We departed Providencia in company of the catamaran Damiana
with Roy and Marlene aboard, sailing in moderately light winds and moderate seas. Late in the afternoon we passed San Andres and at about sundown we had cleared the Alburquerque Keys. We had an uneventful second day at sea with a few clouds threatening to produce rain and we heard thunder a few times, but nothing developed. We were out of sight of Damiana, but we were checking in on the VHF radio every three hours for reassurance that all was well. At about two the next morning the wind died with about sixty more miles to go to reach Bocas del Drago so the motor was called into service. We approached the inlet at dawn and were impressed with the lighted buoys showing us the channel in the early morning twilight. As the sun began to show its face the lights on the buoys went out and it became surprisingly difficult to determine their location at a distance. I found this to be somewhat disconcerting, but as we got closer the channel was plainly evident and we entered with no problem. As we approached, we called Pearl S. Buck and Bryan responded. It was great to hear his voice as we had not heard him since he left Guanaja two months previously. He and Dorothy were anchored at Starfish Beach (pictured). We rounded the island of Colon and tucked into their anchorage to rest until Monday when we could check into Panama without paying a weekend surcharge to the officials.
We enjoyed a swim and Barb walked with Dorothy on the beach.
On Monday, we called the port captain and said we would anchor near the Bocas del Toro Marina. He said we should not leave the boat and that he would round up the necessary officials and visit us in an hour or so.
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