We arrived in Panama City once again, having made the passage around Punta Mala with our friends on Icarian and Clair de Lune. We have a couple of days' window in which the wind was not terribly strong, but strong enough. The seas in the whole bay of Panama are often confused due to competing currents and wind waves that build up over a long way (fetch), even being influenced by Caribbean weather as the isthmus is only 50 miles wide and has a low elevation. There was a gale (winds over 30 knots) in the Colon area, so we boogied along to make it up to Panama City area. We went all day and overnight from Benao, a great little surfing town west of the bay of Panama to Otoque, an island 20 miles out of Panama City. The resting evening at Otoque was well received by us seafarers because it was calm in the horshoe shaped anchorage and we were surrounded by a jungle hillside with birdsounds, amazing to only see a few fishing boats while there. There are two towns on this little island, but they are at the other end of the island: Otoque Oriente (east) and Otoque Occidente (west). Their colorful houses were shining in the early morning sun as we passed by.

Once in Panama City, we went to Balboa Yacht Club and tied up to a mooring ball. The next few weeks will be filled with opportunities to talk with other cruisers and see the sights of the city, watch boats go in and out the canal, as we are tied up right on the edge of the entrance, fix things on the boat, and Kay's short trip home. Also, in the next few days, watch for photos as we get used to having wireless on the boat again!

Happy New Year to all! We ushered in the New Year by honking our very loud air horn, Icarian shot off a miniature cannon and Clair de Lune blew their conch shell. We were a few minutes after midnight and even that late, we made enough of a racket to wake the tired surfers on the shores of Benao bay so that they lit their bonfire and began their fireworks. Hope you all had a great holiday season and New Years' celebrations! We miss seeing all our friends and family.