Gunvør XL

7.4.2020

Star Laguna with G XL on board has now left Ensenada/ Mexico. ETA in Nanaimo/ Vancouver Island is 10th of April at 15:00 local time. There will be some wind on the nose, so maybe a little delay is likely.

31.3.2020

Please note that new pictures and log books for the whole Caribbean/ Panama/ Costa Rica trip are on-line.

23.3.2020

GUNVØR has now left Costa Rica on Star Laguna. Let us hope she will make it safely to Nanaimo in Canada.

18.3.2020

Our logbook Panama to Costa Rica has been posted

17.3.2020

The latest pick-up date is now 25.3 and ETA Nanaimo, Vancouver Island the 12.4.2020. Since we can’t travel to receive GXL, we have asked our friend Gary to be our pick up skipper. Hopefully the current Corona situation will be over in terms of travel ban in 3 – 4 months so we can still sail this summer, maybe into September as planned. Hope springs eternal.

3.3.2020

Now the trip through the Canal is also online.

3.3.2020

Logbook Colombia – Panama is online.

2.3.2020

First trip report St. Thomas – Costa Rica is under Logbook

27.2.2020

Customs declaration for Canada has been forwarded to the agent and a Vancouver Island yard for bottom paint has been found. The Canada shipment is getting more real every day.

15.2.2020

Seven Star has informed us that supposedly GXL will be picked up in Costa Rica the 17th of March. (The local harbour master will bring her alongside Laguna Star, the freighter taking her) and it is planned for arrival the 4th of April in Nanaimo, BC. Let us see what happens.

14.2.2020

Finally it was time to leave Central America. Skipper had added a further 22 birds with a bird guide in Costa Rica to his total list taking up the total of this trip (Virgin Islands, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica to ~170 new birds.) The trip in other words had been worth all the effort.

13.2.2020

We all enjoyed decompressing at a nice resort at Puerto Jimenez with spa treatments and good food.

12.2.2020

The crew continued to pull out all stops to finalize the shipping preparations and get everything ship shape. Skipper meanwhile could enjoy sitting in air-conditioned offices organizing the paperwork for the „exportation“ of the boat from Costa Rica. It is a natural law that the amount of paper work required is inversely proportional to the size of the country requiring it. In the early afternoon we were finally done and could take a ferry across the bay to Puerto Jimenez.

11.2.2020

The bay is very well protected, no wind, so working hard to get the boat ready to be shipped to Canada meant we were soaked within seconds in 30 – 35°C. A boozy reunion dinner was held when Mamelie also arrived after they had spent a few days at a luxury resort.

10.2.2020

With a small change in wind direction, the small waves loudly hit the stern of the boat, so at dawn we left the anchorage, motoring to Golfito, Costa Rica. After a little discussion we got our reserved slip at Banana Bay and could enjoy unlimited air conditioning at shore power and food not cooked by ourselves (although the quality on board was much better than in the restaurant.)

9.2.2020

Only a great wife with lots of spunk would have climbed up onto the broken-down and rusty dock at Puerto Armuelles which actually was condemned by the authorities. (See our ‚Photos‘.) But we had no choice since we had to clear out of Panama. The anchorage was completely exposed with a lee shore and lots of wind, so we anchored at Punta Burica at what looked like the open ocean, but well protected by a reef from the southerly swell.

8.2.2020

Klaus had both the best and worst day of his trip. He loved the restaurant/ bar on Boca Brava with its great views, slightly seedy interior, entertaining German owner and fresh breeze since it was high up on a hill overlooking the water. The email informing him that the mast on his boat had been damaged during winter storage, basically ruining his summer sailing plans, was not so amusing!

7.2.2020

It took 4 tries to find a good anchorage at Islas Secas. We met another yacht sailing in the area, which otherwise seems to be very much off the beaten track. It turned out they were from the Royal Yacht Club in Vancouver that our yacht club is twinned with. In exchange for some drinks we got a lot of good information about sailing on the coast of BC and a promise of a free dinner in Vancouver. A good deal!

6.2.2020

Skipper got up at the crack of dawn to bird watch on Isla Coiba. When he came back the crew was happy not to have joined, since skipper returned looking like he had been crawling through the mud in a sauna. This being a jungle the result with only one new bird was quite disappointing.

5.2.2020

Arrived in glorious sunshine  at Isla Coiba, surrounded by one of the most important marine national parks in the world. A steep park fee of 480 US$ was paid. Mamelie crew was very happy to use our shower.

4.2.2020

With wind and current helping us we sailed out of the Gulf of Panama. At Punta Mala we met up with Mamelie. The wind shadow of the large mountain range covering all of western Panama meant we had to motor through the night.

3.2.2020

Got the same Mercury motor as before, just without electrical starter. Skipper very happy. Set sail for Limon Bay, but anchorage too rough, so continued on to Isla Otoque. Anchoring and a swim in a calm bay, but with some stingers (sea lice?) in the water.

2.2.2020

Skipper did not want to risk sailing Western Panama or later the wild coast of BC with a motor you cannot trust. Sailed back to Panama to get a new outboard motor in a great close-hauled reach. Smoked the tuna we had caught the day before and (almost) did not set the dock on fire.

1.2.2020

Sam left us this morning for friends in Panama. We 6 crew prepared to sail to Isla Contadora, where the late Shah of Persia spent the last years of his life. Upon arrival we found out the outboard motor didn’t work, despite having been serviced in Germany before departure. So we paddled through the heavy surf for dinner and even managed to get back late in the evening without the dinghy getting swamped.

31.1.2020

Atfer a monster provisioning (6 people for 10 days) our crew Nicole and Alexander (friends from McKinsey) plus Beth and Klaus (friends from Hamburg) arrived. Imagine Nicole and Alex’s surprise to see Sam at the airport. They had not expected another ex-McKinsey on the boat.

28.1.2020

Back in the Pacific. Yesterday, after anchoring in the Gatun Lake we passed through the 3 locks and made it to Panama. Friend Sam from Montreal was our crew the whole way. 2 professional line handlers did all the work while we kicked back and enjoyed the scenery. Well, Sheila and Sam were kept busy cooking and serving three warm meals for two days to 6 crew (don’t forget the 2 line-handlers and the pilot !). On Saturday we then plan to sail to the Las Perlas.

27.1.2020

After waiting for the required 3 hours on anchor we had the pleasant surprise of having a female pilot. After a quick passage through the Gatun lock and a nice lasagna dinner we anchored just after the locks.

26.1.2020

The passage through the canal has been postponed by one day due to too little water in the Gatun lake. Irritating, but actually expected. We have some spare time for just such an event. Did an excursion instead and Karsten visited the San Lorenzo fort for now the third time.

25.1.2020

All systems go: Steve the rigger helped me find the faulty connection for the port side plotter, Bill the sail maker had improved the main sail and the bimini and Randal replaced our faulty freezer. Fortunately Karsten had been wise and not relied on the Panama supply of a new freezer but instead brought all the necessary parts from Europe.

24.1.2020

Back on GUNVOR with our friend Sam Altman from Montreal. She looks great. Had a boozy reunion with Mamelie who just arrived the same morning.

22.1.2020

Trying to get things fixed never stops. It turns out the complete freezer including the condenser was broken. The yard in Shelter Bay promised to order one since there wasn’t one in Panama. Better 2 than one, so Karsten organized one from X-Yachts which we will bring. So maybe we’ll have 2 when we arrive on Friday in Panama, but better than none. And according to Murphy’s Law this means it will never break again, because now we have a spare. Also the sail maker had to order a luff tape from North Sails in Denmark. It has arrived, now we hope it will get used to fix the main before we arrive.

5.1.2020

What a great marina is Shelter Bay. Not sooner had we arrived than various people from the yard there came to help us solve our various minor problems. A rigger reinserted the halyard, a mechanic started on the repair of the freezer and the sailmaker took away the mainsail and the bimini, on which we want some reinforcements done.

New Year’s was a low key affair at the nice restaurant in the marina. After that we headed for 3 days of birding in central Panama before flying home to Germany. We will return the 24th and have a Panama Canal transit date for the 26th of January.

30.12.2019

It is as if G XL knows the way to Shelter Bay. We are racing along at 9.5 – 10 knots eating up the miles. Should be in port mid-afternoon.

29.12.2019

A quiet day at lovely Hollande Cays. Snorkeling, reading and a little walking around the island. Ian fraternized with the crew of a small French cruise ship who had set up a beach camp for their guests. A lot of free rum punch was scored.

28.12.2019

Coming into anchorage at Chichime Cays we were greeted by the X-55 „Just do it“, whom we had last seen in Bequia 6 years ago. Drinks all around! Karsten could help them out because of course he had a spare autopilot motor which fit to their boat as well. But the Cay had completely changed. Lots of little bars and tons of garbage everywhere.

27.12.2019

Made it to Porvenir/ San Blas Islands. 300 nm of fair winds the whole way. The high humidity makes sailing around here challenging. We expect to check in today and then spend a few days at anchor at some islands, swimming and relaxing.

25.12.2019

Left Santa Marta at 10 am, waving goodbye to Annette and Andreas. Three of us: Karsten, Sheila & Ian on board. Beautiful conditions. Wind from NNE at 10 – 14 knots. Just now passing Barranquilla with full main and code 1 up. Easy sailing. Next stop is San Blas. Good forecast with gentle winds all the way from a good direction.

24.12.2019

Merry Christmas to you all. Sheila, with crew Annette and Andreas, picked up Ian at Cartagena and had a wonderful time seeing all the sights, meeting lots of girls (Ian that is) and driving back to Santa Marta. Karsten in the meantime was in the Sierra Nevada mountains being bitten by mosquitos, getting diarrhea , freezing when getting up at 4 am and having the time of his life seeing 80+ new birds. Christmas dance will be held at 4 pm today on the dock to our usual Swedish music (all are welcome) and we have booked a table downtown Santa Marta. Tomorrow we are off to San Blas.

20.12.2019

For 2 days we have now done odd jobs on the boat. The passage showed up the usual weaknesses that only tough weather will reveal. So we had to change the filter of the generator, replace the freshwater pump, are still waiting for a new compressor for the freezer, fix the  water level relay for the bilge pump etc. But drinks in Santa Marta were had every evening. So much life on the streets in this oldest European town in South America and you also see a lot of the unfortunate people from Venezuela that are desperate to make a little money selling goods on the street.

17.12.2019

It was a tough passage from St. Thomas to Santa Marta. The wind was between 20 – 30 knots all the time and the waves very erratic. Andreas, Sheila and Annette did not throw up, but did not feel too well most of the time. At least it was fast, 3 days and 10 hours for 690 nm. That is ok. Also nothing broke. Food-wise the meal plan was adhered to but low appetite all around. Losing a bit of weight is probably a good thing. This was the only real long passage this year. We have a 300 nm jaunt to San Blas, but a very good weather forecast.

14.12.20 19

We are off towards Santa Marta, Colombia.

13.12.2019

A very busy day. Around 9:30 she finally was off-loaded and we could motor to Crown Bay Marina. There we got to it with a vengeance: Put on foresail, mount bimini, test water maker and make 600 l of water, get shore power USA working (bad plug), set up back-stay antenna (and hurt Karsten’s ribs) etc. A local man did a good job in cleaning the whole boat (exterior!). Sheila and Annette in the meantime did the provisioning. Tomorrow we are off.

11.12.2019

At least she now has arrived.

11.12.2019

In 1 hour Statengracht with G XL on board will arrive here in St. Thomas, almost 1 month late. The shipping company has told us we will have to wait another 1.5 days before she will be unloaded because there are so many boats to unload. It is terrible!

27.11.2019

Having been able to follow the progress of G XL and the freighter Statengracht on our YB tracker across the Atlantic you can now again find them on Marine traffic as they have passed Newfoundland and are approaching Nova Scotia. The freighter seems to have slowed down to avoid some strong winds the next 24 hours. We still hope the revised schedule will hold. Keep your fingers crossed.

21.11.2019

Finally G XL is under way. The freighter left the UK for Baltimore this morning. Unfortunately they are so unprofessionally slow that the newest ETA in St. Thomas is the 15.12.2019, so almost 1 month late. A disaster. All friends have had to cancel their sailing with us before X-mas and we probably only will make Shelter Bay and will have to go through the Panama Canal at the end of January.

15.11.2019

An indifferent , overcast and cold morning saw us slowly motoring over to the freighter Statengracht. Jannik from Yachtinggate helped us with the loading. With a delay of about 3 hours we finally  got on board. The diver from Seven Stars had trouble getting the forward sling over the keel. Well onboard, GUNVOR was tied down with 14 straps and held upright by 8 arms on the cradle. Finally the cradle was welded to the deck.

14.11.2019

Finally we had a firm date for the shipping from Eemshaven. A professional skipper brought the boat from Delfzijl to Eemshaven. Sheila and Karsten then joined Jakob and his crew for dinner before spending the night on a cold boat. It took a while for her to warm up.

1.11.2019

On a grey day and uninspiring day we moved G XL from Emden to Delfzijl in preparation for being loaded from nearby Eemshaven. Unfortunately the shipping company is delaying the departure by almost 3 weeks throwing total chaos in our sailing plans in the Carribbean. 2 set of friends have had to cancel their sailing with us and we will most likely only be able to go through the Panama Canal after New Year.

But we had a smooth trip with Sheila, Ian and friend Thomas on board. In Delfzijl we encountered SY Cuillan. We last helped them in an emergency, 100 nm before Barbados in 1987. They had run out of tonic for their gin! Bartering tonic for Guinness we had a successful mid ocean transfer.

30.9.2019

A new story about our trip to Emden and pictures from getting ready this summer have been added.

26.9.2019

Had a great delivery trip to Emden. Thank you to crew Annette and Andreas T! We managed to get out of the Elbe on one tide averaging 10 knots under motor. Turning the corner as it got dark we could eat our lasagna in the cockpit and then set sails romping through the night on a beam reach. Repeatedly we had to reef in order to slow down. Just as the tide turned at 4 am we entered the Ems river and got carried down to Emden on the flood. Luckily the lock opened out of turn to let a customs boat and us into the main harbour. The local boat yard had a spot for us, as the main marina is out of bounds due to repair work of a bridge blocking the access until the spring. Ready to be loaded for the Caribbean.

24.9.2019

Tomorrow the big adventure starts again. We are sailing to Emden in preparation to be freighted to St. Thomas and then onto Colombia/Panama/Costa Rica/ Vancouver and Alaska!

10.9.2019

The excitement is mounting. Andreas x 2 are nearing the end of all their work preparing the boat. The new electronic gadgets have been installed, a second autopilot is working, the canvas maker is surprisingly also coming through plus lots of spares, medicine etc is being stowed away. On Sunday we are going to Glückstadt to haul out and have the bottom cleaned after 4 months of basically not moving. On the 26th of this month we are then going to Holland to be ready to be shipped to St. Thomas. Our „sister“ boat Mamelie who will do the next 12 month together with us in the Caribbean and Canada has already left with a: „Bye, we are now on our way to Alaska!“

2.6.2019

An uneventful trip back to Wedel. Thanks to our friendly neighbour Carsten we even made a good docking maneuver.

1.6.2019

Together with Ann and Klaus we sailed from Wedel to Baumwall. Joining Mamelie for dinner and drinks we enjoyed the activity in the harbour and talked to many of the Rotarians that have come to Hamburg for our AGM. 25,400 of them!

May 2019

In two days, unfortunately with a lot of motoring, we made it from Haderslev to Hamburg. There the 2 Andreases met up with us and we went through all the improvements, repairs and spare parts we will need. Already Andreas Tempel has made great inroads into the to-do list. There are no major things, G XL is in great shape but a lot of little items need some TLC.

8.5.2019

The season is about to start. On Friday we pick up GUNVØR and hope to bring her all the way to Hamburg. The plan is to get her ready during the summer and then she is off to St.Thomas by freighter in the fall.

10.10.2018

Under Miscellaneous/ Crew-Info you can find the latest plan for our South Seas trip. Password the usual.

26.8.2018

What an amazing South Sea kick-off (&birthday) party, see pictures. The sign up rate by the 160 guests for the cruise 2019 – 2022 was amazing. Might have to extend the trip by a couple of years. Thank you all for coming.

22.8.2018

Believe it or not, but skipper has managed to make it to 60. Hurray. On Saturday we will have the big „Back to the South Sea Cruise“ party. Captain’s dinner with dinner jacket, long dresses and lots of good food and drink. South Pacific here we come.