Feb 27th 2010. I woke up fixed a cup of tea and head to the cockpit with book in hand. This morning I am going to enjoy a cup of tea and a book for a while. Russ lowered the dinghy to let the anchored out boats know about the potluck tonight. When he got back, he told me news of an 8.8 earthquake in Chile close to the coast and that there was a Tsunami warning for the entire Pacific. He was told the warning went from Chile all the way to San Francisco.

This news warrants getting the computer out and checking the information for ourselves. The warning was actually all the way to Alaska. We started prepping the boat making sure everything was in its place. There is nothing like a Tsunami warning to get you motivated in putting everything away that you have left out. With the boat pretty much ready, Russ headed out to the cockpit with movie camera in hand. The prediction for San Blas was three foot rise. We waited and watched and then it happened.

The tide was ebbing (going out) at about 3.5 knots. Russ noticed that the two other boats had started to change direction as if the tide had changed and was coming in and then the noise on the hull from the ebbing tide stopped. Then a few minutes later the tide was ebbing again. We asked could that be it. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that was it. The depth sounder is on and when the tide started to come in it rose about four feet in a half hour.

We called Peter on The Delphis who was at the marina. In our conversation the sand bar near the marina came up. The sand bar is between us and the Marina. We looked out and could actually see the sand bar. This is actually the only time we have seen the sand bar. Then within a minute or less it was covered with water. This happened about four times.

We are very grateful that is was not disastrous.

Peter has decided to have a t-shirt made that says

"I Survived The San Blas Tsunami "
(and I didn't spill my beer)

We headed into the marina for the cruisers weekly potluck. It was a truly unique dinning experience. We had carnitas, chili, curry beef, starfruit & papaya salad, bean & corn salad with cilantro/lime, Strawberries, and I made a Lemon/Lime Pound Cake. The boats in attendance were: "The Delphis", "Matarua", Chat De Mer", "Tanque De Tibberon", "Gabmol" and of course "Smoke-N-Blues". We shall see who will attend next week.