Hello From Velera

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

Hello from #373 Velera. She is a deep keeled T37 that I have owned for 15 years. I have renovated most of the systems at least once in that time. I am currently in Bocas del Toro, Panama (Caribbean side) in the middle of a trip from San Francisco to Maine. If you are interested, my website www.caltomaine.com will provide a log and a lot of pictures from the trip so far. There is also a section on how the boat is outfitted for the trip.

I will be cruising the San Blas Islands for a month or so and then turning my heading North with the idea of getting to Florida in early April and continuing up the East Coast--getting to Maine in late May or early June. I could use suggestions for folks on East Coast stops and routes. Not sure at this point how my 6' 7" draft is going to limit me.

The T37 has been a great sea boat for the trip so far. I am basically a retired guy who is single handing, but I have had help with some of the longer passages.

Ray Durkee

Down2TheC · **Posted:** 29 Dec 2006 11:44

Welcome to the forum. Love your Panama pics.

So how do you stay connected out there? Are you only connected in port or all the time? It's nifty to have a forum member who's in transit. Perhaps this forum could be a source of crew for future legs (he says checking his calendar) Cool

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

I stay connected on my trip primarily through email and through Skype. I have a Globalstar satellite phone that has been worthless (do not get me started on that company--they over state their service area substantially outside the US). I also have a Skymate satellite email on the boat which has worked OK when offshore. I have seldom been at sea for more than 3 days at a time (with a few exceptions this is a coastal trip) and in every port there has been an internet cafe--sometimes in a thatched hut, but it is always there. In the larger towns, someone almost always has a wireless signal and so, poof, you can call to the US on Skype through your computer for about 2 cents a minute. I have SSB for reception only so I can get weather. I also can get complete weather through Skymate.

If any Tartan owners would like to do some legs, please sign up. I could really use some help on some of the legs--particularly from San Blas to Providencia (or St Andres) Island and from there to Roatan, and from Roatan to Cozumel and Cozumel to Key West. Problem is that I do not have my schedule precisely laid out and I want to be able to pick my weather--so this is a hardship for folks who have jobs and tight schedules. If interested, I put a place to sign up on my website www.caltomaine.com. These legs will most likely be in March and April.

Tartan37.com

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