DO NOT HIRE Y&J YACHTS AS YOUR PANAMA CANAL AGENT
The CEO of Y&J Yachts, Ms. Yara Mandrian, is running a scam.

We strongly recommend that you DO NOT HIRE this agency. We were not returned our buffer of $850 USD as they claimed to have lost the money to a greedy partner. While they did successfully get us through the canal, they are now claiming to be near bankrupt and are unable or unwilling to transfer us the money that is owed to us.

We have been in contact with the ACP Canal Authority and this agent will soon be stripped of their license. Any boats with payments already made will lose their money. Please avoid this agent - if you have to choose one, please use a highly recommended and proven agent, regardless of cost. Below you will see the letter we have written to the ACP Canal Authority regarding this matter:


Director of Marine Traffic,
Mr. Abraham Saied,
P.O. BOX 526725
Miami, FL 33152-6725

It is with regret that I submit this formal letter of complaint against Ms. Yara Ritela Madriñán García, CEO of "Y & J Yachts & Ships Panama Agency," who repeatedly lied, stole and misrepresented the ACP Canal Authority and the country of Panama. To date, Ms. Madriñán owes me $1,220 USD and I will be seeking legal action against her and possibly the canal.

This letter is intended to allow the Panama Canal Authority take action against Ms. Madriñan so that she will not be able to represent any other transit as an authorized agent with the Panama Canal Authority. Additionally I have informed several cruising publications and websites about the entire
incident and I fear this will have a negative affect on all yacht agencies in Panama, which could be removed should I receive the funds owed to me.

COMPLAINT DETAILS:
On 5-3-09 I met with Ms. Madriñán from Y&J Yachts outside Colon and paid her $1,000 USD for her company's services in transiting the canal. The boat was admeasured on 6-3-09.

On 11-3-09 we were supposed to transit the canal and were told by the canal authority that our transit was cancelled as a result of our "agent failing to pay our transit fees" despite her having the funds, which resulted in a Pilotage Delay and additional fine of $471 USD against my vessel.

On 15-3-09 we were rescheduled by the ACP and transited the canal, but the line handlers that we paid Ms. Madriñán $220 USD for never showed up at the boat.

On 17-3-09 I met with Ms. Madriñán in Panama City where she apologized for the delays, accepted responsibility for the problems and fines and offered to refund me her service charge, totaling an amount due to me of $1,220 USD. This was conducted in writing and has been included as one of many attachments to this letter.

Over the coming months, Ms. Madriñán lied repeatedly saying that payment was on the way, that the bank was delaying things, that her business partner stole the money and that despite this she still had intentions of paying me back. Her last promise was received one week ago, on 26-7-09. I now realize that I will never see this money and that only though legal actions will an outcome be settled.

Please take action against Y&J Yachts to that this does not happen again in the future.

Best regards,

Seth Hynes
s/v Honeymoon

cc: Ms. Fatima Herrera (FACO)
Lynne Wolff