 <h3>News From Panama and the Caribbean</h3>
<img src="content/pic/trip1/canal.jpg" alt="Panama canal, gates at Gatun closeing (canal.jpg))" align="left"> 
  <p> As you read I'm hitching around the world (well maybe 
    not all the way, I'm not that rich most of my money has gone to the 
    club coffers via the bar), I'm currently sailing on  
    Örnen, a 56ft Swedish shrimp trawler, luxury on water. It comes 
    equipped with Fridge, Freezer, watermaker, and 4000Nm range under engine! 
    A far cry from the Chichester winter series I was used to. I have now 
    been out 5 months, 3 and a half with Sam Coles, and numerous club members 
    on Ramprsad.The Atlantic crossing was a bit of an adventure, well not 
    nearly as much of and adventure as Simon made out in his last Gybe Sheet 
    article. In fact we tore 6 Inches of spinnaker, lost 1 plastic glass 
    overboard and broke 1 mug, witch are environmental ex commodore threw 
    overboard in a fit of madness. Other than that the Atlantic was mostly 
    very pleasant, a lot warmer than Brighton beach, and aside from the 
    occasional squall the scariest thing that happened was the arrival af 
    Flying Fish very close in the middle of the night!</p>
  <p>Since parting with Simon in St Lucia (which I'm sure you 
    have heard about time and time again) I sailed with Sam to Martinique 
    (France with palm trees), St Vincent, Bequia, Tobago Cays (no where 
    near Tobago), Cariacou, Grenada, then Trinidad for the Carnival an experience 
    not to be missed, especially with Simeon whispering "What use is a soft 
    Banana" in your ear all the time nice girls in impressive costumes walked 
    passed. The sounds and lack of sleep from the Carnival will haunt me 
    for years to come. After Trinidad I joined Örnen, more of a ship than a Yacht, and sailed with a mixed crew 
    of English and Swedes and a Brazilian who spoke no common language and 
    had got to Trinidad with the expectation that they spoke Portuguese 
    there, to Isla Margarita Venezuela. Found Rum at less than a pound a 
    bottle, and their was much rejoicing. Shed some crew, and gained a Dane 
    (Mia "The Great Danish"). Moved on to Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) 
    and met some previous crew or Örnen who'd married locals and were very surprised when the boat they'd travelled 
    to Bonaire on anchored out side one of them's kitchen window! The other 
    one had got married on the foredeck, there was also a picture of the 
    boat and the original crew (Örnen 
    is on its third trip round the world) in one of the bars, we had to 
    bring it down and polish it! Well and have some beers too. </p>
  <p>After Bonaire we went to Curacao, then on to Cartegena 
    Columbia , the coffee was great, and apart from hearing gunfire and 
    having the dinghy (and the big outboard stolen), it was really a nice 
    place friendly helpful people and ciggies 1 pound for 200. Our next 
    stop was the San Blas Islands, the most unspoiled spot so far, the population 
    is entirely native Americans, all living in huts with no water or electricity, 
    fishing and travelling around in dugout canoes (don't try them they're 
    well unstable). </p>
  <p>All beautiful coral islands, none bigger than 0.5 miles 
    square. The most beautiful place I've ever seen. Now in Panama having 
    been through the canal, wow, next stop The Galapagos Islands then the 
    Marquesas, French Polynesia and Oz.</p>