Visit our Popular Forums

oldjags · 20-08-2012, 06:21

I'm a little confused about the zarpe requirements, and whether or not I need to get a new one.

We left Porvenir in the San Blas Islands heading towards the canal, with a planned layover of a month in Green Turtle Cay Marina in Nombre de Dios. From there we are going to Shelter Bay Marina in Colon.

When we departed, the port captain in Porvenir filled out our zarpe for Nombre de Dios, not for Colon, despite the fact that there is no one in Nombre de Dios to issue a new zarpe.

I can get a new zarpe in Portobello, I think. Is it OK to sail for Portobello w/o a zarpe and get it there, or do I need to travel by land to get the zarpe before I bring the boat?

Or do I just not need to worry about it and go straight to Colon without a new zarpe? I already have a Panama cruising permit, so I'm not sure what the zarpe is really for, other than just creating paperwork.

Paul L · 20-08-2012, 12:35

We went from San Blas to Portobello without a Zarpe, because we couldn't wait for the Porvenir port captain to show up. The Port Captain in Portobello was very accommodating and made it easy for us to write a little story on a piece of paper and then check-into Portobello and come back the next day and check out with a Zarpe for Shelter Bay.
YMMV

belizesailor · 20-08-2012, 12:56

I've heard from a number for friends who've cruised Panama that Zarpe requirements and procedures vary quite a lot from one Panamanian port to the next and change like the wind.

I've so far only cruised the Bocas area, so I have something to "look forward to" for next season...oh boy!

barnakiel · 20-08-2012, 16:15

When we were there (ages ago) zarpe was not required between ports (and, if it was, we never got asked for ours). However, it actually counts what the harbourmaster thinks rather than what is legally required or not. Get the zarpe, better have one and not need it than need one and not have it.

b.

oldjags · 20-08-2012, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul L

We went from San Blas to Portobello without a Zarpe, because we couldn't wait for the Porvenir port captain to show up. The Port Captain in Portobello was very accommodating and made it easy for us to write a little story on a piece of paper and then check-into Portobello and come back the next day and check out with a Zarpe for Shelter Bay.
YMMV

HaHa, we were tempted to do the same thing. We arrived at Porvenir at 3:00 PM in the middle of a downpour, and as I'm walking in the rain towards the port captain's office, I got called over by the border police, and spent the next 30 minutes answering questions, pulling out passports, and otherwise verifying with him that I was there legally.

In the meantime, the port captain's office closed at 3:30. I walked over to his house and all I could get from him was to come back at 7:30 tomorrow. Thanks to the border patrol, I missed out.

Not a problem, we'll just stay anchored here close by so we can leave early tomorrow.

The next morning I'm there at 7:30, but he doesn't show up until 9:00. Finally walk out with my zarpe at 9:30, which puts our projected arrival at Green Turtle Cay a little too close to sunset for my liking. Plus the weather's still nasty, so we decide to anchor at Chichime for the night and leave the next morning at dawn.

Never realized it could be so hard to leave a place!

I'll just sail to Portobello and get one there! Thanks

Jaxxiam · 23-08-2012, 00:54

I have a hypothetical question, it’s hypothetical because I’m not on the water yet.
If I am in Grande and want to make my way to Panama what are some good places to stop and resupply as needed.

Thanks, in advance for whatever comes out of my question. I hope I'm not breaking a thread rule for posting this here.