We are back in Panama city, moored on a buoy of the BYC (Balboa Yacht Club). We will leave Mundinho here moored for 6 months while we will live and work in Singapore. The company ModuSpec I have worked for for many years offered a great opportunity which we will take. In this way we will not have to deal with French Polynesian visa issues which can be strict for non EU citizens like Heloisa (Brazilian) if you want to stay beyond 90 days. Also this will place Mundinho outside the Pacific cyclone area for the cyclone season. And some time in school with peers we believe is good for Auke. As we are sailing "outside" the season for this area currently we have not seen "kids boats" for over 4 months. Auke is not too happy about that and he ensures we are aware of that each day. As we speak we are cleaning up the boat and getting her ready for our 6 months absence.
Below you find some last pictures from the last 4 weeks cruising. One thing was obvious to us, sealife in the Pacific is on a different level then the Atlantic. Much more life, that was obvious. We catched so much fish that Heloisa became picky, based on easy to clean and taste. "No not that one, you can throw back" was it when we caught certain types. Heloisas favorite is Spanish mackerel.
Trolling three lines we often had success. There was no respite for me. Even while in bed resting on my off-shift, once a line hooked into a fish, Heloisa would let out a cry and I had to come back on deck to lift the fish on deck after which she would give her judgement call for the fish, "live or die and eat". Besides these catches we regularly would see swordfishes jumping around and best of all the big whales which you could see regularly. Often far away you would see there spouts followed by their curved back and small fin. One time a single large whale passed by closely, leisurely heading the opposite way. Impressive to see really. The amount of fish becomes also clear when you see the dolphins which are here about twice the size compared to the dolphins we always saw on the Atlantic side.
For now we are looking forward to our time in Singapore. Heloisa is getting ready for shopping, which unfortunately for me is very good in Singapore. I am getting ready to get my brains working again on work related issues after one full year absence. One thing we know already we will miss our Mundinho and lifestyle on board, despite the new luxuries we will accuire in Singapore such as "unlimited" warm water in showers, laundry machines, AC, and so on.
All well with boat and crew.
Morning view on Archipelago das Perlas
Our Neighbours in Las Perlas, some fisherman.
Some hot beach babe I found on Las Perlas
Auke turning 8 at sea
Mundinho anchored in Tumaco (Colombia) off the coast guard dock next to freshly seized gas smuggling boat.
Some other Colombian coastguard seized drug runners.
This was my favorite, a semi submarine, stuffed with drugs caught by the Colombia coastguard, underway from Colombia to Mexico!!
Good fishing in the Pacific, every day. Trevally Jack
Auke with a Spanish Mackerel
Big Dolphins in the Pacific!
Movie time at sea