Oct 29^th Land-ho I cried to myself. Sweet words bringing with them the sweet vision of land. After over 6,000 non-stop nautical miles (7,000 statute miles or 10,000 kms) of blue ocean, the lush land of Hawaii rising out of the sea on the horizon was indeed a most beautiful sight. Having been at sea for 109 days I had to shake my head to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. There at the dock were Randy, Stu and Roland (Ham radio operators on the Pacific Seafarers Net) welcoming me to the Big Island Hawaii. Bringing with them traditional gifts of locally grown fruit. And of course the Lay. What a landfall and what a wonderful way to end a most memorable journey.

July 14^th After a week in Balboa it was time to move on. I knew I had been there too long when I started ordering the water taxi in Spanish. They won’t let you use your dinghy as the currents are too swift for all but the largest outboard motors. The story goes that a couple got swept out to sea in their dinghy never to be seen again. Whilst in Balboa I took the opportunity to see Old Panama City. The 500 year-old Spanish buildings are stunning. Every corner or street reveals another gem of a building or church. The whole town is under going a major renaissance with a lot of the original private buildings being renovated and turned into offices, shops, cafes or luxury apartments. The architecture is similar to Havana in Cuba but unfortunately most of Havana’s buildings are in a state of major decay. So with my diesel and water tanks full and my larder restocked with fresh fruit and vegetables (later I would be so grateful for over-provisioning) I bid Adios to Balboa but not to Panama because first there was a detour to be had called the Las Perlas Islands. One of those “Can’t miss” places. Only 50 miles from Balboa it is like stepping into another world. A group of islands of which only a few are populated with pristine waters and lush, unspoilt vegetation make these islands a unique cruising ground. Of course if you need daily supplies or entertainment then these islands are not for you. At Las Perlas I took the opportunity to dive beneath Omache to check the hull and give her bottom a good scrub. On land most people run for cover when it rains. Here you run outside to shower and cool down. So when a squall moved through the anchorage I stood in the rain for a fresh water shower and then once the decks were clean I devised a way to divert the water flowing down the decks into my water tank to top it up. I was glad of the chance to practice this as I might have to catch water along the way to Hawaii. And so Hawaii beckons and with it the longest passage of the journey - a mere 4,500 nautical miles from Panama as the crow flies. A journey of the unknown as I have never been more than 500 miles off shore before. This time I will be more than 2500 miles from any land. Hawaii is literally in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is a time for learning not only how to sail long distances but a time to learn more about yourself. Your inner resources. The route to Hawaii will take me 3 ° N of the equator until I reach 110 ° W then I will start to turn up towards Hawaii. This is the old Clipper route that was used by those trading vessels to take advantage of the trade winds. If it worked for them, it should work for me.

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