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 (Above) Capt. Eric Forsyth and the Fiona Fiona arrived at the entrance to the Panama Canal on 31 Jan. We are anchored at La Playita near the Flamenco Marina. Tomorrow we start the paperwork to clear into Panama and arrange a transit of the canal. Fiona is now abeam of Cape Mala in Panama. We spent a few nights anchored in the delightful islands of western Panama and sailed by day. We are now on a two day leg and hope to anchor in the Las Perlas Islands tomorrow. We will arrive at Balbao on 31 Jan. Fiona left Costa Rica for Panama on 22 Jan. On board we have a new crew member, Andy, who will sail as far as Cartegena. A barber removed Eric's beard, which was just too hot for the 90 degree weather we have been experiencing. We expect to arrive at Balboa and the entrance to the Canal in about a week. Special Report by Capt. Forsyth--Fiona anchored near Puntarenas, Costa Rica, on 17 Jan, 13 days out of Mexico. We logged 1,435 nm since leaving Zihautanejo. Weather along the Central American coast was lousy; headwinds, very heavy seas, large counter current. Early on 13th Jan Emilyn on watch saw (on AIS) the freighter Efficiency approaching on a collision course at 20 kts on our bow. Called on ch 16, reply was poor English, despite repeated warnings to change course they finally said they could see our green light and then turned starboard!! (Despite call to turn port.) They passed only 100 yds on our port. Scary. For about five days south of the Gulf of Tehauntepec, along the coast of Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua), we experienced atrocious weather. Winds on the nose up to gale force, heavy seas running ten to twelve feet and strong currents. At times we sailed with only the staysail and triple-reefed main. Under those conditions in one 24 hour period the distance to the destination increased by about thirty miles. Another hazard appeared as we approached Costa Rica; off the northwest corner lies an area called 'Guardian Seamounts'. These are stupendous pinnacles rising from the seafloor 6,000 ft down to within a 30 feet of the surface. They range in diameter from a few miles to 20 miles. More than two dozen are scattered over an area of about 100 miles. Many have not been surveyed for decades, clearly it would not be prudent to sail over a seamount in turbulent weather. It was the most stressful and uncomfortable sailing for quite some time. Update on Fiona's progress to Costa Rica: After leaving Zihautanejo we experienced flat calm for a couple of days and motored. Then the seas began to rise although we still had no wind, we were nearing the infamous Gulf of Tehauntepec, where very strong winds, sometimes up to hurricane strength, can be generated. The boat rolled ferociously but eventually we had enough wind to sail. This stabilized the boat but the wind increased to about 30 kt and we tied two reefs in the mains'l. We doused the jib and set the stays'l. We made good progress across the gulf but before we furled the jib a small tear developed. When the wind dropped we exchanged the genoa for the yankee jib. We are now sailing with the yankee, stays'l and reefed main, we have about 475 nm to go to Puntarenas, which will take another three to four days. Fiona left Zihautanejo at lunchtime, 4 Jan, 2010, bound for Costa Rica. ETA 13 Jan, 2010. Fiona anchored at Zihautanejo on 30 Dec. We will stay until the new year. Plans for the immediate future are vague, but we hope to sail directly to Costa Rica from Mexico. Fiona is at sea again after a very pleasant Christmas lay-over at La Cruz. We left early on 27 Dec and hope to arrive at Zihantaneo early on 30 Dec. Fiona arrived at the Riviera Nayarit Marina at la Cruz early on 25 December after a great sail from San Jose del Cabo. We set up the traditional tree in the main cabin and toasted the holiday season with a few rums. Fiona departed San Jose del Cabo on 23 Dec, we expect to anchor at La Cruz on Banderas Bay on Christmas Day. Bart signed off the crew list and we were joined by Emilyn. Fiona arrived at San Jose del Cabo Marina on 20 Dec. Emilyn will join us tomorrow and Bart will sign off on 23 Dec. The same day we will leave for La Cruz on Banderas Bay, on the Mexican 'mainland' as we will now depart from the southern tip of Baja. Fiona crossed the Tropic of Cancer today, 19 December, heading south for the tip of Baja California. We expect to tie up at San Jose del Cabo on 20 December. Captain Forsyth has adopted shorts for the first time on this cruise. Fiona arrived at Santa Maria Cove early on 17 December. We are now about 160 nm from the southern tip of Baja California. We plan to sail tomorrow for our last port in Baja California. Fiona arrived at the Bahia Tortugas in central Baja California late on 13 Dec. Fiona arrived Ensenada, Mexico on 9 Dec. We will probably stay 2 days before moving south. Fiona arrived San Diego Friday morning, 4 December after a very pleasant stay at Avalon on Catalina Is. Now berthed in B19, Cabrillo Island Marina. We expect to depart Tuesday for Ensenada, Mexico. Fiona arrived at Avalon on Catalina Island on 30 November, ETA San Diego about 4 Dec. Fiona arrived at Prisoner's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, early on 29 Nov. Gale force winds almost all the way from Monterey gave a fast passage of just over 1 1/2 days. Fiona left San Francisco Bay
on 24 Nov and tied up at Monterey the next day, where we will
stay until Friday at Breakwater Cove Marina. The plan is to sail
to Santa Cruz Island next. Captain Forsyth has returned to California . The plan is to leave with the ebb at 9 am on 24 November. The new crew are Quentin and Bart. We will probably spend Thanksgiving at Monterey. Photographs have been posted to the North West Passage Newsletter, here. Crew have now signed up for the leg to Panama and several people are interested in the leg from Panama to NY, thus the Crew Call is cancelled. Captain Forsyth will present a slide show depicting his recent cruise through the North West Passage at 4pm on 14 November in the St James Parish Hall, Beaverdam Rd, Brookhaven, NY. All are welcome, admission is free, a donation to the Carmen's River Maritime Center will be appreciated. Read Capt. Forsyth's latest Newsletter, about the Cruise Through the North West Passage, here.
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