STILL IN FT. LAUDERDALE

December 6, 2011

Yes, we're still here putting all the final details together.  The more research I do on the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama, the more preparations I find necessary.  Two days ago I realized that Phyllis didn't have a  Yellow Fever Vaccination documented.  Fortunately, my union American Maritime Officers has a medical clinic in Dania Beach, Florida which is a short bus ride from our location at Las Olas Marina.  Off we went to the Medical Clinic.  Phyllis was given five vaccinations:  Yellow Fever, typhoid, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, tetanus.  My documentation was pretty much up-to-date so I only needed typhoid, measles, mumps and rubella.  Even though I am retired, all services from the AMO medical clinic are free.  It's a great Union and they take care of their members.

Today I realized that the Certificate of Documentation on the yacht had our old Mississippi address on it so the renewal form never came to our new address.  I called the USCG and was informed that I had to send in form CG-1280 which is an address change for the renewal.  It was one of the simplest US Government documents I have ever filled out.  Usually, I have to call the help desk just to decipher what they want and where to find them.

Tonight I discovered that it will be necessary to take Malaria pills before arriving in the San Blas Islands.  Tomorrow is another trip to the AMO Medical Clinic for these pills.  We keep finding these necessary items that have to be attended to, however, we are waiting on a Wx window anyway so no time is lost.

It is incredible how difficult it is to make a break with the land connection after so many years.  Everything revolves around a physical address, phone, email, credit cards, bank accounts, etc, etc.  All has to be attended to before we leave because our internet service will only be available in major ports on our itinerary.  This means that once we leave here, there will be no blog until we get to a place in Panama that has WiFi or an internet cafe.  My reports indicate that there is no internet service in the San Blas Islands.  They are owned and managed by the Kuna Yala Indians as a sovereign territory under Panamanian authority.

We plan to leave on Thursday but it might be Friday before the Wx calms down a bit for the crossing over the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.  The Voyage Plans runs like this:  Ft. Lauderdale to the Northwest Passage in the Bahamas, sail down Exuma Sound to the West of Rum Cay, Crooked Is Passage to the Windward Passage,  South of Jamaica, El Porvenir in the San Blas Islands.  Total distance = 1300 nm.  I figure about 14 days sailing in some fairly boisterous Trade Winds blowing out of the NE-E.  Seas will average 6-9' which is normal on a Trade Wind Passage.  The tropical cyclone season is over and there are almost no gales on our intended route.  The Valiant 40 is a blue water boat and built to sail on the high seas.   If handled properly, she will take care of us in most conditions that mother nature decides to offer up.  The increasing prevalence of pirates and thieves are more of a concern than "mother ocean".  Still -all in all- sailing is still safer than crossing the street in many metropolitan areas of the world.