Still reveling in a successful transit of the Panama Canal, Angie leads the charge to fill the boat with food and supplies for the ~4000nm passage to French Polynesia. Lucky for us, a favorable weather window appears in the long term forecast just as the last locker is filled with provisions.
The first challenge is sailing out of the Gulf of Panama, a 100nm deep bight just above South America. A moderate north breeze fills in just as forecast, and Oso is off! Punta Mala (which translates to Bad Point) at the tip of the Gulf lives up to its name, delivering very sloppy 6’/2m waves in the strong current, even though we give it a wide 15nm berth and there is nearly no background swell. Where do the waves come from?
Both before and after the point, though, the conditions are stellar – enough wind to power up the sails but not so much that the waves build, a clear night sky pricked with infinite stars, and a green-white phosphorescent wake from the bioluminescence.
All’s well aboard.
Day One
05 45.2N 80 55.3W
192nm (+ 21nm from a start before noon)
