Tag Archive for: George Keeler

Portobelo to Boca del Toros, Panama

Last sail of the season with only a three person crew of Kristine, George and ken. left from Portabello – the world’s richest port in 1500’s with the Spanish boats laden with new world gold but now, pretty low-life. Crossed the long-line of huge boats waiting to enter the Panama canal, an overnight at Isla Escudo de Veraguas, and finally the Isla de Colon in Boca del Toros. A season ended.

Valencia to Benalmadena

The Grateful Red spent a month at the Valencia marina having both repairs and upgrades. The key repair – Pat the refrigerator technician flew in from California to Valencia plus Ken hired a local refrigeration repair man. The result – the Grateful Red again has cold beer. Took four days to repair the refrig compressor. After a month Ken and Kristine returned to be joined with George and Teri for a Spanish coastal cruise – looking for a Spanish bull fight that never was to be found. The first leg was an overnight to Puerto de Santa Pola. While the beer was cold the instruments/auto pilot continued to have issues. With such a “crack” crew the spinnaker was deployed on the next leg a sail to Port Cartagena. Cartagena is also a NATO naval port and ………. on our way out a NATO submarine cruised …. and I mean cruised at about 20 knots ….. past us. Quite a sight. Another over night to Almerimar along the Spanish Costa del Sol coast. The Costa del Sol has miles and miles of over built and empty condos. With winds variable to none the Grateful Red motored to the port of Benalmadera where Teri and George took a cab to the Malga airport tp return and ….. the new crew of Ron, Niki and John arrived. Ron’s planning was terrific arriving in time to have a leaving and arriving crew party dinner in Benalmadera.

Les Voiles de San Tropez Regatta

The Traditional Class “wooden boats over 16 meters in length” had 44 participants. There was a ten boat Wooden 12-meter class. American Cup boats. 288 boats overall in the regatta. Crew of Leneke, Clarissa and Jeroen as the Dutch contingent with Teri, George, Kristine and Ken had difficulties in finding the correct course among many courses in the sailing instructions. Finally on the last day, sailed the correct course and beat boats. A great finish to a terrific racing season!