Jan 8, 2012
We departed Port Antonio this morning at 0830 hrs bound for El Porvenir, San Blas Islands: 555 nm. the Wx was gorgeous with Trade Winds out of the ENE at 15-18 kts., seas 8' in a long swell. After rounding the Eastern Tip of Jamaica, we set a direct course for El Porvenir. We made one thirty mile tack to clear a shoal area and after that we were able to hold a course of 198 degrees for almost the remainder of the trip. This was an ideal weather window in an unusually boisterous Trade Wind area. We could not have asked for anything better. At times the seas would pickup to 10' swells but they were gentle giants with a long period in between. In big seas what makes the difference between a comfortable ride and a choppy one is the period between swells: the longer the period, the easier the ride.
January 9, 10, 11, 12
The weather is absolutely gorgeous! It's hard to believe that we have chosen an ideal weather window. I have been listening to Chris Parker who is one of the WX gurus for the the Bahamas and Caribbean. He indicated that it would be an ideal time to sail and so it is. We are averaging about 150 nm a day under double reefed mainsail and reefed jib. The wind continues to be out of the ENE at 15-18 kts with a 8-10' swell. This Valiant performs well and is very dry in a seaway. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that it was chosen as "yacht of the decade" in 1995 by Yachting Magazine.
January 12, 2012
At 1048 this morning we dropped anchor @ El Porvenir (9-33.4 N x 78-56.9 W) and cleared Customs and Immigration: very easy process with no bureaucratic hassle. El Porvenir is a small wind swept island with nothing to recommend it other that a check-in port of entry. Our first encounter with the Kuna Indians started in the anchorage when the women paddled out in dugout canoes selling "Molas". I have explained what they are in another post. We needed to catch up on some sleep so we stayed anchored for the night.
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