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21_07_25

Author: Iain & Fiona Lewis Published Date: August 6, 2021
We’ll miss the flat blue waters of the Balearics.
We’ll miss the flat blue waters of the Balearics.
The sea really is like a mirror.
The happy couple.
Ruffian awaits her turn at the fuel dock.
Is 2250hp enough?
Without a lighthouse you could miss this obstruction.
That needs exploring.
Ruffian sits under a setting sun.
Perfect desert like sand.
We’re not alone and we’re not at the front. Bizarre.
The artists have been busy.
The granite blocks reach into the sky.
We find love.
Long columns, longer shadows.
The view from above.
Amusement in the anchorage.
We like water this colour.
Grrrr. That pesky shadow.
Classic Ibiza sunset.
We’re off. Another day another offshore.
Sailing proves to be too much for Fiona.
The mainsail is put to bed.
You get the best sunsets at sea.
The maintenance never ends.
Yet another sail configuration.
The sailing gets too much for Iain.
Just how perfect as these conditions.
Simple sailing.
This is not something you expect to find way offshore.
It’s supposed to be sunny. Why have we got fog?
The technology sees what the eye cannot.
The instruments see that the eye cannot.
Larry is not a happy Llama in mainland Spain.
The Spanish know how to build lighthouses.
I’m pleased you’re not real.
It’s a horizontal Eiffel tower.
The painful impact of WWII is felt everywhere.
It’s all just so pretty.
That’ll kick start some activity.
This was a wonderful creature.
Art. 1000’s of years old.
Art. 100’s of years old.
We glimpse the town hall.
We glimpse the convent (and Nun’s knickers if you look closely).
The main target for the day.
The fort proves to be an oasis in so many different ways.
So very Islamic.
The high ground is made just that little bit higher.
Every aspect is protected.
Latticework.
You want cool. We give you water gardens.
What a great view to wake up to.
The church really wants to keep us out.
Ouch. Just when is grave desecration acceptable?
Amazing integrated transportation.

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
#boatjourney
#sailingstories
#sailingliveaboards
#sailingadventure
#sailinglifestyle
#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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