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20_06_19

Author: Iain & Fiona Lewis Published Date: June 19, 2020

And we’re off. Another country beckons.

And we’re off. Another country beckons.

First there is one.

Then there are many.

They’re pretty cool underwater.

Taking in the sights.

This is what we see over the bow.

We’ll see you again soon.

Chartable at night.

Someone was bored of flying and caught a lift.

Ruffian continues her trip south.

Some lighthouses look like helter-skelters.

Nearly there and still smiling.

Safety first.

Seeing fishing boats in daylight makes a nice change.

Ropes.

Up goes the Tricolour.

Flat waters in a new country.

France is full of art.

France is full of colour.

Information boards and technology.

The tide rips into Brest.

Signs of ancient conflicts.

Do we spy something with fangs down there?

Signs of recent conflicts.

Only the French would turn something practical into art.

Literally; Grapefruit point.

Larry wants to go to sea again.

Author: Iain & Fiona Lewis

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New blog! “Cracking Time” 23rd February 2023

New blog!
“Cracking Time”

23rd February 2023

Linton Bay, Central Panama, Panama – Portobello, Central Panama, Panama

Panamanians know how to party. As the volume is turned up, they have a cracking good time and really get their teeth into dancing all their cares away. On Ruffian we’ve also had a cracking time and got our teeth into something, unfortunately it’s been a lot less fun and a lot more painful than carnival…

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica

We’ve changed country! A fast 588 mile sail. No

We’ve changed country! A fast 588 mile sail.
Now in Grand Cayman and enjoying underwater antics.
First dive today on the wreck of the “Oro Verde”. Translates as Green Gold. Formerly she used to transport bananas to the US, latterly she transported marijuana - a different kind of green gold!

#oroverde
#sailingcaymanislands
#divingfromasailboat
#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
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#sailingadventure
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#longdistancecruising
#
#

New blog! “An exclusive list” 1st February 20

New blog!

“An exclusive list”
1st February 2023

Big Bight, Bocas Del Toro, Panama – Dolphin Bay (North), Bocas Del Torro, Panama via Ground Creek & Saigon Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Saralane, Seraphina, Waimangu, Mad Fish, Persephone, Favorita, Annie, Quickstep two, Sauvage, Atea, Blue Mist, Pincoya *. This is an exclusive list and a list that we hate to see grow. The criteria to get on here are for us to sail in exotic places together, grow emotionally and intellectually and then, for our hearts to be broken when we part. This list was about to get longer with the full final and definate departure of Cerulean as they prepare to head into the Pacific and we ready ourselves for a passage north….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica
@willandmarygosailing
@favorita_of_hamble
@svsauvage
@atea_untethered
@sailingbluemist
@nickjohnbubb @sophie.bubb
@handsondecknz

New blog! “The kindness of strangers” 26th Ja

New blog!
“The kindness of strangers”

26th January 2023

Gallego Cays, Bocas Del Toro, Panama – Big Bight, Bocas Del Toro, Panama via Bocas Town, Dolphin Bay & Saigon Bay, Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Wherever we wander the welcome we receive seems to paint a picture of the place. Customs and Immigration officers are typically full of helpful advice and owners of waterfront properties whose vista we ‘enhance’ usually shower us with kindness. The Bocas Del Toro have been no different and we have gratefully received the kindness of strangers as they have invited us onto their land, lent us their dogs and allowed us to hoover up their internet….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica

New blog!

20th January 2023

“The dynamic duo”

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica – Gallego Cays, Bocas Del Toro, Panama via Marina Carenero, Red Frog, & Bahia Honda, Bocas Del Toro, Panama

The dynamic duo of Batman and Robin fought crime whenever they were summoned by Commissioner Gordon using the Bat Ray. As they found criminals every righteous fight was accompanied by overarching signs proclaiming ‘Pow’, ‘Biff’, ‘Blap’ and ‘Sok’s which then resulted in the bad guys being arrested and our hero’s returning to glory in the Bat Cave. Back in the Bocas Del Toro, we are visa legal again so are not going to chased by our duo, instead we’ve tried to hunt them down in the Bat Cave….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica
#sailbocasdeltoro
#batcave

New blog! 14th January 2023 “Visas. Opening or c

New blog!
14th January 2023
“Visas. Opening or closing doors?”

Marina Carenero, Bocas Del Torro, Panama – Puerto Vierjo, Costa Rica via Puerto Vierjo,& Jaco, Costa Rica

Visas usually grant entry into countries, allow you to explore endlessly and are a golden ticket to all sorts of fun opportunities. A lack of visa can spell disaster resulting in fines, expulsion and the firm shutting of all doors leading to all things fun. In an effort to avoid this calamity our plan to renew our Panamanian visas has taken us to Costa Rica, allowed us to explore a new country and given us all sorts of new fun opportunities….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica
#visarun

New blog! 4th January 2023 “Making memories.”

New blog!
4th January 2023

“Making memories.”

Rio Chagres, Central Panama – Marina Carenero, Docas Del Torro, Panama via Playa Raya, Playa Azul & Bastimentos, Bocas Del Torro, Panama

Some memories are burnt into your mind because of the joy in making them, unfortunately the opposite is also true. After the joyous memories of the wildlife in Ria Chagres we’ve now got some painful memories after ‘sailing’ from central Panama to the Bocas Del Torro….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica
#sailingbocasdeltoro
#difficultsailing

Some images need no words. Thank you SV Free Spi

Some images need no words.

Thank you SV Free Spirit for the photo.

Blog blog catch-up! 30th December 2022 “Two or s

Blog blog catch-up!
30th December 2022
“Two or six sides to a coin?”

Banedup, San Blas, Panama – Rio Chagres, Central Panama via Chichime, San Blas, Panama & Portabello, Central Panama, Panama

Every standard cylindrical coin has 2 sides and each side is said to be different from the other*. If Panama were to be coin then it would actually be cubed shaped as we have seen 6 different sides to it in only a week. We have gone from the near economically inactive Kuna Yala (San Blas) to the global centre of trade, we’ve wandered around desert islands and then been enveloped on a rich verdant green jungle and finally been in places where no history is written, to others which should feature in every history textbook….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica

Another overdue blog! 24th December 2022 “Just

Another overdue blog!

24th December 2022
“Just another day”

Chichime, San Blas, Panama – Banedup, San Blas, Panama via Hot Tub, San Blas, Panama

Every day is just another day. No matter what you do a day is just a day, however depending upon how you fill it that day can be ‘special’ or ‘normal’, and depending upon the frequency of activity a normal day could be considered special. We’ve had a lot of normal special days….

To read the rest of this blog, and to see more pictures from our travels find the link to our blogs in bio @sy_ruffian

#westerlyoceanlord
#sailingadventure
#travelandsailing
#exploringbyboat
#sailinglife
#boatstories
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#longdistancecruising
#sailpanama
#sailcentralamerica
#sailingkunayala
#sailingsanblas
#christmasatanchor
#weevilsintheflour
#mincepies

@handsondecknz
@yachtzenagain
@sy_altimate

Never a dull day! #boatmaintenanceinexoticplaces

Never a dull day!

#boatmaintenanceinexoticplaces

Being far off the beaten track has its rewards and

Being far off the beaten track has its rewards and its challenges.
One of those challenges is sketchy internet so after many weeks the blog is finally (almost) up to date.

For your reading pleasure there are 6 new postings:
https://ruffian.uk/2022/11/zulus-fousands-of-em-theyre-everywhere/
https://ruffian.uk/2022/11/east-and-west/
https://ruffian.uk/2022/12/change-of-seasons/
https://ruffian.uk/2022/12/deserted-desert-islands-2/
https://ruffian.uk/2022/12/return-to-civilisation/
https://ruffian.uk/2022/12/the-power-of-3/

Surprise wildlife sightings on our latest jungle a

Surprise wildlife sightings on our latest jungle adventure with @handsondecknz

#tropicalwildlife
#jungleadventures
#whitehawk
#slothontheground

What do you call a trio of Ocean Cruising Club boa

What do you call a trio of Ocean Cruising Club boats?

@handsondecknz “Cerulean”
@goesfoundation “Copepod”
And “Ruffian” enjoying the sunshine in the Bocas del Torro, Panama.

#oceancruisingclub
@ocean_cruising_club
#friendshipsarethebestships

Another adventure full day with @handsondecknz A

Another adventure full day with @handsondecknz

A dinghy journey up through the mangroves to find the bat caves!

Once there we donned our swimming clothes, hard hats and rubber gloves. We turned on our head torches and ventured into the most stunning limestone cave tunnels. We waded sometimes chest high through the delicious fresh water; water running through the rock had created fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, forming some incredible underground structures. We even found a waterfall and 8ft deep pool. The tunnels were pitch black and every ceiling, crook and crevice was occupied by bats.

This has to be one of our most memorable shore side excursions.

What a great way to celebrate your third wedding anniversary @handsondecknz

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