile to our anchorage tonight in Bahia Linton. It was a perfect point of sail for Nirvana and with steady winds we almost never touched the sails for 7-1/2 hours. So, the hook is down! The Admiral's martini is chilled and we're off to Happy Hour with amigos on a boat here in Linton! All IS nirvana aboard Nirvana. Cheers, Bob & Sherry | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 22.056' N | 79º 57.024' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, Well, after a month on the hook in Panama's San Blas Islands, which in our opinion is a SPECTACULAR cruising area, we pulled into a slip this afternoon in the Shelter Bay Marina. We left Bahia Linton this morning under doubtful rain-heavy leaden skies, with lightening and thunder ahead of our planned route, got rained on for a couple hours, mused about lightening strikes (doesn't hurt us, generally, but can kill electronic devices), and pressed on. The skies cleared, the winds on the nose (shocker!) weren't untenable, and we pulled into a slip here this afternoon a little after 3pm. And at 3:05pm were in the swimming pool for a couple minutes and then on to a HOT, unlimited fresh water shower! So, in the next six days we'll prep Nirvana for our collective vacations - she hanging here for a couple months, and we in the states, and on the 31st head to Panama City for our flight out on June 1st to North Carolina to meet Dustin and Sylvia and newly born Mila Rose, and in late June on to CA for another couple months with Marnee, Richard, and the twin 3- year old wonder women, and the rest of our family and friends. And with any good fortune, we'll finally get around to updating out blog - maybe...at least we won't be able to pull the No Internet card. So, that all said, when you don't hear from us, it's not because the Pirates got us, nor rogue waves, nor other various and sundry reasons for our absence. See you when we set sail again in a couple months. Cheers, Bob and Sherry aboard -more or less for a spell - Nirvana where all is Nirvava! | almost 8 years ago | Show |
| 9º 19.542' N | 82º 14.358' W | Nirvana | Hook down in Bocas del Toro, Panama, after 160 mile, 35 hour passage from Portobelo, Panama. Might compete for one of our least memorable (or most!) passages. Big (8-12 feet +) gnarly, following with multiple swell trains from two or three directions, breaking seas, winds ( forecast 15-20 diminishing) 19v22 gusting 28-30 knots from continuously about 150 degrees to starboard for 2/3 of the passage, and a broken autopilot just about dusk on the 1st day - hand steering for ~ 24 hours (Ugh!). All that said, Bocas del Toro looks fantastic after 10 spectacular days in Portobelo! All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana. And, as usual if our pin drop is somewhere on the other side of the planet, you may consider that "Fake News"! It'll be corrected on an update. Cheers, Bob and Sherry | about 7 years ago | Show |
| 9º 17.25' N | 82º 28.122' W | Nirvana | Anchored in Almirante, Panama (Caribbean Sea side of Panama), the location of the Bocas Yacht Services boatyard where tomorrow we haul out for about one day to do some bottom paint touch up before heading out across the Caribbean Sea in a couple more weeks. On the way here we swung by "Ernie's" in Palos Lagoon (the "Darklands") for his famous Sunday Brunch Eggs Benedict which are great and even better with two bloody Mary's (it was a perilous motorsail through treacherous reefs and shoals to reach Ernie's-what can we say). So here we are standing off the boatyard just to the stern of the visiting Chicquita Banana ship which is here loading up containers of - yup - Chicquita Bananas. All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! And as always if google earth shows us somewhere in the Indian Ocean...it's fake news! | about 7 years ago | Show |
| 12º 34.902' N | 81º 41.502' E | Nirvana | Greetings! After a year + cruising Panama's Pacific and Caribbean waters, we sailed out of Panama for Colombia. We dropped anchor in Isla San Andres, one of Colombia's several offshore islands, San Andres being in the Caribe. Little wind, calm seas and no swell or wind chop meant motor sailing about 200nm, but with a fresh bottom (paint that is!), we averaged 7+ knots. We'all be here a few days before sailing about 50 miles to Providencia, a nearby island that is also Colombian. Interestingly, from here we lie about equidistant from Cartagena, Kingston Jamaica, and Montego Bay Jamaica (each about 440 miles)...600 miles from Santiago, Cuba, and 980 miles from Puerto Rico. What to do??? Keep watching to see how we eventually make our way to Grenada. PS, thecwater is brilliantly blue and green and about 86 degrees. We'll post some photos in the next day or so. Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 12º 34.902' N | 81º 41.502' W | Nirvana | This is an update to reset our real position. We are not confused about whether we're in the Indian Ocean or the Caribbean. It's the result of an entry idiosyncrasy. Really folks...we're in the Caribbean!!!!! | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.788' N | 81º 22.71' E | Nirvana | After 2+ really enjoyable weeks of snorkeling and kite-boarding (our newest sports undertaking, and yes, another board on Nirvana) in Isla San Andres, Colombia, we pulled the anchor at 6:30am and worked our way out of the coral reef-fringed island, bound for Isla Providencia, Colombia. We were rewarded with one of our most memorable sailing passages, probably ever. Winds between 9-15 knots on Nirvana's sweet spot beam, reasonable sea state, mostly gloriously sunny skies, dotted with puffy cumulus clouds, one squall/brief rain shower, and arrival in eye-wateringly beautiful Providencia's harbor at 5:30 pm. Between the two islands, the Caribbean reaches depths of 6500 feet, which made the seas that magic "ultra-marine blue" that is impossible to adequately describe. We sailed the 58 mile passage, but for motoring the 30 minutes on each end of the passage needed to navigate reefs, shoals and shallows. Providencia looks like an island out in the South Pacific. Green, mountainous, surrounded by clear blue-green waters. We'll be here for a couple days before making our next 450 mile passage to Roatan, Honduras. All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.788' N | 81º 22.662' E | Nirvana | This is an update to our last post, which seemingly always puts on the opposite side of the earth from where we are, which is in in the Caribbean! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.788' N | 81º 22.662' W | Nirvana | Grumble! | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.788' N | 81º 22.662' E | Nirvana | I know how to put an astronaut on the Moon, but I just can't seem to enter our position correctly in Farkwar...ever! We are at 13 degrees 22.789N, 081 degrees 22.663 WEST! Cheers, Bob | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.794' N | 81º 22.608' W | Nirvana | Greetings all, When we sailed into Isla Providencia a week ago, the winds for continuing northbound were dying and predicted to stay light for days to come. But, then things changed almost with a snap of one's fingers and the suddenly winds began and are now blowing non-stop between 20-30 knots with considerably seas, and squally conditions, and forecast to stay that strong and possibly get stronger toward the end of this week along the route to Guanaya, our next destination. So, we're hanging on the hook, doing some snorkeling and scuba diving on the local reefs and enjoying our time here on this 4 mile long garden island. Ironically the winds are too strong here even to kite board! All is nirvana aboard Nirvana as we're waitin' on the winds! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 13º 22.698' N | 81º 22.56' W | Nirvana | And we're once again anchored in Providencia (in the Caribbean in the event Farkwar wrongly shows us in the Hulf of Ceylon). We, along with three other sailboats set out on Sunday the 28th, bound for Guanaja, Honduras, with a perfect weather window (ideal point of sail, wind velocity and sea state). Indeed for all of Sunday we rocketed along at 7 knots +, on the first 150 mile northbound leg of the 450 mile trip. However, later in the afternoon after already dealing with a manageable sea water leak (later confirmed to be a partial split of the primary bilge pump hose (that white, ribbed plastic hose that is the only hose that will fit the 1-1/8" OD outlet on a Rule bilge pump-which given that the thru hull for over boarding bilge water was submerged due our heeled sailing, it was entraining sea water directly into the bilge and constantly cycling the bilge on and off), we began hearing a significant thumping sound on the outside of the hull. Nirvana has a retractable centerboard, and we suspicioned it was the only thing that could be beating on the exterior of the hull, especially after being unable to at all retract it like we are normally able to do. Bottom line, when we slowed down the banging ceased. A few hours hours later (fuzzy thinking - should have just bit the bullet and turned back sooner) we decided to return to Providencia (now 110 miles south) versus slowly continuing overnight and diving the hull after baylight broke, or, continuing on into weather conditions forecast to signficantly strengthen given our slow forward progress toward Guanaja. So, upon our arrival in Providencia, a quick snorkel tour of the hull confirmed what we by then had concluded, that our "retractable" centerboard became an "extractable" centerboard and departed from the boat. Thus, we'll now return to Panama and get/make/have made, a new retractable centerboard, and continue thereafter with our Caribbean circumnavigation. The centerboard was 46 years old, and given stresses on the board when extended, we think the heavily loaded solid composite board fatigued in the vicinity of where it's retention pin/hinge point passed through the structure, I guess we can't complain too much! All is Nirvana aboard Nirvana! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 9º 19.968' N | 82º 14.52' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, We have once again anchored in Bocas del Toro, Panama, where we have decided to leave Nirvana for our summer respite. As you may recall in an earlier Farkwar post, when about 350 miles north of here, headed for Guanaja and eventually Rio Dulce, our retractable centerboard parted ways with the boat, causing no damage to the hull, other than loss of the board. The centerboard is not a ballast/righting moment component of Nirvana's design, so other than being not able to point as high when going to weather, we can and do sail the boat without any concerns. On our way back here, a decision also made on that there is less lightening history here than in Shelter Bay/Colon, we stopped and made a number of scuba dives in Isla Providencia and Isla San Andres, and also did a couple days of kite-boarding in San Andres. We're readying Nirvana for her summer vacation, and will fly out to the US on June 25th for a 3 month or so hiatus. We have several sources for fabricating a new centerboard, which we'll install upon our fall return, and thereafter continue as intended, our circumnavigation of the Caribbean. So, we'll see you all on Farkwar in three to four months. Cheers and safe sailing, Bob & Sherry | almost 7 years ago | Show |
| 9º 19.992' N | 82º 0.0' W | Nirvana | Once again, we are NOT in Sri Lanka. The fill in the blanks Lat/Long on Farkwar is forever, for me, misleading. Cheers from Panama | about 6 years ago | Show |
| 9º 19.992' N | 82º 14.592' E | Nirvana | Buenos dias from Bocas del Toro, Panama. After a 7 month soujourn ashore we returned to Nirvana to find her floating happily and in need of only a reasonable amount of cleanup. For those who envy the cruising lifestyle as pictured in rapturous photos, In the last three weeks we’ve: spent 40 hrs trying to reglue our tired RIB dinghy back together (gave up and bought a new one); reinstalled sails and running rigging; cleaned our diesel tanks and filterbowls, recommissioned our SSB radio; replaced our entire banks of batteries with Lifeline batteries shipped from the US ($$$ ouch!!!); rebuilt two heads; pulled the boat out of the water and installed our new centerboard (made in the US, shipped by sea tp Panama and trucked to Nirvana in Bocas-to replace our original centerboard that decided to leave the boat last June when making a passage from Colombia to Guanaja, Honduras), refreshed our bottom paint, and put back in the water in a record four-day span; bought and installed a new (to us) roller furling laminated jibsail; replaced a bunch of miscellaneous broken parts; fixed a fresh water tank leak and after only 8 years finished installing tank level sensors; got hired to do a complete electronics system upgrade on a big catamaran (inverter/charger, solar panels and solar charger, remote monitoring panel, new touchscreen chartplotter, hydraulic pump, radar and instruments array, and new windlass foot switches and wifi remote raise lower system, wrapped up with a installation verification sea trial). And tomorrow, we’re taking a 5 day trek to Boquete in Panama’s highlands to attend the annual Boquete jazz festival. So, soon we’ll be sending passage intentions and movements reports. All is nirvana aboard Nirvana. Hasta luego, Beto y Jereza | about 6 years ago | Show |
| 9º 14.952' N | 82º 13.194' W | Nirvana | And after trimming the sails to move at the speed of light, theoretically the chart will show where we really are! | about 6 years ago | Show |
| 9º 14.94' N | 82º 13.194' E | Nirvana | Tonight we are anchored off the sweet little Isla Tranquillo in the Archipelago Bocas del Toro, Panama. It is a truly splendorous night. The heavens are aglitter with stars; the temperature is a very pleasant 80 degrees; there is a light little breeze, clouds about but no rain showers; and there are no boats ripping by, town sounds, or chitres (“teeth with wings”) (aka irritating little bugs that bite). Aaaaaahhhh! All is again nirvana aboard Nirvana. Cheers, Bob and Sherry And IF the map shows us somewhere near Sri Lanka, its Fake News! | about 6 years ago | Show |
| 33º 56.502' N | 118º 24.3' E | Nirvana | Greetings after an extended absence! Today we put LandVana (our RV) and Arth (our Harley “dinghy”) in storage, and at this moment we’ve escaped the surly bonds of the U.S. - meaning our luggage is checked and we’re through security - on the way back to Nirvana in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Great visits with our peeps and bubbas, including an epic week with college roomie Len and his Lady, Marci at the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speed Week 2018, as one of his pit crew in support of his shot at upping his record in his class-and he did! 194+MPH (obviously not your off-the-lot pick-em-up truck). Great summer with our kids, grandkids, parents (96 and 93 years old and still steaming), Karen and John, Holly and Jo, + fun times in the Sonoma wine country (going back!). But...its time to go home, so our next Farkwar will be from Nirvana whose bow is pointed toward the eastern Caribe. stay tuned. And BTW, IF THE CHART SHOWS WE’RE IN SRI LANKA OR SOME OTHER INDIAN OCEAN REGIME...WE’RE NOT. Write it off to operator error or O.F. Cheers, B&S | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 9º 14.676' N | 82º 13.362' E | Nirvana | We are once again aboard Nirvana in Bocas del Toro, Panama after surviving a destroyed suitcase -fortunately nothing was lost-and a bomb threat called in after we were airborne from Panama City to Bocas del Toro (apparently it was not our airplane). Upon arrival in Bocas EVERY piece of luggage and cargo aboard, all of which had been xrayed before boarding the plane in Panama City were again x-rayed when we got off...must been an alien stowaway that got aboard during our enroute stop st the Moon for drinks. Anywho, after an exasperating several hours of baggage x-ray and boat part scrutiny by 8 or 10 officials, off we went. To our great surprise and distinct pleasure, Nirvana was spotless both outside and in. Before leaving Nirvana this year, we bought a used window air conditioner, plumbed it into one of our hatches and left it running the whole time away. When we got back, no mold, no mustiness, no wipedown required. So we are busily hanging sails, running lines and sheets, getting engine and genset on line, provisioning and installing several replacement parts that we brought back with us. All is going well and soon we’ll have no excuse not to head out in the first reasonable weather window for points east in the Caribe. Hasta luego, Bob and Sherry | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 9º 14.676' N | 82º 13.362' W | Nirvana | Yes folks, we have indeed sailed about 6,000 miles in two days...with the aid of an update to our last position report via computer. I’d love to say I put in “E” instead of “W” to see if anyone might be reading these reports, but alas it was once again operator error. So, if this update shows still in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, and not Panama...😤. Cheers, Bob | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | over 5 years ago | Show | |
| 9º 24.21' N | 81º 19.512' W | Nirvana | After a mighty wrestling match with the docklines, Nirvana is once again cruising. We are anchored in 35’ of azure blue/green, 87 degree water, under crystal clear blue skies, about 300 yards off the beach in Starfish Beach, Isla Colon, Panama. A five-master square rigger, the Royal Clipper, is anchored out about a 1/4 mile. We’d love to see her under full sails...got to be eye-watering! Well, its beer-30, time for a swim, a nibble, and a nap, after our long, arduous passage. But a paasage it is. So Cuba Libres to celebrate completion of our passage. Hasta luego from SV Nirvana, Beto y Cereza (As usual, a resend after seeing once again in the Indian Ocean somewhere) | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 9º 22.056' N | 79º 57.03' W | Nirvana | Buenas Amigos, We’ve finally done it! We’ve escaped the clutches of the Bocas del Toro archipelago almost two years after we first sailed in. Its fair to say the two years were interspersed with a few months of sailing to Colombia’s San Andres and Providencia islands, several extended trips to the US, gunkholing in the archipelago, attending the annual Blues festival in Boquete, house-sitting friends houses in and around Bocas town, surfing, doing water aerobics, completing innumerable repairs and improvements to Nirvana, working -selectively on other folks boats when opportune - playing music with others, and best of all meeting and goofing off with a lot of great folks from the cruising and expat communities. Bocas is a great and beautiful place-its easy to understand the term “Bocas Velcro”. But, the horizon beckons and its time to get underway on new passages and to new locales. We’ve returned to Shelter Bay (or Shelter Pay, or Sh....r Bay, as some have renamed it) Marina for a bit. We’re flying to Cartagena, Colombia to spend xmas and will also visit Santa Marta while there to check out the sailing, surfing and kite-boarding scene. After we return to Shelter Bay, next? Stay tuned...we’ll let you know! Cheers to all from Nirvana, where all is Nirvana! Hasta luego y feliz navidad. Roberto y Cereza | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 25.2' N | 75º 33.0' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Bob and Sherry in Cartagena, Colombia! Tonight we are ensconced inside the walled city in Cartagena, where its quite balmy, with a light breeze blowing from the ENE. Its said that nothing goes to weather like a jet airplane, and that’s certainly true at this time of the year between Panama’s Caribbean coastline and across the Colombia basin including the reaches to Cartagena and Sata Marta. The winds pump up to gale force at night, which create nasty 10’, short period seas, and at least a bumpy and occasionally perilous passage from the San Blas Islands to Cartagena. So, with that in mind, we opted for the jet to weather passage to Cartagena. We took the Chicken bus from Colon, Panama to Panama City, and from there a taxi to Aeropuerto Internacional Panama Pacifico (formerly Howard AFB), where we caught a 5pm, 1 hour flight to Cartagena on Wingo Airlines. We’ve rented a second story air bnb apartment with our own private balcony overlooking one of the hubs here in the walled city, and for the next 10 days we’ll be romancing the stone here in town and along the beaches, including Feliz Navidad. Stand by for photos to follow. All is nirvana aboard - well Nirvana is snugged into her slip in Shelter Bay Marina at the moment - And all is nirvana with us about 360 miles to the east. Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo to all our family and amigos from Beto y Cereza | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 19.8' N | 75º 34.8' W | Nirvana | Greetings to all from Cartagena! Another hot, sunny and cloudless breezy day here. “Breezy” means afternoon winds along the beaches that are 20 gusting to 30 knots with buffalo heads (breaking seas) on a 7-8 second period from the north. A beam reach from due west would be a real ride...beam on rolly conditions, reefed to postage stamps, and undoubtedly wet. We’ve been here for a few days, have walked all about the Walled City, visited all the marinas and anchorages including the work in progress refurbishment of Club Nautico under John Halle, who recently returned here from his stint managing Shelter Bay, toured Castillo San Felipe de Baraja which sits atop a prominent rise overlooking the entire walled city and all harbors - an amazing accomplishment in the early 1600s, considering its magnitude and that it was built in ONE year - had some great local comidas, and sampled a cocktail and craft beer, or two (heh, heh) along the way. Today, we’re off on a two hour city tour on an open air bus, seeing other parts of town, including some of the local playas toward the south. For the sailors among you, the anchorage is more than adequate, sheltered from the prevailing winds, and the waters not as soiled as we had envisioned. The slip costs range in scale from equivalent to Marina Bocas on the lower end to Shelter Bay on the upper end. We were going to bus to Santa Marta to check out its anchorages, marinas and environment, but after learning that its a 5-6 hour express bus ride each way, decided to skip it. We HAVE learned from many that the 2nd best Carnaval in S. America (following closely on the heels of Rio) is in February in Barranquilla, which lies along the coast between here and Santa Marta...hmmm, might have to slide into a three day “Christmas Winds” weather window to squirt from Panama to Cartagena and Barranquilla... All for now. Hasta luego, Beto y Cereza | over 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | Transiting the Panama Canal from Colon to Panama City, and soon thereafter headed to Pacific Mexico!!! | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 8º 33.6' N | 79º 19.8' W | Nirvana | Corrected position...hopefully!!! | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | We just completed a most enjoyable, uneventful two-day transit of the Panama Canal, thus returning back to the Pacific Ocean from nearly three years in the Caribbean. Our transit crew included Beth and Larry who flew in from San Diego, and Sherry’s sister Karen, and her friend Vicky, who bused from Yuma to LAX and then flew onward to Panama to join us. We’ll be in the Panama City area for a few days and thereafter begin making our way back toward Mexico. All is nirvana aboard Nirvana! Ciao, Bob and Sherry | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.302' N | 79º 2.202' E | Nirvana | Greetings All from Isla Contadora, Perlas Islands, Gulf of Panama, We weighed anchor this morning in Panama City, bound for Isla Contadora in the Perlas Islands. We sailed into this anchorage just about three years ago enroute to Panama City, which became the beginning of three years of great times and experiences in the southwestern/western Caribbean and multiple anchorages in Panama and Colombia. So it was with mixed emotions as we watched the skyline of Panama City sink below the horizon as we headed out. We’ll soon be headed out of the Gulf of Panama, and westerly to Costa Rica and eventually back in Pacific Mexico. All is nirvana aboard Nirvana! Ciao, Bob and Sherry | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.302' N | 79º 2.202' W | Nirvana | Hopefully this update will show we are in Panama, and not the Indian Ocean. Very frustrating app | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 8º 37.302' N | 79º 2.202' W | Nirvana | Greetings All from Isla Contadora, Perlas Islands, Gulf of Panama, We weighed anchor this morning in Panama City, bound for Isla Contadora in the Perlas Islands. We sailed into this anchorage just about three years ago enroute to Panama City, which became the beginning of three years of great times and experiences in the southwestern/western Caribbean and multiple anchorages in Panama and Colombia. So it was with mixed emotions as we watched the skyline of Panama City sink below the horizon as we headed out. We’ll soon be headed out of the Gulf of Panama, and westerly to Costa Rica and eventually back in Pacific Mexico. All is nirvana aboard Nirvana! Ciao, Bob and Sherry | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | about 5 years ago | Show | |
| 8º 28.932' N | 79º 56.598' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, Yesterday morning we weighed anchor in Isla Contadora and made a 50+ mile passage to a marina, VistaMar, on the Panamanian coastline west of Panama City. We set off in delightful winds and sunny conditions, but by the time we neared our destination the winds had piped up to a steady 25 knots gusting to 30 on our starboard beam. And with three reefs in the main and no headsail out. We pulled into the marina and out of the typical later afternoon weather blowout just before dark. A couple hours before finishing we crossed paths with a privately owned 188 foot three masted gaff rigged classic wooden schooner, circa the late 30s, who had all her sails up as she headed southbound in the Gulf and towards the Galapagos. A beautiful sight to be We’ll be here for a few days sorting out our next passage. All is nirvana aboard Nirvana! Ciao, Bob and Sherry | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 8º 28.944' N | 79º 56.604' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, Yesterday we departed Isla Contadora in the Perlas Islands and sailed about 60 miles west to Marina Vista Mar, a new marina in San Carlos, Panama. As the passage progressed the wind spiked up until a pretty steady 25 gusting to 30 knots on the starboard beam. By that time we had three reefs in the main, rolled up the head sail and finished up entering the marina a Ittle before dark. All in all a great day...All is nirvana aboard Nirvana. Ciao, Bob and Sherry | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | about 5 years ago | Show | |
| 8º 37.248' N | 83º 9.186' W | Nirvana | San Carlos, Panama (Gulf of Panama) to Golfito, Costa Rica Day 1, Tuesday 3/19/19. After three very windy weeks (25 knots on average every day in the marina) we left Marina Vista Mar in San Carlos, Panama at 2pm, so as to round Punta Mala at around Midnight when winds and seas were forecast to be light for rounding the point. This point is notorious for its big winds, seas, and unfavorable currents. We picked the right day and timed it right, rounding the point in a light breeze, on silky seas, and to boot under a full moon. We continued on for another 90-100 miles farther west, so as to put the southern coastline of the Azuero Peninsula, also infamous for occasionally perilous winds, seas, and tides, to our stern. Early in the morning we picked a trailing wind ranging from 3 to 19 knots, and light following seas with conditions under sunny skies, sailing essentially the whole last half of the passage. We dropped the hook at 5pm, 27 hours after leaving Vista Mar, in a natural harbor on Isla Cebaco, an anchorage we were in when headed to Panama City and beyond more than three years ago. After a great meal of tacos, and several end of passage bebidas, we crashed for a welcomed and very tranquil sleep. Day 2+, Thursday 203/21019: Cebaco to Golfito is about 185 miles, so anticipated to be about a 1-1/2 to 2 day passage, unless opting to stop enroute at several known anchorages. Before leaving, Sherry prepared a really delicious stew which we put in our vacuum thermal cooker to percolate throughout the day without having to leave it on a burner. We yanked the hook at 0800, and by 0830 after clearing the harbor and raising the sails, were off to Golfito, or TBD enroute. We sailed on a very beneficial tack for about five hours, making 5-6 knots. Amazing! Amazing, because we have grown accustomed to noserly winds (winds on the nose, forcing a less direct route to our objective, or either no wind or crazy strong winds and uninviting, uncomfortable seas). The winds prevailed until about mid-day under a brilliantly sunny sky, with growing clusters of towering cumulus clouds over the mainland. We decided to try and put into Isla Secas for the night, a spot we’d anchored before. By the time of our arrival, it was dark, the winds had piped up to 20-25 knots and the seas had become rolly and somewhat chaotic, for no obvious reason. We decided anchoring was too risky so pressed on for Golfito. As the night progressed, the seas and winds calmed, but a line of thunderstorms formed across our rhumb line, so we opted to make some big lazy circles, figuring the storms would blow themselves out by dawn, which they did. Thus, onward, passing the Panama/Costa Rica border at around 0800 in the morning, signaling the conclusion of our three years in Panama...all in all a great time and experience! We arrived in Golfito by mid-afternoon, anchored, tidied up Nirvana, and settled down for some bebidas, poo poos, eventual light dinner and sleep! All is nirvana abordo Nirvana! Ciao, Bob and Sherry And...as always, if the chart shows us in Indonesia, or Thailand, or Sri Lanka, just write it off to operator error,😎 | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 9º 24.21' N | 84º 9.654' W | Nirvana | Greetings Amigos! We just dropped the hook in azure blue-geen, 88 degree water in a sweet anchorage in Quepos, Costa Rica, more or directly less in front of the area where stayed in November 2004, when we (Me, Sherry, Kenny and Betsy) invited ourselves to join Karen and John and their friends on (our) 10-day surfing, jungle and volcano safari. Hard to believe that was very nominally 15 years ago! We left Golfito yesterday afternoon after a most enjoyable 10 day soujourn there, including the chance opportunity to cross wakes with Sam and David on Islania, sailing bubbas we’ve known and sailed with on and off since 2011 when we both headed for Mexico. Sam and David are Ecuador and South Pacific-bound, and I (Bob) must say it is hard not to continue on to Ecuador...fortunately the fish tacos and mexican beer lure is a stronger pull than a 600 mile sail in light winds and ever more squally conditions to make Ecuador, so we turned north out of Golfito and motor sailed the entire passage to Quepos, where we’ll hang for tonight before continuing on northward to Playa de Cocos tomorrow. We hopped in the pond here to cool off and check out Nirvana’s hull growth. The visibility is far superior to any anchorage in which we have been since Bocas del Toro in the Caribbean. The bad news about the viz is that it confirmed we have some hull cleaning to do when we reach Cocos and before continuing on northward. So, with that, time for siestas! All is nirvana aboard Nirvana! Ciao from Beto y Cereza aboard Nirvana | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 9º 42.978' N | 85º 0.834' W | Nirvana | On A Roll!!! Greetings from Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica, on the southern (notionally speaking) end of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. We yanked the shank at 0800 this morning, and scooted along the shoreline where we spent many a day years ago lsurfing and supping between Quepos and Herreduras. And as we passed Jaco, we thought about dropping in for a “ Taco in Jaco”, but, pressed on in ideal winds and seas. AND, if we recall correctly, despite probably a thousand miles or more of lure dragging over the last three years, we caught our first fish since (we think) the Sierra we caught before entering Bahia del Sol (El Salvador) in April 2015. It was epic...but of course it was lanother Jack whose food value is zilch. And...we had on the “Tuna Tamer” lure for 50 miles before changing to a Mexican Flag lure, only to in a few minutes Catch Jack. Despite that it wasn’t a fresh fish dinner, we’re heartened that there’s pescas in these here waters, and with any luck, maybe we’ll start finding dorados, or sierras, or maybe even a tuna! Our tackle box overflows with tasty looking lures that are begging to land a plum seafood meal! So, with all that, its time for bebidas y cena. All IS nirvana abordo Nirvana. Ciao amigos. Beto y Cereza | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 33.072' N | 85º 41.712' W | Nirvana | Greetings from Cocos del Playa, Costa Rica We set the hook this morning just as the sun was peeking over the hills to the east, under cloudless skies, and about two knots of breeze. We left Bahia Ballena yesterday morning at 1030, also under sunny skies on a brilliant blue sea. We didn’t any significant breeze along our planned route, but by about 2:30 yesterday afternoon the wind piped up to 10-13 knots, and we sailed blissfully along on avery pleasant beam reach until just around sunset when it dropped to about 4 knots. So, back to motoring...until about 9:30 in the evening when the offshore breeze once again filled in, this time up to 12variable16 knots. We sailed until about 2am when the breeze again dropped off. During our passage we passed on opposite heading two vessels we know from Golfito when there. The first “Game Changer” is the 200+/- “support vessel” that precedes/accompanies “Aquila”, a several hunfred million $ 250+/- foot stunning yacht owned by Walton heiress Anne, and her multi-billionaire husband (google “Aquila for details on the vessel). Game Changer has a helo deck for its AStar helicopter, which was on the flight deck when we passed one another...it was difficult at first to figure out what the heck was coming at us. Our AIS displayed the vessel name which immediately tipped us off as we’d seen it up close in the Golfito Marina when visiting bubbas on a sailboat in the marina. We and Aquila were proceeding in opposite directions, we under sail and thus not as readily maneuverable as it. So we hailed them to make certain they saw us (which they did finally), and the issue was solved. Thought for a moment we’d have to go on the Loud Hailer and announce “Attention Walmart Driver, please move to another checkout aisle!” Didn’t though as we figured at 1:30 in the morning the watchstanders might not find as much humor as we did. The night sky, with just a sliver of moon, hung out its usual array of sparklers, including the planets Venus, Mercury and Neptune, all by coincidence bunched atop one another. On a final note for the foodies who follow, lunch yesterday was toasted ham and swiss cheese sandwiches with Lays Famous chips on the side, and the evening meal, homemade chicken-onion-cheese enchiladas with Sherry’s killer mexican style pinto beans, and the mid-rats snack was a mixture of raisins, peanuts, and chocolate chips, with hot coffee to wash it down. So, after a wee rest this morning we’ll be asore for tacos and a Sunday afternoon beverage...or two! Adios from Bob and Sherry anoard Nirvana, where all IS nirvana! | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 37.908' N | 85º 40.446' W | Nirvana | Greetings Amigos, This morning we pulled into a quiet little cove on the north easterly shoreline of Bahia de Huevos in northwestern Costa Rica. We’ll be here for a few days in our “Three Island Tour”, planned over the next six weeks, before putting Nirvana to bed for the summer away period. We were headed to Mexico on a fast track, but learned we could leave Nirvana here in a more beneficial environment while away for about the same cost as leaving her in Barra de Navidad or Puerto Vallarta marinas while ashore. So...for the next six weeks we’ll be gunkholing anchorages between Samara to the south and Bahia Elena to the north. BTW...the water temp is 88F, the underwater viz is epic, the air temp at night is 78F, and the humidity is zilch. So, Happy Easter to all (or Buen Semana Santa). Back at ya with movement updates as they occur. Ciao, Beto y Cereza | about 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 35.394' N | 85º 39.048' W | Nirvana | Greetings All, Well...after an arduous week in Bahia de Huevos, we pulled the anchor and made two strategic move. We were out of beer, overwhelmed with garbage that needed to see life ahore (or other), and needed a fewcother essentials. So this am, we yanked the shank and rest ib Playa de Cocos for a couple hours to update some diminshing supplies, and once back aboard...find a next anchorage. For tonight at least, that’s Playa Panama and tomorrow, probably Brasilito or Tamarindo, or perhaps even Ollie’s Rock. All is nirvana abordo Nirvana! Ciao Amigos | almost 5 years ago | Show |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | almost 5 years ago | Show | |
| 0º 0.0' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | Greetings All! We spent the last month cruising around western Costa Rican waters, from Tamarindo to Ollie’s rock and all points in between, before putting Nirvana in condition for her summer layup in her slip at Marina Papagayo. We’ll return again in October to continue our northbound movement back to Pacific Mexico’s waters. In the meanwhile we’ll be coursing about the west coast aboard LandVana (our RV), harrassing family and friends. Hasta luego Amigos and as always keep the water on the outside, the folks on the inside and the slime side down⛵️! Ciao, Bob and Sherry | almost 5 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.4' N | 0º 0.0' E | Nirvana | Greetings All, We’re back aboard Nirvana in Guanacaste, Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica, after our usual soujourn in the western US. WE’ve about got her ready to sail again and will continue to further explore Costa Rica’s Pacific waters, anchorages and shoreline. We “imported” Nirvana into Costa Rica, which allows the boat to be in the country’s waters for up to two years without any tax consequences. We still plan to return to Mexico’s pacific coastline but have enjoyed this country and waters so much we’ll hang out here for a bit longer. More later! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | over 4 years ago | Show |
| 10º 34.998' N | 85º 49.998' E | Nirvana | Greetings All, We’re back aboard Nirvana in Guanacaste, Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica, after our usual soujourn in the western US. WE’ve about got her ready to sail again and will continue to further explore Costa Rica’s Pacific waters, anchorages and shoreline. We “imported” Nirvana into Costa Rica, which allows the boat to be in the country’s waters for up to two years without any tax consequences. We still plan to return to Mexico’s pacific coastline but have enjoyed this country and waters so much we’ll hang out here for a bit longer. More later! Cheers, Bob and Sherry | over 4 years ago | Show |
| 10º 38.388' N | 85º 39.342' W | Nirvana | Just a quick check on outgoing posts...and we did move from one side of the dock to the other, without peril, in order to be in a more favorable departing and returning during Papagayo winds, which are beginning to lay in. More later, Bob and Sherry | over 4 years ago | Show |
| 7º 13.2' N | 78º 20.4' W | Nirvana | over 4 years ago | Show |
