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Cruisin’ Through the Crossroads

Forty-six boatloads of westbound cruisers attended the free Tahiti Bon Voyage seminar and party Sunday at Panama’s Shelter Bay Marina, which lies near the Caribbean entrance to the world-famous Canal.

latitude/Andy
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

At this time every year, a diverse international armada of cruising sailboats converges on the Panama Canal. Most of them are headed west to the fabled isles of French Polynesia on the ambitious, weeks-long passage we call the Pacific Puddle Jump. Once on the Pacific side of the famous ‘ditch’, the fleet swells with dozens of additional westbound boats that have worked their way south along the Central American coast.

On Monday, a second gathering on the Pacific side at Balboa YC drew many more sailors. Representing Tahiti Tourisme, Manoa Rey and Stephanie Betz shared a wealth of info on French Polynesian cruising and culture.

latitude/Andy
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC

This week we joined South Pacific partners from Tahiti Tourisme and from New Zealand’s Whangarei Marine Group and Opua Marina in hosting Tahiti Bon Voyage parties on both sides of the Canal. Forty-six crews representing 14 countries attended our event at Shelter Bay Marina Sunday, and 35 crews representing 15 countries turned up Monday for our fiesta at the Balboa Yacht Club.

In addition to representatives from Tahiti Tourisme and from North Island, New Zealand, marine groups, Tahitian yacht agent Tehani Li was on hand at both events to organize ‘bond exemptions’ and get (half-price) duty-free fuel for fleet members.

latitude/Andy
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

As you might imagine, the back-stories of these fleet members are as varied as the boats they sail. At least two crews were on their second lap around the planet and several had been ‘out there’ cruising for more than 15 years, contrasted with others who’d recently bought cruise-ready boats and were in their first months of cruising. There were lots of families with kids, too — the youngest being 10-month-old Brian, who was born in Panama to American cruisers Brian and Nok Christianson of Margarita.

The Reinke 52 Seute Deern was built by Niels Frommann’s uncle, who cruised her for 12 years before Niels became her second skipper. For the crossing, he is lucky to have San Francisco-based David Kory (right) along as crew, a vastly experienced sailor who has already made 13 previous trips to French Polynesia. They met 13 years ago, when Niels helped David bring his Catalina 38 Barking Spider back to the Bay Area from the 2003 Transpac, and they’ve sailed together off and on ever since.

latitude/Andy
©2016Latitude 38 Media, LLC

We’ll introduce you to dozens of these fascinating folks in an upcoming issue of Latitude 38 magazine. But we warn you, hearing their stories may inspire you to quit your job, load up your boat and follow in their wakes across the western horizon.

"Our only plan is that we have no plan," quipped Canadians Kyle and Shelley Benger of the Dufour 46 Blowin’ Bubbles. After working for 20 summers as dive instructors in Cozumel, they sold their house and began their cruise to the tropics. "Our kids didn’t believe we’d do it, but when the for-sale sign went up, they knew we were serious."

latitude/Andy
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

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As you’ve been reading on ‘Lectronic Latitude and in the pages of Latitude 38 magazine, recent developments have put the future of the Alameda Marina at serious risk.