One of the pleasures of cruising is the unexpected entertainment. After we returned to the anchorage yesterday and were about to hit the sack, a large schooner came into the bay narrowly missing the other boats. They anchored aft of us, and when we got up in the morning they were gone. The winds in the anchorage were gusting to 35 and I suspected somewhat higher outside, and we wondered how the boats that left were fairing. We soon found out. About noon the now bedraggled schooner came back into the harbor, head sail ripped, mainsail stuck aloft and everything in general shambles. They ducked under the stern of the four boats in the anchorage and looked like they were heading for the rocks but at the last minute slammed into the beach in front of the Panamanian Minister of Justice's home. They had apparently intentionally grounded VALKYRIEN, their 85', 80+ year old wood boat. Dick and two of the other guys took our dinghy ashore and pulled anchor rode and their 110lb Bruce anchor up the shore in an attempt to stabilize the boat. With minus tides predicted, she would soon be smashing on the beach. Pretty exciting stuff and were we ever glad to be here instead of out in the Gulf. One of the benefits of writing a blog retrospectively is the opportunity for postscripts. About a week later, we heard that the owner of the boat was Max Kennedy of the famous political clan.