08 Panama Canal to FL suggestions
In Jan or Feb of 08 we will transit the Panama Canal en route to Key West
FL. Do any of the list members have suggestions on destinations or routes
for this voyage? Ultimately we hope to reach the North East US coast, so we
can't linger too long. What I'm looking for is a list of places people
suggest shouldn't be missed. Again, this is for the Western Caribbean, from
the canal to Key West (or Miami). I'm especially interested in peoples
thoughts on visiting Cuba? In 09 we will voyage from FL to the Windward
Islands then to VZ or Columbia. Thanks! Scott
DON'T MISS CUBA!
We spent 13 days at Marina Hemingway back in 1997. Our visit to Cuba was a
major high light of our 11 month Great Circle voyage.
If my now 10 year old experiences/impressions are of interest . . . you may
contact me directly: revrgordon@hotmail.com
Bob Gordon
-----Original Message-----
From:
passagemaking-under-power-bounces+revrgordon=hotmail.com@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:passagemaking-under-power-bounces+revrgordon=hotmail.com@lists.samur
ai.com] On Behalf Of Scott E. Bulger
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 11:46 AM
To: Passagemaking Under Power List (E-mail)
Subject: [PUP] 08 Panama Canal to FL suggestions
In Jan or Feb of 08 we will transit the Panama Canal en route to Key West
FL. Do any of the list members have suggestions on destinations or routes
for this voyage? Ultimately we hope to reach the North East US coast, so we
can't linger too long. What I'm looking for is a list of places people
suggest shouldn't be missed. Again, this is for the Western Caribbean, from
the canal to Key West (or Miami). I'm especially interested in peoples
thoughts on visiting Cuba? In 09 we will voyage from FL to the Windward
Islands then to VZ or Columbia. Thanks! Scott
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Atlantic side of Panama:
- San Blas Islands (widely regarded as nicest beaches
in the world) - Bocas del Toros (Islands, just north of the Canal)
- Roatan - Honduras. Honduras is a very poor country
but Roatan is an up & coming cruisers destination.
Good place to wait wx, and there's a good angle to the
west end of Cuba from there. - Cristobal is supposed to be a nice town.
One note Scott - it can be tough to work north on the
Atlantic side from the Canal, though you'll have time
to wait out weather (it can be a healthy wait). Colon
on the Atlantic side is not nice, though the little
yacht club is very friendly. Personally, if you're
pressed for time, I'd hang out at the Bocas del Toros
(approx 100 miles north) and bypass Colon. Otherwise,
the San Blas Islands.
A year or so ago I was trading notes with a sailor who
was on his second circumnavigation. I told him I got
slammed coming out of the Canal - 4 days of sustained
25-30 knot headwinds. He suggested easting along
Columbia a few hundred miles to get a better angle on
the NE winds - would also facilitate a visit to the
San Blas Islands. Another option is to head to
Providencia, a small island halfway to Cuba that's
popular with the Venezuelans.
As far as visiting Cuba, I have a friend in Miami
who's married to a Cuban gal who who he met in Cuba
while cruising 5 years ago. Bush has tightened US
visits significantly, but where there's a will,
there's a way. If Castro drops dead, it will be
better. Check www.noonsite.com.
I'm jealous....
Peter
When we came from Seattle to Florida in 2000 we expected to spend two weeks
in the Bay Islands, two weeks in the Rio Dulce, two in Belize, and two in
Mexico. We liked the Bay Islands so much that we spend all of our allotted
time there and finally went direct to Key West.
After a summer on the East Coast we came back to Roatan with the same plan.
Ended up spending the whole winter in Roatan again. (You might have the
impression we liked Roatan, you're right!) The Kennedy's came down for two
weeks and we circumnavigated the island, with the help of the out-of-print
Wilensky's Cruising Guide to the Bay Islands. Ended up buying a 4 acre cay
across a manmade canal from Roatan which was basically a pile of dirt
covered with garbage. After closing in May 2000 the Kennedys went home,
sold their boat, car, and home; loaded a container with their possessions
and moved to Roatan. The result is Barefoot Cay.
The following winter we came down again and finally made it to the Rio Dulce
for a stay of open length. After two weeks, we were ready to go back to the
Bay Islands, which we did. Your mileage may vary -- there were boats in the
Rio that had been there for years.
There is a full report at http://www.halwyman.com/journey_of_que_linda.htm
Hal