8/30/09: Instead of checking out of the country at David, Pedregal, we decide to check out at Puerto Armuelles. 1315 anchor up, depart Boca Chica with a short sail to Isla Parida, where we’ll anchor and get an early morning start to Puerto Armuelles. By 1550 with winds in our favor, we’re under full sail making 4.7 kts and Capt Chris decides to change course and make good for Puerto Armuelles, which is 31 miles away with an estimated arrival of 2100. 2130: drop anchor in the dark, Puerto Armuelles, in 25’ of water, rolling RAIL to RAIL. It is by far the most uncomfortable conditions endured to date.
8/31/09: 0800 finds us barely rested, without any sign of easing up on the rolling rail to rail conditions. Non-conducive conditions to lower Opihi into the water required an expensive $15 water taxi ride to shore, where we quickly (3 hours) accomplished our exit paperwork ($100 +) and returned to Iwalani to get out of dodge. 1100: anchor up, depart Puerto Armuelles, Panama, heading to Pavones, Costa Rica (CR). It’s a long, tiring day as we hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before, but we’re happy to be on the move and out of the rolly conditions. 2100: we’re motoring slowly towards the anchorage at Pavones in the dark, but without much worry. Chris had live in CR for 14 years and knows the waters very well. He spies another sailboat anchored in the distance, and uses it to help guide us in towards shore. 2130: drop anchor next to our friends NEOS! Hey! Colin paddles over to retrieve my long lost Tupperware cover and our Fat Albert DVD. Unfortunately, NEOS is leaving at 5am the next morning to head north towards Puntarenas. We’ll meet again on their way back south, sometime late September. Exhausted, we enjoy the calm anchorage and get some much needed rest. There’s a definite change in the air as we’ve finally crossed one country and entered another. Panama was a new experience for us all, but now, the familiarity of Costa Rica slowly becalms the mood.
9/1/09: 0535 anchor up, depart Pavones to Golfito to check into the country of Costa Rica. NEOS advises us of the time change, 1 hour back. We motor sail with clear skies and a rising tide which will make our entrance into Golfito an easy one. Golfito is a natural harbor located in the Golfo Dulce. 1030: drop anchor, Golfito, in front of the Port Captain’s building. We dingy ashore while Colin stays on watch with Iwalani, and accomplish our entry into the country in record time of 1 hour and 10 minutes. Unlike the hundreds of dollars we had to pay in Panama to the maritime authority, immigration and Port Captain, it costs just $44.00 in import taxes which is calculated on the actual value of our vessel. By 1300 we’re docked at Fish Hook Marina, next to our friends Rosemary and her son David on NINA, whom we met in Colon, on the Caribbean side of Panama. First up, we plug into shore power and hook up our A/C unit, enjoy a shower in the marina facilities, then retreat into the cavity of out now air conditioned cabin! Ah, what luxury. Rosemary and David join us for dinner and a movie, and we catch up with our adventures.
9/2/09: As planned, Colin’s mom Monica, her husband Simon and their 5 year old Michael drive to Golfito from Oro Tina (4 hour drive), arriving at 0830 to pick up Colin for a visit. Happy reunion. 0930: Chris and I walk around Golfito, a fishing based town situated off the shores of this deep water natural harbor. The next few days are spent meeting new friends, powering up our batteries from shore power for a full charge, and savoring the air conditioned salon, which we know is a short lived luxury. Our new neighbors at the Marina have written an online based cruising guide for Central America, very affordable at $13 for Part 1, and $18 for Part 2. Web site is www.sailsarana.com
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