Panama

Have now arrived in Shelter Bay Marina ready for the next part of the journey through the Panama Canal on Sunday.

Have had a lovely time in the San Blas islands which are quite unique in that they are occupied by the Kuna Indians who refer to the San Blas Islands and the associated mainland territory as Kuna Yala. The land is unspoilt and not developed at all with no fences so tribe members can pass through. The rendezvous lunch we had in Chichime was a chance for the crews to get together after the first leg from St Lucia and we were guests of the Humberto family. It was a pot luck lunch so each boat contributed food. When you anchor in these Islands the local women row out in their Ulu which is a dug out canoe to sell you Molas and beaded jewellery. The Kuna people are all small as they are not allowed to marry foreigners so are all interbred! They wear colourful clothing and women rule the roost here!! The mainstay of the Kuna economy is coconuts which grow in abundance and until a few years ago were the official means of exchange.

The Molas are Panamas most famous handicraft and are beautiful appliqué squares of cloth intricately made by sewing and cutting different layers of colourful cloth. Each Mola is unique and usually show abstracted forms of birds, animals or marine life. I have bought one as a souvenir of Panama.

Whilst in San Blas we met up with Pat & Mary on Go Free and had an entertaining evening with them before they left to head back up to the BVIs again.

First trip to Colon this morning to check out the REY supermarket for provisioning. We all went and the supermarket sent a bus to collect us and our shopping and we were taken back to the Marina free of charge. This is only the drinks run!! We have all the groceries to get still so back on the Marina bus tomorrow again a free service which takes about 30 minutes.

The Marina has a very small chandlery so Peter will have to try and get his spares from the other end of the canal in Panama City. We may not be on the dock at the other end as this Marina has limited space so expect to anchor outside.

We do not find out the results of the first leg until we reach Las Perlas but I expect you have all been watching us on the fleet viewer so can probably tell us how we did?!! Not last we think probably somewhere in the middle of the fleet so quite respectable for an old boat.