This will be our longest passage so far, in distance, not in time. Here is a picture of the route and the winds and currents we can expect on the way. No stopping for us at the Galapagos islands, too expensive and complicated procedures. We sail direct to Atuona on Hiva Oa, one of the Maquesas islands in French Polynesia, some 4000 nautical miles to the west.
Yes, we could have stayed on anchor outside Shelter bay marina but we decided to make it easy for ourselves: in the marina its much easier to fill up our cooking gaz, do our shopping with the free marina shuttle bus service to Colon and arrange the transit of the 45nm Panama canal.
We had a beautifull two months here. Not easy to leave this beautifull country and its good people. But still let’s go now! Why? The hurricane season starts end of June in the Carribean and the wet season in Panama starts in May. Still good to cross the equator in May, but there may be some thunderstorms.