Panama

30
Jul
2025
Winter Storage

Winter Storage

Freshly rested and full of new energy, we return to Mabul from our vacation in Colombia. But in addition to beautiful memories, we also bring back a far-reaching decision: after three intense, exciting, and at the same time exhausting years, we need a longer break from life at sea to finally find peace again. So the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal will have to wait another six months until we and Mabul are ready for the next adventure. To prevent further mishaps, we decide to park Mabul in the dry dock of the Panamarina during hurricane season – at least there she can’t sink herself. The coming weeks will therefore be dominated by a special task: putting our sailboat into winter storage in the tropics.

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13
Jun
2025
The Mangrove Months

The Mangrove Months

Before finally passing through the canal into the long-awaited Pacific Ocean, there is one last short stop on land. The very last Panama Canal boat preparation. The worn-out cutlass bearing needs to be replaced again, and above all, the cause must be permanently fixed. Since we have been anchored in Linton Bay for weeks anyway, the decision is clear: Mabul will be hauled ashore at the nearby Panamarina, we will rent a room with air conditioning to keep the mood bearable, and we will do what needs to be done.

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05
Jun
2025
Gallery – Panamarina

Gallery – Panamarina

The time has come again, Mabul is spending a few days on the hard in Panamarina so that I can replace the shaft bearing and rectify the cause. The recently installed rudder bearings are still like new, but the keel-hull joint repair from the last dry dock round didn’t hold. So I pull out my beloved angle grinder again and remove everything I laminated on a few months ago. And this is exactly where the problem lies. I laminated over the keel joint, but that doesn’t make much sense from a sober point of view. The slight movement that is always present here will and has simply sheared off two super-stiff, thin layers of fiberglass laminate. We book a room with air conditioning right next to Mabul, which makes the whole experience much more pleasant. Back in the water, we decide to have a fixed railing welded to Mabul and since the welder is already on board anyway, we could do this and that… And that one as well…

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07
May
2025
Gallery – Birding in Panama

Gallery – Birding in Panama

The wildlife and especially the birdlife in Panama is simply amazing and too often I was unable to capture them well in photographs. Even the most modern smartphone camera gigantism is not enough, the flight distance of the shy animals is simply too much. So I’ve been carrying a longer lens for my mirrorless camera on our walks for a quarter of a year now. And all of a sudden, it’s become a new incentive to explore nature. So I spend hours and hours birding in Panama in the forest, in the mangroves or on the dinghy to get to know more and more of this diversity. All the photos were taken on the Caribbean side of Panama, between Colon and San Blas.

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25
Apr
2025
Stranded in Linton Bay

Stranded in Linton Bay

We reach Linton Bay in early February – we have no idea that we will be stranded here for much longer. But staying in one place for longer also has its advantages. You get to know the people on the boats and on land. These people and their stories are particularly interesting in Linton Bay – and in many cases also quite weird.

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21
Apr
2025
Gallery – Puerto Lindo

Gallery – Puerto Lindo

Back from San Blas, we are on anchorage near Puerto Lindo in Linton Bay. Here our friend Moni disembarks again, and Karin also sets off on a research trip to the Pacific coast. Meanwhile, I repair Mabul’s minor aches and pains and once again encounter major problems. The almost new cutlass bearing is already showing some play again, so there’s still something wrong. One way or another, Mabul has to go ashore again and a new cutlass bearing has to be ordered and delivered. But the area here has a high recreational value and so we explore various small islands, meet new animal friends and immerse ourselves in local life. This should actually be the last stop before the canal, the canal administration has already approved all the documents for the transit and Karin’s sister has also booked a flight to go through the canal with us as linehandlers. Once again, plans are there to be changed. Read more in the blog Stranded in Linton Bay

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21
Feb
2025
Gallery – San Blas III

Gallery – San Blas III

From Isla Tigre, we sail on to Waisaladup in San Blas, where our friend Moni comes on board. We continue with her to the so-called swimming pool: here we meet up with many old friends from the Turtle Cay Marina in crystal-clear, turquoise waters. After various dream islands, we also make a detour with the dinghy into the Rio Mangles on the nearby mainland. The water is choppy, and every other wave sends a splash of spray over the bow – good thing our camera and phones stay dry in the little drybag. As we glide into the narrow channels between the mangroves, the scenery shifts completely: the lush green closes in around us, and the contrast to the sandy islets with palm trees couldn’t be more striking.

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