Wednesday, February 25, 2026

La Playita - Catalinia

Having spent almost four weeks again anchored off Panama City, it was time to go. Our original intention was mid-February, but fixing a leaking muffler and a broken watermaker took a while. But better to deal with those here than in the middle of the ocean!

We completed the border formalities and some last-minute groceries, and decided to move to Taboga to have a bit more predictable wave conditions for the rig check and bottom cleaning. La Playita is a fine anchorage, but you frequently get big wake from the passing ferries and pilot boats.

Anchor came up surprisingly clean, apart from a thick layer of growth and hundreds of tiny crabs on the chain. Then we proceeded to motor southwest and around the corner of Taboga. The cove was empty when we arrived, and we could choose a good spot. But now we’re actually trapped here as the local fishermen laid a net across the entry. Hopefully it’ll be gone by morning.

• Distance today: 9.8NM
• Lunch: Burgers
• Engine hours: 2.7

Friday, January 30, 2026

Catalinia - La Playita

Looking at the weather forecast, we decided that today is the nicest day to sail back. So we hoisted the anchor and set main in first reef and dug out the staysail.

The waves were splashing accross the bow and Lille Ø heeled deep when we pinched as high to the wind as possible. The current against us we made slow progress towards our anchorage. About 2 miles to the channel, the coast guard came by with blinking lights and ordered us to take the sails down. Apparently one should not sail close to the channel. Our definition of close isn’t two miles. But there is no arguing with the officials. So we lowered the sails and motored the last 3 miles.

Now we are again anchored next to Katydid and to our surprise Tally Ho, the famous wooden sailboat that won the 1927 Fastnet and was recently rebuilt and is on it’s way to race on the 2027 Fastnet.

• Distance today: 11.6NM
• Engine hours: 1.7

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Las Brisas - Catalinia

While waiting for various logistics to happen, we decided to go and spend a few days on the outer islands of Panama City. Taboga had been recommended, and so we hoisted the anchor and headed there.

The morning was fickle winds, and so we alternated between ghosting under sail, and motoring. At Taboga the anchorage proved to be very tight - at least if you didn’t want to drop the hook in 20m. We found a small spot between Katydid and the beach.

While doing our normal anchoraging routines, the wind picked up and produced an immediate short and sharp wave pattern. We visited Katydid briefly and agreed to look for a better spot.

Anchor up, followed by the sails. Wind was around 12kn, but soon picked up to over 20. Good time to leave! We put in a reef and rounded the corner to the other side of Taboga. This had been recommended by Breezen, and indeed what a beautiful spot! The anchorage is quite deep, but well protected from the prevailing wind. Steep hills and a waterfall surround us, somewhat reminiscent of Scotland. But if there was shore life, it’d be crocodiles instead of seals.

• Distance today: 15.8NM
• Lunch: feta salad
• Engine hours: 3.4

Friday, January 9, 2026

Lake Gatun - Las Brisas

The alarm rang at 6am. Expected time for advisor 07:15. So coffee and hearty breakfast were consumed and to everyones slight suprice the advisor came on board exactly when promised.

He didn’t want more breakfast, only coffee. At 7:30 we were already on the way. The drive through Gatun Lake was hot and long. Along the way we only once needed to lower our speed to avoid a narrow spot with a New Panamax class vessel. After that, it was back to 2300 rpm and 5.5 knots of speed. At 12 we arrived to the first locks. Before entering we rafted with Aero and Pango proceeded to drive us all in in the quattromaran formation. Then down the first locks, a small drive to the next set. 20 meters down and then. Pacific Ocean!

Kippis Henrik!

• Distance today: 37.4NM
• Lunch: spinach quiche
• Engine hours: 9.9

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Shelter Bay - Lake Gatun

The few days of preparation at the marina went by quickly. Then came the awaited message: “Hello transit day January 8”.

And so we did another round of grocery shopping, got our linehandlers (crews of Plan B and Katydid) on board. With the expert assistance from the Shelter Bay dockmaster, leaving the tight spot was easy. Lille Ø is so small that we shared a box with a katamaran!

We anchored in The Flats for a couple of hours and then got our Canal Advisor on board. We would be doing the transit rafted up with a 13m catamaran and a 14m monohull.

The three lock chambers went without any major hassles. There was some light rain exactly when we were having dinner, but that was the biggest glitch.

Now we’re side-tied to one of the canal overnight buoys on the Lake Gatun. For the short moment again, Lille Ø is a freshwater boat!

• Distance today: 10NM
• Dinner: spaghetti bolognese
• Engine hours: 4.7

Friday, January 2, 2026

Panamarina - Shelter Bay

Finally the rain stopped in the early hours. We woke up with the sun, prepared the boat for a proper shakedown after the yard time as the waves were crashing to the reef outside hard. So, motor on, and away! After the reef pass, we were fully in the Atlantic swell again. We slowly pushed through untill we had enough room to start sailing. We hoisted the main in 1st reef and rolled out a sliver of genoa and turned to our rolly downwind sail towards Shelter Bay.

The seas were big and lumpy. The occasional breaker would push us to a nice speed or try to veer us off course.

At 8 miles to Shelter Bay breakwater we contacted the Cristóbal Signal Station for the first time. We were given a secondary checkpoint at 2NM to breakwater. There we were given permission to enter behind As Felicia. The last moments were very rolly but we made it through and could enjoy a mile of smooth sailing before it was time to pump the fenders and prepare the lines for the Shelter Bay Marina. Now we are tucked in still water and can start the final push to get the boat to be ready to go for the Panama Canal. So: farewell Atlantic, you were good to us!

Kippis Bernhard!

• Distance today: 27.4NM
• Lunch: potato salad
• Engine hours: 1.2

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Linton Bay - Panamarina

There was a slight intermission as we helped Plan B through the Panama Canal and I passed my Full amateur radio exam. When I got back to Linton Bay, there was the awaited WhatsApp message: “we can haul out your sailboat tomorrow morning”.

And so after morning coffee it was anchor up and motoring around the reefs to the next protected bay.

At Panamarina we waited for a couple of hours on one of their mooring balls while they attempted to hoist a catamaran. Then came our turn. The process of arriving to the slip wagon was easy, aided by a dinghy operating as a harbour tug.

Everything went smoothly, from lifting the boat to pressure wash, and parking the boat on the work yard. This is the first time we’re not doing the haulout by ourselves, and it was weird to just stand idly and watch others work.

The yard inside the mangroves seems nice and DIY spirited. There’s a French restaurant and a small chandlery. And it is a short dinghy ride to the bigger chandlery in Linton Bay. Now we can work on antifouling and close some seacocks.

• Distance today: 2.5NM
• Lunch: lasagne
• Engine hours: 1

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Chichime - Linton Bay

At dawn it was time to hoist the anchor from 11 meters deep. It is quite the workout. We carefully manouvered past the reefs in first light.

Main in 1st reef and staysail went up. With the sunshine came also the 20kn winds that we had been expecting. Finally, fast sailing with the wind and current behind us! The 40nm went quickly and we both were enjoying the sailing. Abeam Nombre de Dios the wind calmed to around 10kn which with the 2 meter swell made an uncomfortable approach to the narrow pass to Linton Bay.

As we were approaching Robin commented in the chat “From AIS it looks like a German invasion”

We and apparently all other German boats had decided that today is a good day to sail to Linton Bay. After a bit, the waves calmed down and we ghosted along with 5kn of wind untill we reached the anchorage. We dropped anchor at 12 meters and are now well staged for our haul out next week. Time for some new bottom paint!

• Distance today: 44NM
• Lunch: pea soup
• Engine hours: 1.4

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Banedup - Chichime

Wind is a rare treat here, and one not to be ignored. As a matter of fact, we have sailed more miles in Guna Yala with Isosaari than with Lille Ø.

As there was a nice breeze in forecast for today, we decided to hoist anchor and stage us to the west end of the archipelago. Logistics are happening, and we need to be closer to the bigger cities soon.

Two gybes to clear the reefs around Swimming Pool, and what followed was a lovely broad reach down the archipelago. If you squint, this could be around Stockholm with the hundreds of protected anchorages filled with sailboats. Just, palm trees instead of pines.

Now we’re anchored in the tourist spot of Chichime. Very protected, but with constant traffic moving backpackers in and out of the mainland.

• Distance today: 15NM
• Lunch: salad
• Engine hours: 0.8

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Digir Dubbu - Banedup

Hoisting the anchor was not the easiest as the anchor was 11 meters deep. After Bergie had caught his breath again, we carefully manouvered through the west entrance and headed towards Banedup under engine. The archipelago in here is wider and there is more reefs protecting us from the swell, so we made decent progress.

Now we have clearly reached the more beaten path. After weeks in the relative wilderness, suddenly there were sailboats anchored all around us next to various palm islands, and actual traffic to consider.

3 miles to destination, we felt the wind pick up. Quick! Hoist the sails! We can actually SAIL our sailboat! It became a marvelous bit of beam reach in 10kn of wind and 40 meters of water.

We dropped sails outside of the reefs and motored in. We dropped our anchor in 3 meters of crystal clear water, there is a reason why cruisers call this anchorage the Swimming Pool. This stop might take a while as I feel the need to turn into a sea otter once again.

• Distance today: 14.5NM
• Dinner: pizza
• Engine hours: 3.2