It’s been a while since our last post. We have been very busy selecting the prettiest anchorage in San Blas archipelago. As you can imagine it is very challenging appointment with a lot of responsibility that distracted us from the blog post schedule. We will announce the “official” results later. In addition there is only a very limited area where we can get telephone and Internet connection here.

Here is an update on “After You” sinking in 150 ft of water in January. She came back to “life”, salvaged by an enterprising Mark of sailing vessel “Melody” after spending a few weeks on the bottom. Miraculously he was able to start the engine, and transfer her to a safe anchorage, where haul patch and other immediate repairs are done. The skipper, who did not believe that she can be recovered, surrendered his ownership rights to salvage, and is now shopping for the next boat in Panama. I cannot even imagine damage the boat systems suffered being submerged for weeks in salt water, but structurally she is sound again and will probably be towed to Cartagena, Columbia for refit and sale. It is hard to leave this story without mentioning one of the key participants, a very colorful Irish lad by the name Derek of s/v “Celtic Dancer”. I came with him in his dingy to the site on a very first distress call from “After You” at 3 AM that memorable night. He is very enthusiastic, engaging, helpful, and fast-talking fellow. Unfortunately quite a few people including me can only comprehend what he is saying, when he slows down to exclaim “Shyte!” which made it interesting during salvage effort coordination. The legends started to circulate about all sort of disasters happening when he is around, and ugly rumors of “Larry the Leprechaun” following Derek and causing the mischief: the dingy flipped by a large wave while fishing with his girlfriend and another cruiser resulting in loss of fishing gear, radio, and mysteriously Derek’s swimming trunks; neighboring boat loosing an anchor without any reason, etc. Fortunately he had to return to work pumping oil in Kazakhstan, so we can breath easier, however I am really concerned about price of crude on the world markets now.

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at Kaimou Cays desperately looking for something green to wear, but since our clothes are very limited (for a lack of need) we had to emerse ourselves into bright green Caribbean water. I think it worked out OK. We were very happy to receive a note from the Lost Celts, Betty and Kevin, formerly known as s/v “Citation”.

While anchored in the “Hot Tub” (Kalugir Tupu island), we participated in another rescue from a reef incident. French catamaran “Babagnuff IV” of Outremer design and construction, lodged itself on a reef entering the anchorage at dusk. Alain, the skipper, broke a cardinal rule of San Blas navigation to travel inside the reefs only at full light, and paid for it with a scare and sleepless night. Since the site of grounding is not exposed to sea surf, the catamaran was happily pulled back into deep water next morning with only cosmetic damage to the hauls. Alain and Henry (the crew) invited all participants in the operations for a “Sundowner” celebration that afternoon; unfortunately we had plans to leave that day for Isla Tigre and did not witness the event.

We celebrated Passover anchored East off Isla Tuala in a company of Linda and Doug of “Que Linda”. Carol baked “Kosher for Passover” matzos under my official, but not very Orthodox supervision. They came out very well, even though I had to fight off Carol’s attempts to “foodify” them with Parmesan cheese and garlic – imagine “designer bread of affliction”. Doug, being the youngest aboard, had to impersonate a child to ask four traditional Seder questions. It came to him quite naturally which illustrate that you cannot always be young, but you can always be immature.

Well, now the drums please:

The prettiest anchorages in San Blas:

5. Uchutupu Dumat of Chichime Cays
4. “Potluck” Island known as “Swimming Pool” of Eastern Hollandaise Cays
3. Isla Nuinudup of Eastern Lemon Cays
2. Isla Kuanidup of Los Grullos Cays
1. Isla Tuala of Coco Bandero Cays

Disclaimer: any disagreement with these “official” rating should NOT be directed to us.