Cuba to Panama anti clockwise

[animamundi]

Hi all!!

First of all, thank you everyone that are active in this forum. It has been an important source of information and inspiration as we made the transition from land to sea! We are currently in St. Lucia and have had great 6 months in the windward islands.

We are thinking of sailing north to Cuba in jan-march and then (march-may) across to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, through Panama and then finally up the Pacific coast to Costa Rica. The idea is to stay in Costa Rica for some time (maybe 6 months).

We are family sailing and have a 3yr old onboard.

We have lots of questions about above and for starters, is it a good idea at all to sail from Cuba to Panama via Central America??? We cant seem to get info about how hard core the sailing is and also what is the security situations on this route?? Another obvious question is if one can stay in Costa Rica's Pacific side during the hurricane season? (we stayed in the box in the Windward Islands during the last HC-season but we were lucky with very little action)

Thank you all!!!

 

[tri39]

If you visit Richard Woods website sailingcatamarans.com he has info about sailing central America, he spent the summer in Rio Dulce on the carib coast in 03 or 04.

According to the current OCC publication a few yachties do spend the summer on the Pacific coast, but you'd have to get into a very sheltered place, possibly up a river and even lifted out and tied down! Stan Homer of Homer's Odyssey recommend Bahia del Sol and Barillas in El Salvador; Puesta del Sol in Nicaragua; Punta Arenas and Golfito in Costa Rica.

Most yachts head up to Baja California. Be very careful crossing the Gulf of ?Tehuantepec.

 

[john_q]

Eastern caribbean to NW caribbean

We went from St Marteens to Cuba in 2007, then onto Mexico, Belize and Rio Dulce Guatemala.

We are currently in the Rio Dulce and have based ourselves on the Rio Dulce for the last 3 seasons cuising Belize and Mexico.

PM me for futher info

 

[jonic]

We cruised the Eastern Caribbean last year and are now in Florida. We are thinking of going to Cuba this year and then possibly to the San Blas off Panama via the Windward Passage. We have a three and a five year old. Perhaps we could meet up?

 

[Gerry]

Yes perfectly do able....

However there is really no suitable anchorages on the Caribean coast of Costa Rica. The usual route would be Cuba-Belize-bay Islands-Providencia-Panama.

January thru March you might hit the Northers which can sometimes be a little nast, 30+ knots but if you come along the south coast of Cuba you will be pretty protected.

Mexico is a hassle to clear in and out of but loved by those who do! Wander down the reefs of Belize and then head towards Roatan one of the bay Islands of Honduras, enjoy a stop at Guanaja the Eastern most of the islands and then the big push round the corner to Providencia(part of Colombia) The trick is to wait for the right weather window, prevailing east winds can make this a nightmarish trip but sooner or later you'll find a window...

Then maybe a stop at San Andreas and onto Panama.

Watch the weather and be prpared to wait for the right conditions, enjoy!

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[Foxy]

Heading to Cuba, probably south coast. Should arrive mid Feb for couple of months. Wil try to check in at Santiago de Cuba. Would be cool to meet up if you fancy. That old lush Jonic too perhaps, though heaven forbid........

 

[mandlmaunder]

going the other way!

Hi Animamundi
We are at present in El Cid marina, Puerto Morelos, Cancun,Mexico and you can clear in to Mexico through the marina at a cost of $150, not bad considering the mount of running around it will save you.
The marina has births and 6 Mooring buoys at the enterance which cost $12 per night, the usual fee for a birth is $1,30 per foot per day but that can easily be haggled down to the monthly rate of $0,90 pfpd if you are planning on stay for a week or so to see the Mayan and other sights.
Going south this year has been a bit lumpy on several occasions but as Gerry has said it's all about weather windows and if you can wait you will be fine.
But from where you are it would make moor sailing sense to go clock wise, but your plans are your plans and every thing can work if given enough time.
The prevailing current is running north at about 1.5knt at present and the forecast is for 15ft waves between Cuba and Mexico early next week. Not an usual event at the edge of the Cuba shelf.

My personal advice if you haven't already guessed would be to go clock wise, but sailing from Mexico to Panama is truly outstanding for its beauty and diversity of forna , flora and cultures.
Make sure you have the most upto date guides you can get as every port entry you make between Mexico and Honduras is through the MesoAmerican reef and new buoys and entry's are being used all the time.
We use Rains 'Cruising Ports" the central American Route and Cmap with OpenCPN chart plotter soft ware.
Hope to see you on route as our paths cross some where warm and sunny.

Good luck
Mark
At present on motor yacht Ocean Dance.

 

[jonic]

Heading to Cuba, probably south coast. Should arrive mid Feb for couple of months. Wil try to check in at Santiago de Cuba. Would be cool to meet up if you fancy. That old lush Jonic too perhaps, though heaven forbid........

Old lush! Who are you calling old

 

[animamundi]

Hi there!

Thank u all very much for your great feedback!

The main reasons we are going anti clockwise are that we want to visit Cuba and also spend time in Mexico, Belize etc. We are really keen on visiting these spanish speaking countries if it can be done safely. We are not in a hurry to go through Panama and will have time to wait for weather windows since we do not plan to cross the Pacific in 2010 but instead stay at Costa Rica's Pacific coast (if that is viable!)

I know it is difficult to advise on security since every one has different acceptence level and experience senarios differently. However, any thougths on security on this route? We are not the paranoid sort but since we had Teddy, our 3yr old we become more careful.

Thank you all once again!!

Petter

 

[mandlmaunder]

Pacific

We were in the Pacific for several months last year around the Panama Las Perlas islands and by bus to Golfito in Costa Rica.
The Las Perlas Islands are beautiful and have 3 stores on Contadora island that between them will have most of what you need.
But if you decide to spend time on the Gulf of Panama you will go back to Panama City and either Flamenca marina at very great expense or free anchorage in Las Brisas de Amador where there are a few long term live aboards and a dinghy dock or the Balboa Yacht club on the approach/exit to the Canal where you can pick up a mooring.
Or the island of Taboga where there are some cheaper moorings run by a friendly couple who will also boat watch if you need to leave for any amount of time.
I will remind of the tide on the pacific side, up to 18 feet exchange, just a reminder but after
the Caribbean it comes as a shock for the first few days.

The hurricane season in the Caribbean is also storm season around the central American mainland with major electrical storms almost every day.
The Cat that we were on is one of 14 boats that we know of that were struck this last season with probably that we dont.
Good luck and happy sailing, we are heading for Cuba next week if the weather calms.

Mark n Lee