As One Door Closes…

Wow!

What a year the last week has been.

We’ve been backwards and forwards and everywhere in-between. Do we go or do we stay? As all of the destinations between here and NZ closed down due to COVID-19, the feeling of control slipped further away.

This is unprecedented times for everybody. The choices that were open to us last week are no longer on the table. The information we get today, is a cocktail containing unknown quantities of misinformation. It’s very difficult to know if we are making the right decision.

That being said, we received an email this morning from our agent who said there are new restrictions placed on the movements of residents of Panama, and he wasn’t sure if our line handlers would be able to get to us here in Shelter Bay Marina. If they did, we would have to leave the marina immediately. In any case we were told that we would be the last boat of his to be going through. This meant that our buddy boat SV Patea, who were scheduled to go through on Tuesday would not be going with us.

After we heard a few days ago, that the Galapagos had closed down, it was our intention to head straight for French Polynesia (FP). Yesterday reports came in that boats arriving now in FP are allowed to provision, refuel, do repairs, and are then moved on.

Our destination is NZ, however we would need to take 4-5 months to get there, in order to avoid arriving in winter, and thus avoiding hazardous winter weather around NZ waters. The Cook Islands and Tonga are both closed. Fiji is currently open, but for how long?

The situation on the Panama Pacific side sounds much more restrictive than where we currently are on the Atlantic side. Marinas are not accepting more boats. Or one that we know of that is open, is four times more expensive than where we are now. Or another than is open is not as good as where we are now. We hear that the majority of dinghy anchorages there are now also closed to boats on anchor. Meaning access to the shore would be difficult, if not impossible.
The Shelter Bay Marina (SBM) radio net this morning told a couple of on-the-ground-messages from people confirming that in FP, boats who have just arrived or will arrive will be moved on to Papeete, where they should take a mooring ball and then should fly out of the country. The strong advice from the sailing community across world is that if you are in a marina, then stay there. There were reports of boats arriving in Panama yesterday being sent away.

This morning there were tears and doubts still persist. Considering all the information on hand, we have made the VERY difficult decision not to take our slot in the canal today.

We are provisioned to the hilt and have enough food (to take us to NZ). The marina is well stocked and has a shop with provisioning. It is very safe here and the staff are all taking the situation very seriously and professionally following all the advise from the government. There are currently 20 boats out on anchor that have to undergo a 2 week quarantine period before being allowed entrance to the marina proper. A couple of days ago coming back from the supermarket in a taxi, I got my temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature higher than 37.8 are not allowed into the marina.

The kids are happy and healthy and from next week we will create more of a routine of school and activities to keep us going and focused. There are other kids in the marina for them to play with, but the swimming pool is closed as per government guidelines. As many of the staff here in SBM will be staying home, we will, together with other boaters here, volunteer to help out where we can.

Flights out of Panama will stop from midnight on Sunday. We have decided to stay put with the boat, as this is our home and shelter, and has many months of food onboard.

We realise on reflection that we are in a very good position. Of all the places we’ve been in the last years, Panama is one of the best places we could wish to be bunkered down in. There are many, many in far worse situations.
Today we are tired. Tonight I will drink and raise a glass and drink away my dystopian distress.

Although this is a worrying time for many of us, it is also a time to reflect. We humans have the great aptitude for adaptation. Surely, we will all be tested in the times ahead. Let’s all take a deep breath… stay safe, stay positive, be kind.

Kia Kaha