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Ayama - SHELTER BAY PANAMA



       We had a lovely night sail with the genoa, winds about 14 knots and seas not too big, clear skies and a small bright moon.  We were all on the look-out for a meteorite Stefan had heard about but we never saw it.  Fortunately  Per sat up with me on my 9-12pm watch as we had an Italian cruise ship Atlantica head straight for us and Per had to call them on the radio to make sure they were aware of us.  Italian cruise ship captains do not have a good reputation.  There was quite a bit of shipping about but only the cruise ship caused any concern.  We had an odd light we thought might be a mast light but it turned out to be a distant shore light….everything is so clear in daylight! 

     Dawn broke as we approached the breakwater; plenty of ships anchored waiting for permission to enter, it would have been daunting to arrive in the dark.  As we approached the breakwater, motor-sailing, a large red container ship, Cap Domingo, headed our way and we came through together, Ayama dwarfed by the cargo ship.  As we turned to starboard to head to Shelter Bay the Cap Domingo called us up on the radio to say how lovely Ayama looked.

      We tied up in the marina at 8.20 am.  Stefan went off to do all the formalities and we had a refreshing shower which helped wash the salt off Ayama.  Stefan returned with good and bad news.  We couldn’t haul out until midday tomorrow but we could today.  So we hauled out and Stefan and Per spent a hot afternoon changing the bearing.  The bearing was damaged so Stefan had made the correct diagnosis.  Being on the hard we caught more wind so it was very refreshing and had a view over the wilderness at the back of the marina.  Anna booked into the hotel and the rest of us spent the night on Ayama.  It felt a bit strange as the wind made the mast vibrate, we still had our sea legs so being on land we have the sensation of movement, especially when one sits on the loo.  We were woken by a dawn chorus of birdsong.   We are now back on the marina.  Stefan has been up the mast to sort out the tricolour light .  Per and Stefan are now taking down the solar panels in preparation for the canal transit on the 1st Feb.


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