s/v Sunshine: SailBlogs

Back to Panama--take...3

Amy/ rain, rain, go away! — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:21:19 -0500

Here we go again... or I should say, "here HE goes again". Jim is once again packing up to head back to Panama. Each time we/us/ he heads down, there's less luggage to take. It's been raining there quite often, so often that the bottom has not been painted. But to just not go, and throw away a ticket seems nearly ridiculous too, since it costs so much to simply change the date, almost as much as the ticket itself. Bob & his 2 buddies are going down for sure this time too. In fact they are actually on the same flight from Houston to Panama. We are all hoping the rain will stop long enough for the 4 of them to put the anti-fouling & bottom paint on by putting tarps up to keep the rain out. It may not be the best job, but at this point it's better than nothing and if it's not able to be done, well, let's just stay positive..., okay? Then getting Sunshine splashed back in the water and moved to Bocas in time for Jim to catch his return flight Tues. Thankfully he will only be gone 6 1/2 days this time, as neither he nor I are wanting him to be gone- nor the kids for that matter. You would think, knowing that this is nearly, repeat, nearly... a done deal, and knowing money is about to be in our hands, we'd be a little more excited. I think the burn out is overtaking our enthusiasm. We so want this to be over with. (Continued...)

Not Done Yet

Amy — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:17:01 -0500

I really don't know how to write the latest on the details of Jim's trip to Sunshine without making it sound so horrible! I've been waiting for him to email pix to me, but of course he's been extremely busy, he's not sleeping well- one of the boats next to Sunshine that's being repaired has tarps all over it & it's been windy. So I'm sure w/ just a little bit of imagination, you can hear the potato chip crumpling sound in your head right now from the tarp! (Continued...)

Back to Panama

Amy — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:17:08 -0500

The time has come. Jim is leaving tonight for Detroit to catch a 6 a.m. Flight tomorrow for Panama w/ the usual layover in Houston. He'll arrive in Panama tomorrow at 1 p.m. Sunshine is going back up on auction tomorrow, Sunday, for a 10 day auction. A guy from Maryland is most likely buying Sunshine and is arriving Tues. to give Sunshine a looksie. He is bringing 2 friends w/ him and they are all going to help Jim in the final painting of the barrier coat & bottom paint. There may also be others coming to take a look at her. Then Jim and Lee & Leah, the couple who live in Portobello and were available to assist in the delivery to Florida, will join Jim & help him move Sunshine to Bocas del Toro, about a full 24 hr. sail away to the West. There is a new marina going in called Red Frog Beach, which is giving a great introductory rate for dock service w/ electricity & security for $5/foot/ month! Jim has talked to Dan Cranney the marketing director there and has been very impressed with what he's finding out. Bocas sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Both from what we've read & what we've heard from other cruisers. We've already decided we're going there sometime in the future for a vacation. I'm really sad I'm not going. Dang this is hard. I wish we could keep her. We even toyed around w/ another option. Keeping Sunshine in Bocas and rent her out as a "staging place" for people to rent out weekly to stay on, not take out sailing, while they explore the Bocas area & inland Panama. We could probably get $500/wk. for it, until we got her even more fixed up & then could increase our rate. That would cover any expenses. But to get that started with advertising, and get the word out to get her booked enough in the beginning seemed a big task that may or may not work out. Could we get her booked enough right away in the beginning to make that happen?? We didn't feel we were up to giving it a try, as much as we want to make that work. Even as I write this, I stopped, and Jim & I discussed this more- again. (Continued...)