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Old 02-03-2009, 17:37   #1
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Panama Canal Yacht Club to Close

Just read this from the SSCA website SSCA Discussion Board :: View topic - Panama Canal Yacht Club Closing

Seems demolition has already started, what a sad day.
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Old 02-03-2009, 18:40   #2
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And people wonder when I tell them that they are NUTS to own property in countries like this...
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Old 02-03-2009, 19:14   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annk View Post
Just read this from the SSCA website SSCA Discussion Board :: View topic - Panama Canal Yacht Club Closing

Seems demolition has already started, what a sad day.
Just heard on the NW Caribbean SSB net this morning that the dozers came in with little or no notice. Wonder what will happen to the boats left by owners long term & still tied up on the docks there???
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Old 02-03-2009, 21:23   #4
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Wow! Absolutely amazing. I wander what the ramifications are for "seizure" of foreign-flagged vessels? I wouldn't want to have my boat there.
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Old 03-03-2009, 04:43   #5
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See also the Panama Guide
“The "Panama Canal Yacht Club" Is No More (1928 - 2009)”
Panama Guide - The "Panama Canal Yacht Club" Is No More (1928 - 2009)
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Old 03-03-2009, 10:51   #6
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And people wonder when I tell them that they are NUTS to own property in countries like this...
Maybe, but this is not an example of that. This isn't something like a house owned by a US expat being seized. Panama is nice and stable but big corporations win legal battles here too. I would not call Panama 3rd world, it's much more developed than that.

They were in legal battles for a decade or more and the risk of closure was known to all cruisers. A similar located marina in our developed western world would have been replaced by container terminal much sooner, be sure of that.

I agree it is very sad for the local people working there and very inconvenient for the cruisers berthed there. But all knew it was going to happen in the end. I think it's better to spend energy helping and supporting the workers than to try to stop or hinder this with legal or other action.

Nick.
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Old 03-03-2009, 14:06   #7
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Jedi's right about that. Wayne Huizenga and another group calling themselves the Seven Kings (Loggerhead Clubs) have pretty much wiped out all of the old marinas and available waterfront property in SE Florida for condo development.
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Old 03-03-2009, 18:24   #8
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Nic loved those hamburgers!

Cruisers should look at the unused cruise shipping terminal (not the one behind wire that is used now...) That cruise ship terminal is excellent with a shopping centre and supermarket attached.
No one uses the waterfront. and its just near the Duty Free Zone.

I am just trying to remember its name... ummmm (tick tick tick...) No way use the Shelter Bay Marina as its too expensive. Royal? Reale? Ummmm It has a name!

It a much nicer and safer area...Colon 2000

Thats it!


Colon 2000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Go drop the pick there PS Its close to McDonalds...
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Old 04-03-2009, 07:09   #9
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Do you mean this Colon 2000 Cruise Terminal?

Panama Ports - Panama Cruise, Panama Canal, Panama Travel

“... The Colon 2000 terminal is generally for cruise ships that are docking in Colon for the entire day and not entering the Panama Canal. The terminal building features lounge areas, an internet café, a duty free mall, restaurants and native craft boutiques. Although Colon is home to this relatively new cruise terminal, Colon remains essentially an industrial area with few tourist attractions. The Free Zone is typically not for tourists buying a single item, but seems more geared toward businesses ...”
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Old 04-03-2009, 13:48   #10
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Quote:
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Do you mean this Colon 2000 Cruise Terminal?


“... The Colon 2000 terminal is generally for cruise ships that are docking in Colon for the entire day ...”


Yes thats the one. But I don't think cruise ships use it at all now. They moor in a security zone near the harbour control tower. The Cruise Ship terminal is now vacant but the shopping centre is still there and open. Yachts could anchor in the area outboard of the cruise ship terminal.

The regular anchorage "The Flats" is too far from anywhere to use now. And its too difficult in the security aspect.

People will just have to force the issue a bit

ShelterBayMarina is on the far side of the entrance and is a 30 minute drive from town. And thats not a safe drive either as when we were in Colon we were speaking to a guy that said their Taxi was followed (at night) and the bandits tried to hijack the taxi when in the dark, deserted narrow road leading to tha marina.

Safety in colon is where the good people are... and thats not the area of the old yacht club as thats all poor peoples accommodation.

Mark (The real me, not the other more female me thats using my login! )

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Old 04-03-2009, 15:01   #11
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"The Flats" will ble closed to people anchoring at the end of this month.

That news from a friend who uses the area a lot.

The only one currently is Shelter Bay, but Cruisers are a pretty savvy lot and won't pay those crappy fees! Come'on! Lets find the next great place in Colon!

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Old 04-03-2009, 15:34   #12
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Shelter Bay marina is a lovely place, on the border between the sea and dense tropical jungle. It's also completely safe and guarded by the Navy (Naval base (big words for what it is) = same complex, Fort Sherman).

Just before you get on that long dark road to Fort Sherman, you have to pass the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. That is about the only negative thing of this marina if you are in a hurry: most times you have to wait for ships entering leaving the locks. This is also where any chase by bandits (never heard that story before, must have been told at a bar) ends (Canal security). At the other end of the road is the navy checkpoint of Fort Sherman.

The only bandits that have been sighted on the road were coatimundi's, monkeys, ant-eaters, jaguars, hawks, vultures, sloths, toucans, snakes and other scum but never the human kind.

There's walking trails through the jungle, marina bus and taxi's for shopping trips, wifi when it works (gets better) and even a swimming pool now.

The marina has been well filled for the year we have been here, it might get full with the new situation. We are staying here for another season because my wife broke her ankle... ask me what you want to know!

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Old 04-03-2009, 15:45   #13
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I'm afraid I got so carried away with the wildlife here that my message isn't clear ;-) Shelter Bay is 100% safe and on the same scale the PCYC would have been 80%. The problem is the immediate surroundings: Shelter Bay 99% safe (1% wildlife risk) and PCYC 50% at day and only 10% safe at night.

We pay $0.53 per foot per day on a 6 month contract. Not sure if that is the current price. Electricity is $0.415 per kWh.

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Old 05-03-2009, 04:44   #14
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See the story from the Panama News:
Panama Ports shuts down Cristobal Yacht Club

The demolition:
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Old 08-03-2009, 21:10   #15
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Yes, this was all a hell of a surprise....I was over there the day the containers were placed. Was very surprised, then saw it 2 days later and was even MORE surprised.

It was a dumpy little place in many respects, but it sure had character, never mind the characters that worked there. All in all a real shame.

- Steve
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