Portlight - Portland Yacht Club

Iris CircumnavigatesBy John Colby, S/V IrisMarch10, 2013. At 0430 yesterday morning Janetand I anchored in Puerto Aroya, also known asAcademy Bay, Santa Cruz Island Galapagos. Bydoing so we completed a circumnavigation as we were herein this same bay exactly five years ago. I know it was exactlyfive years as once again we fortuitously crossed the equatoron my birthday. The equator is just 44 miles north of us.Janet and I had sailed 884 miles down from the last bay inPanama before the Columbia border. We had waited in thebay for 5 1/2 days for the wind to fill in. But it was worththe wait.Previously, we had left Panama City with George and EllenLatham and had cruised with them for a week in the Las PerlasIslands situated in the Gulf of Panama. George had builttheir Winddancer in his Albany, Oregon, back yard whileworking as a Pediatrician. They left Newport, where she waslaunched, in 1988 but maintain contact with Oregon and willvisit the area this coming summer. The Las Perlas were funfor another reason. Janet and I had been there before. Thirtyseven years ago she and I had flown to Panama and visitedmy parents before they went through the Canal in their boat.We were now able to visit two of the same bays where wehad anchored 37 years ago.George and Ellen left for Ecuador. We left the Perlas for theDarien. The Darien is a province which borders Columbiaand is known for disease, Columbia guerrillas, rain forests,few people and fewer roads. The Pan American highwayends there. Few cruise there. Perfect. Actually, the guerrillasare way down by the border if there are any left and thediseases are also by the border far from where we were to go.By arrangement made at "cruiser's pizza night" back in PanamaCity, where beer was a dollar, we met 3 other boats as weentered the wide river/estuary entrance. One couple hadcruised 2 of the rivers the year before and had spent a weekvisiting one indigenous village. That was our first stop afternegotiating the river entrance by entering over the bar onflood tide to ensure sufficient water depth. The next day wedinghied farther up the river to the village. The people greetedSam and Nancy with open arms. We were ok as we weretheir friends.The river was no wider than 200' at that point. The only reasonwe had come up that far as one of the other boats wewere with had an old guide with a hand drawn chart indicatingthe channel. There are no nautical charts of these riversand the current guide stops about 5 miles down river. Weanchored at 08 36.495 N 078 08.927 W.An offshoot of the Pan American Hwy comes to the villageso they had electricity and a nice school. The people lived inopen homes built on stilts with thatched roofs. 600 peoplesupposedly lived there. We saw only about 100. Some menwere repairing a 30' dugout canoe which had hit a rock. Othersdisplayed their baskets and carvings to sell us in the commonhouse. Some of the women did not wear tops. Someteenage girls sat behind me on a bench/table. I asked themif I could take their photo and they indicated yes but whenthe camera came out then hid in shyness. Then when myback was turned to them I felt them touching my arm andgiggling. The locals don't have hair on their arms.Unfortunately the full tidal range reaches the area so whenthe cocktail hour broke up at 2000 we found our boats sittingon the bottom. Decided to leave the area at 0030 when thetide came in. Our incoming electronic tracks were followedand we followed our friends just ahead of us. We found outour group of 4 boats were the 2nd group to reach the villagethis year and only one boat came last year.Now we're going to head to the open sea and one more stopdown the coast in Panama before jumping offshore and tosome cooler water and weather as the rain forest, even in thedry season, is hot and muggy.ThursdayLunchesStart May 2In the second river/estuary we went out birding by dinghy.Tom and Shirley made a quick turn around up a swampyinlet when a 10' croc slithered into the water near them. Thewater was only 30' wide at the spot.I wrote the following the day after our 3rd river exploration:We just visited our 3rd indigenous village yesterday afternoon.It was about 12 miles up the Rio Sabana in the Darienarea of Panama. The river had narrowed and had somesharp turns before we saw a guy on the hill waving his arms.www.portlandyc.com April 2013 • 5

Ladies Wine TastingWhile the Guys are away, the Ladies will play!Friday, April 196 pm at the ClubhouseEnjoy a flight of four wines chosen to complementfour courses of appetizers celebrating Spring$15 per person ● Guests are welcomedReservations by Monday, April 15th503.735.0632 or admin@portlandyc.comCancellation Policy in EffectLadies Yamhill/DundeeWine Country TourSeptember 14Let’s discuss the tour’stransportation, lodging,meals, and having fun plansduring the April 19 LadiesWine Tasting at the clubhousewww.portlandyc.com April 2013 • 7

Crab FeedPhotos by Elisa Koski &Peter Hirst8 • April 2013 www.portlandyc.com

Portland Yacht Club presents2013 Sailors’ DinnerFriday, April 12Social—6 pm • Dinner—7 pm Reservations must be made by 5 pm, Tuesday, April 9Cost $25 per personOnline Reservations at www.regattanetworks.comCome join us as we award PYC's annual trophies and bring your best 'tell-all' story to nominate that sailorwho most deserves the Luffing Cup for 2012. Following the awards, we are pleased to announce that SteveRander has agreed to take the podium and tell us all about his adventures during the 2012 Transpac Racefrom Los Angeles to Tahiti! This 3,571 mile course takes the place of the traditional Transpac Race infrequently,with the most recent prior race being held in 2008, and the one before that being 14 years earlier.Upcoming Racing EventsApril12 PYC Sailor’s Dinner13-14 PYC & SYSCO Opening Day23-May 30 SYSCO Spring Evening Series27-28 PYC Spring RegattaMay9-12 CYC Oregon Offshore17 Start of Beer Can Racing on Fridays18 RCYC Medium Distance Race31 & June 1 PYC Rose Festival RegattaJune4-July 11 SYSCO Summer Evening Series21-22 SYSCO Solstice Regatta24 OWSA Women’s RegattaJuly20 CYC Ohs-White Couples Race21 CYC Single Handed Race23-Aug 29 CYC Summer Evening Series27 RCYC Leukemia Cup RegattaJOIN US!The Rose City Yacht Club and the 2013 All-ClubRegatta Committee invite you participate in theLeukemia Cup Regatta and Powerboat Poker RunKickoff: Thursday, April 4Legendary sailor and Lymphoma survivor Gary Jobsonwill speak at the kickoffVIP Reception: Friday, July 26Auction and DinnerRegatta: Saturday, July 27Regatta and Poker Run with an after race party andawards celebrationwww.leukemiacup.org/oswimwww.portlandyc.com April 2013 • 13

Portland Yacht Club1241 NE Marine DrivePortland, OR 97211Advertisein thePortlightThe BOATYARD AtRocky Pointe503-543-2785All Services — Boats 20’ - 60’Photo by Peter Hirst16 • April 2013 www.portlandyc.com