Sailing Trance

Thursday February 20

So the run around begins. We spent 2.5 hours at the bank, paying for our exit from Costa Rica. Then we got on a non air conditioned bus for the airport to go to customs. Another 2.5 hours round trip to airport to get our cancellation documents. It’s now after 2pm we’ll have to complete the process tomorrow as the port captain closes at 3 we won’t make it on time.

There are two other sailboats near us at anchorage. One from Texas the other Alaska, both also part of the Panama posse. We saw the Texans at the grocery store this afternoon, they are planning on possibly leaving Saturday. The Alaska boat, Bill and Lisanne, we had cocktails with in the evening they are also planning on leaving Friday. The four of us boats are all headed north.

Wednesday February 19

Dan went for a run on the beach this morning, I baked banana walnut muffins for breakfast.

Did boat projects all day, the seams to be recurring tasks. I did a lot of reading about Mexico and which ports we should stop at, it’s so much work especially because all the guide books assume you are sailing south, which means I have to read the book starting from the back, as we are traveling north. Later had dinner with Saltair3 on their boat. Krista made a delicious taco pie, we brought a black bean and corn salsa, polished off two bottles of wine.

Tuesday February 18

Went over to our buddy boat Saltair3 this morning for coffee and discuss the weather or the wind. As of today we are aiming for a window on Friday. Thursday we will run around town to check out of Costa Rica. It’s complicated, we have to go to four different places. Immigration, the bank, customs and the port captain.

The rest of the day was boat projects, the Dan and I went in town for dinner at this little Mexican restaurant.

Monday February 17

Dan and I went to town early, walked around, picked up a few item we forgot yesterday. Had lunch, also stopped at the Port Captains office to get the correct order to check out tomorrow.

Pelicans dive fishing all around us!

Sunday February 16

The manager at Marina Papagayo let us stay another night because the winds were so high, with gusts over 40 knots. He said if we left early he wouldn’t charge us for another day. By 6am we were at the fuel dock, then on our way to Playas del Coco, just 2 hours away. This is the last checkout in Costa Rica. We saw several rays jumping and swimming near us. After anchoring we dinged into town to buy a few groceries. It was tough sleeping with those howling winds.

Immigration from what we heard is not opened on Mondays so weather permitting we’ll check out of Costa Rica Tuesday.

Saturday February 15

Well, we had planned on leaving Marina Papagayo today, but there is way too much wind! These Papagayo Winds are crazy!!! It’s been blowing 25 knots with gusts to 40! (and it’s 91F) since early this morning. Our boat is rocking so much sitting here at the dock it’s making my stomach rock🤢. We tried to rent a car today however none were available. If the winds calm later today or tomorrow morning we’re leaving to an anchorage near by, (anchoring is cheaper than marinas) wait for a weather window to go north. This is the last city to check out of Costa Rica, so we wait.

Pool time!

Friday February 14

I baked peanut butter cookies for my Valentine. Baking on a boat!

We spent most of the afternoon in the pool, cocktails with Krista and Brad, dinner and a movie, The Irishman.

Thursday February 13

Dan ran 10 miles this morning, then we took a 2 mile nature walk around the marina. It was also laundry day, had cocktails with Saltair3 then dinner at the Dive Bar.

Waiting for a weather window as these Papagayo Winds are a bit strong.

Wednesday February 12

We departed Playa Flamingo around 8am, it was a 4 hour sail to Marina Papagayo. At 11:30 we saw the whitecaps coming! The winds went from 0 to 26 knots in seconds.

We hosted potluck dinner on our boat, our buddies on Saltair3 came as well as Robert who is sailing south, he’s also a Panama Posse member.

Tuesday February 11

The anchor was raised at sunrise, we let Baha Samara headed towards Playa Flamingo.

Experienced our first Papagayo Winds, we maxed at 31.3 knots apparent wind speed and reached 9.1 knots boat speed over ground with double reefs in the Main and Genoa. Good thing it was daylight, sunny and warm.