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Christmas 2012, San Blas Islands, Panama

The days before Christmas were overshadowed by a big engine problem. We
planned to change the anchorage Wednesday, but the engine again wouldn't
start – like during our arrival in Panama some days before. This time on
anchor we had the time to look for the problem more thoroughly than it
was possible out at sea and found a clogged vent of the engines sea
water system. So it slowly filled with seawater over the exhaust during
3 days, because we didn't close the sea cock. What a work for Arnd to
pump out the sticky mixture of oil and seawater with a small hand pump
in 13 hours, because our electrical pump, which we use for oil changes,
wouldn't pump out a drop! He also repaired a leaking fuel feeding pump
and we're hoping it will last till our friends Thomas and Marianne will
arrive December 31 with a repair set.

Our mood got much better with the first successful start of the engine
Friday afternoon.

We anchor close to Yansaladup on the outer reef with two other yachts.
We invited their crew, Stefan and Marcus & Anne to have breakfast with
us on Narwal today.

Christmas day we started with baking bread and cake, while the children
were peacefully playing in their cabin. Later we sang some Christmas
songs had dinner and an lovely evening all together.

Arrival in Panama

3 days ago we arrived after 7 days on sea in the San Blas Islands in
Panama. Mostly a nice offshore sail, but also calms and heavy winds.

The calms only slowed us down, but 20 miles off the San Blas Islands we
went right into a little storm. 35 to 40 knots of wind, heavy rain and
steep seas - we had to change the course to Colon. After 5 hours it was
over and everything calmed down.

We decided to motor back to the San Blas, because it was much shorter.
But the engine wouldn't start, just one time for a second. We knew
already in Bonaire, that the external fuel filter was almost clogged. So
we changed the filters and after bleeding the fuel system the engine
started eventually again. But where was the air coming from? We couldn't
find any leak but since then the engine is running fine.

3 hours later we arrived in Porvenir finally. While looking for a nice
anchor spot we touched lightly an uncharted corral head, but it dind't
matter We were tired, had dinner and went to bed.