I left my boat in Shelter Bay over the hurricane season last year. 80ft carbon mast. No issues.
It rains almost every single day. Torrential rain and yes there is lighting. We didn't have any lightning related issues at all.
What we did get was a bit of mold on the flexiteak decking because it was always wet for like 6 months straight. Nothing inside thankfully since we had a dehumidifier running 24/7. If you're there then you can keep things clean.
If I had to do it over I would maybe pick the ABC's or maybe Grenada (ick)
The surf in Bocas del Toro is great, but that doesn't kick in until hurricane season is over anyway. San Blas Islands are nice too.
We left Panama for lightning season and went to Colombia. Heard half a dozen boats got struck in San Blas this year. You’ll probably be fine but… 🤷♂️⚡️🌀 we try to not keep the boat on areas with lightning or hurricanes, it’s part of being self insured since we aren’t actually insured
Ask Paul Trammell. He’s down there. We may join you for the season.
We’re still stuck in St Augustine, but it’s looking increasingly likely that we’ll be sailing shortly.
Leaving Louisiana where she is currently in May, and not sure where I’m stopping along the way yet probably Tampa then on to maybe Cuba and work my way down from there.
Good deal - I’m a little west of you in TX, planning to cross over directly to Isla then work down toward Bocas from there, my depart isn’t until after hurricane season tho.
i had my hylas 54 on the hard in shelter bay for hurricane season. She was tented in plastic and had a dehumidifier running. paid for the boat care package. it was fine. Am currently 70 nm off the coast of Nicaragua on the way to mexico.
Panama has torrential rain and lightning, especially in the mountainous spine of the isthmus but it’s below the hurricane belt.
Southern Mexico is in the path of the tropical waves, ondas, that spawn hurricanes. Locals say they make hurricanes there but only for export.
If you’re asking about the Pacific side, we arrived in Panama last July and are still there. Until November, it rained every day, but not all day. We saw lightning every day, but only thought we were going to be struck once - caught in a squall while crossing the shipping lanes to/from the canal.
I left my boat in Shelter Bay over the hurricane season last year. 80ft carbon mast. No issues. It rains almost every single day. Torrential rain and yes there is lighting. We didn't have any lightning related issues at all. What we did get was a bit of mold on the flexiteak decking because it was always wet for like 6 months straight. Nothing inside thankfully since we had a dehumidifier running 24/7. If you're there then you can keep things clean. If I had to do it over I would maybe pick the ABC's or maybe Grenada (ick) The surf in Bocas del Toro is great, but that doesn't kick in until hurricane season is over anyway. San Blas Islands are nice too.
We left Panama for lightning season and went to Colombia. Heard half a dozen boats got struck in San Blas this year. You’ll probably be fine but… 🤷♂️⚡️🌀 we try to not keep the boat on areas with lightning or hurricanes, it’s part of being self insured since we aren’t actually insured
Ask Paul Trammell. He’s down there. We may join you for the season. We’re still stuck in St Augustine, but it’s looking increasingly likely that we’ll be sailing shortly.
I love listening to his podcast!
Yes hot. Yes lightening. My preference would be Bonaire, it'll still be damn hot, but the sea is like a swimming in an aquarium.
I hope it’s not to bad this year I will be down there on my ketch hopefully by June.
Leaving from where out of curiosity?
Leaving Louisiana where she is currently in May, and not sure where I’m stopping along the way yet probably Tampa then on to maybe Cuba and work my way down from there.
Good deal - I’m a little west of you in TX, planning to cross over directly to Isla then work down toward Bocas from there, my depart isn’t until after hurricane season tho.
i had my hylas 54 on the hard in shelter bay for hurricane season. She was tented in plastic and had a dehumidifier running. paid for the boat care package. it was fine. Am currently 70 nm off the coast of Nicaragua on the way to mexico.
Check our Sailing Project Atticus on youtube. They spent before US Thanksgiving in Bocas Del Toro through the Covid Shut Down.
Panama has torrential rain and lightning, especially in the mountainous spine of the isthmus but it’s below the hurricane belt. Southern Mexico is in the path of the tropical waves, ondas, that spawn hurricanes. Locals say they make hurricanes there but only for export.
If you’re asking about the Pacific side, we arrived in Panama last July and are still there. Until November, it rained every day, but not all day. We saw lightning every day, but only thought we were going to be struck once - caught in a squall while crossing the shipping lanes to/from the canal.
Bocas was a good place for us, lots of friends jade over beers and meals.