Author Archive
Friday, 5 February 2010
Noon Position — anchored Bocas del Toro, Panama
Course – Degrees Speed – Knots Day’s Run – 210 Miles
Weather – clear skies with sunshine
Wind – light easterlies
Today’s News
The steady trade winds we had enjoyed since leaving Antigua vanished just before dusk last night – this gave us perfect speed and timing to catch a 20lb Dorado before dark – fresh fish for lunch today!!
With the breeze dropping, so did the swell and sea – Penny was happy they had filled in all the pot holes and it was smooth going from then on – got to keep the chef happy at ALL times!!
We entered the Bocas del Toro channel to the bay of Bahia Almirante around 0900hrs this morning in prefect conditions after a safe and comfortable passage.
Timoneer is now at anchor a short distance off the island of Bocas del Toro, Panama, while the crew rally to wash her down, we wait for customs / immigration to deal with formalities.
We all look forward to putting to sea again sometime.
Terry
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Thursday, 4 February 2010
Noon Position -10 26N 078 40W
Course – 250 Degrees Speed – 9.5 Knots Day’s Run -230 Miles
Weather – overcast and humid
Wind – easing trade winds
Today’s News
After another pleasant evening under sail giving a gentle roll ideal for the off watch to sleep the dawn found us with dying trade winds and overcast skies. while still enough breeze to make better speed under sail then engine – unfortunately still too fast for fishing ! ! only one flying fish found on deck at dawn.
The slower speed is also timing our arrival at the entrance to Bocas del Toro to be around 1000hrs tomorrow morning so as to have the sun behind us and high enough to assist our navigation in through the islands and reefs. All’s well, maybe it’s going to be engine on later today.
Terry
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Noon Position -12 N 53 W
Course – 248 Degrees Speed – 13 Knots Day’s Run – 292 Miles
Weather – sunshine with good visibility
Wind – Fresh easterly trade winds
Today’s News
Timoneer is presently romping along under sail, with two reefs in the mainsail and boomed out jib – enjoying fresh trades of 25 to 33knts of wind from astern, what a sail ! ! – very little compares to sailing down wind in these conditions.
Unfortunately too fast for fishing, however did find several good size flying fish on deck this morning enough to make a fish sandwich ! !
This wind is expected to continue for another 24hrs then variable conditions are forecast for the last days run into Bocas Del Toro, which is about 30 mile south of the Costa Rican border – under 500 miles to go.
With clear skies and a waning moon last night we were able star gaze at both the northern star of Polaris slowly disappearing in the northern skies and the Southern Cross rising in the southern skies as we head on a southerly course.
Terry.
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010
Noon Position 13- 48 N 070-39 W
Course – 248 Degrees Speed – 10 Knots Day’s Run – 290 Miles
Weather – sunshine, blue skies with fluffy white clouds
Wind – 23knts easterlies
Today’s News
Another slightly rolly 24 hrs of motorsailing with freshening trade winds coming from astern encouraged us this morning to boom out the jib, so now sailing wing & wing with no engine running ! !
Peace and quite with an easy motion, still making 10.5knts of boat speed – Penny our chef is very happy without the galley sliding side to side ! !
At dusk last night we had a visit of 8 playful dolphins, all enjoying our large bow wave rising out of the water and twisting mid air before splashing back in to the wave. This made quite a picture as we made our way into the setting sun – always a joy to share the ocean with them – no green flash at sunset ! !
The dawn found us with a brilliant rainbow ahead and two brown boobies ( a seabird found in this area) feeding in our wake – All’s well,
Terry…….
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Antigua to Panama
Noon Position 15-27 N 065-50 W
Course – 250 Degrees Speed – 12.4 Knots Day’s Run – 247 Miles
Weather – Brilliant sunshine
Wind – 18knts trade winds
After enjoying a Christmas cruise and a new white paint job on the super structure, Timoneer slipped the docks at the Catamaran Club in Falmouth Hbr, Antigua 1300hrs yesterday Sunday 31st bound for Bocas Del Toro, Panama with a crew of seven. By sun set we had caught our first fish so it was fresh Bonito for supper last night.
We are now making good speed west under engine and mainsail with the breeze astern – the night watches are enjoyable with the last of the full moon through the night – a flying fish was found on deck this morning. Our second fish was landed mid morning so it’s fresh Wahoo for supper with sushi appetisers – too bad for those who don’t like fish ! !
During the passage to Bocas del Toro a distance of 1270 miles our boat speed will be assisted with the equatorial current behind us, maybe 1 to 2 knts. This is the start of the Gulf Stream as it sweeps across the top of Sth America and northwards around the rim of the Caribbean Sea to Florida.
Terry…….
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Friday, 20 November 2009
Noon Position – 17deg 00.4 N 61deg 45.7 W
Course – Degrees / Speed – 0 Knots / Day’s Run – 105 Miles
Weather – Cloudy with rain showers
Wind – 5 knots from S
Today’s News
We left St Maarten at 0500 this morning heading for Antigua. We had 5-10 knots of breeze on the nose the whole way. The fish were striking and we caught 3 Spanish mackerel, which we kept and we threw away 2 baracuda.
We arrived back in English Harbour at 1630 and are now tied up in Antigua Slipway ready to start our maintainance period.
JC
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Saturday, 14 November 2009
Noon Position -18 deg 02- N 63deg 06 W
Course – At Anchor
Weather – Fine
Wind – 15 from SE
Today’s News
We arrived safely in St Maarten at 8pm local time lastnight. We have identified our hydraulic leak and will be getting more hydraulic oil Monday and off to Antigua Tuesday. So for the next couple of days we will be anchored off Simpson Bay. I will let you know when we leave. Enjoy your weekend.
JC
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Friday, 13 November 2009
Noon Position –19deg 14 N 63deg 20 W
Course -177 Degrees Speed – 11 Knots Day’s Run – 250 Miles
Weather – Fine
Wind – 11 knots from SE
Today’s News
After a lot of rain squalls yesterday afternoon, the clouds started to clear and unveiled a great sky for star gazing. The day well this morning with blue skies and then we caught a wahoo. We are steaming towards St Maarten where we plan to stop and repair the hydraulics. Hopefully we will be on our way to Antigua Monday or Tuesday. At the moment we are about 7 hours away from anchoring in Simpson Bay.
We just had a bit of excitement with a marlin on the line. It jumped a little bit and Penny got photos of the splashes. Terry managed to get it to the back of the boat before it spat the hook. We are now entering prime fishing areas and hope to get some more smaller fish preferably.
JC
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Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Noon Position –29deg 45.1 N 66deg 39.7 W
Course -156 Degrees Speed – 12 Knots Day’s Run – 299 Miles
Weather – Fine
Wind – 25 knots from NE
Today’s News
It has been a rolly ride for the last 24 hours. At the moment we have 12 to 15 foot waves and they are building. It has been too rough for fishing so the only fish we have caught are a few flying fish that have landed on board. These weather conditions are forecasted to continue for another 24 hrs. We are still making good progress.
JC
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Monday, 9 November 2009
Noon Position -33deg 54 N 69deg 00 W
Course -145 Degrees Speed –11.5 Knots Day’s Run – 280 Miles
Weather – Fine
Wind – 17 knots from NE
Today’s News:
We got the genoa out yesterday afternoon and had a very pleasant sail until the wind died. We have been motoring through the night with very little wind. Today started well when Terry caught a Yellowfin tuna just before sunrise, so it is sushi for lunch and tuna steaks for dinner.
At the moment we are being slowed down by 2 knots of current against us but hopefully we will be out of that later today. The wind has just filled in from the NE and we have the genoa out and we have just picked up 1.5 knots of speed. It has been another perfect sunny morning until now when we have just encounted the little fluffy clouds than come with the trade winds.
JC
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