Bahia Drake to Golfito - approx 70 nm

We expected this to be the riskiest part of the voyage. Not only did we have to go out by Isla del Canos, reputed to be the place most often struck by lightning in all of Central America, but we would be rounding the Osa Penisula, which from the charts looked like we could expect quite a bit of a "point effect" (i.e. stronger winds, confused seas and currents) as we came around this point. We would get to pass places called Punta LLorna, which in Spanish means "She Who Cries", but which actually refers to a tale of warning, something like the Boogie Man ("Watch out or La Llorona will get you!"), and Punta Salsipuedes, which means "Leave If You Can" lol. So we were understandably concerned about this little stretch of ocean!

However, as it turned out, probably due to our spot-on weather checking and passage-making strategy, by leaving at 4:00 am, we had absolutely no problem on the leg. It did not rain at all on the leg and there was no lightning or thunder to be seen/heard. In fact, it was sunny and clear the whole way. It was so perfect that when we pulled into Bahia Golfito, about 2:30 in the afternoon, it also happened to be the best time to be entering the bay at slack high tide! We lined up on the range markers and had no problem making the channel unassisted.

As we pulled into the bay, we contacted Land and Sea Marina on Channel 16 and were told that they had moorings available for both us and KETCHIN UP, at the very reasonable price of $8/day, including free WI-FI, showers, game room, and so on. After talking to Tim at Land and Sea, we also contacted the Naval Base and checked in over the radio. A short time later, as we pulled up to the mooring field, Tim came out in his skiff and helped us take our mooring, and by 3:00 we were having celebratory beers and shots, congratulating ourselves on yet another great passage!

Bahia Drake to Golfito