Panama Sailing School

A sailing student's adventure

By Jim Sellars

A cry went up, “Dolphins!” and all hands were at the rail catching a glimpse of the sleek creatures playing in our bow wave. We made our way from the Las Perlas archipelago to Panama City, the final passage of our charter course, offered by the Panama Sailing School. Our vessel, a 37 ft. Island Packet cutter rig, was finally moving down course like a freight train.

The three of us who were on this immersion charter course had spent six days at sea. We were all sailors now, having learned the ‘ropes’ from our instructor and skipper Captain Marcos Villegas. We had passed our exams and now we felt at home on the boat.

Captain Sahika Riley.

The Panama Sailing School is new to Panama City, and is the creation of Captain Sahika Riley, a fast talking lady of considerable talent and tenacity. In a ‘man’s world’ of sailing and in a Latin culture as well, she is forging a business that promises to take off when people hear about the professional accredited training offered. The program requires effort and some study to succeed at but the instructors at Panama Sailing School give you confidence right away that you can learn and succeed at this challenging adventure. The reward that one feels at the conclusion of the exams, with a passing grade and a sailor’s log book in hand is quite extraordinary.

Life is short, and there are some things that you have to take the time to try just for the fun and challenge. Learning to sail in Panama took the urgency out of our lives. There were moments when it was hard to stay awake, the world seemed so peaceful. Then the fishing line would go screaming out and we would jump to retrieve another fish from our trolling gear. Fresh “sushi” from the quarter deck made us all chuckle. Later a pasta dish from scratch, our catch diced up in a marinara sauce, was purely mouth watering!

A course takes a hole trip.

One night we found a sheltered anchorage on the lee side of Isla Contadora, the most inhabited island in the Perlas, where the Shah of Iran had spent his last days. It is also the island where the accountants and business managers of the Spanish Conquistadors counted and rendered the spoils of exploitation. Hence the name ‘Isla Contadora’ - Accountant Island. The ships laden with gold and silver from Peru would unload their cargo on the island and it would be cataloged and then transported on to Panama before making its way to Spain. Today the sleek boats like ours fly flags from France or Switzerland and bob at anchor in the protected cove. But the adventure, romance and magic can still be felt.

Jamie, a doctor from Australia, played guitar for us on deck and we told stories over cool drinks under a brilliant canopy of stars over head, far away from the lights of civilization. The morning smelled of coffee in clean air, and was filled with the song of sea birds taking off in search of fish. We reviewed the day’s lesson plan over breakfast. Lauren, a beautiful and intelligent young woman from California coached us for success as a group. We were on an intensive training course - not a pleasure cruise, there were books to study and knots to practice.

We studied charts and tide tables and reviewed retrieving the anchor. But first we took the dinghy to the island for some ice cream at the local store and a refreshing swim before embarking. Sunken rocks, tides and currents determined our course to our next destination off a near by island called Pachequa. Another fresh fish on the way through the channel between the islands and supper was planned. What a life! Dolphins swept past us in the late afternoon as we relaxed with our practice exams. Another evening under stars so bright they dazzled. It was very fine, idyllic really and I wish it could have lasted a lifetime.

All too soon it was mid day and we were beating our way on a close reach back over the horizon for Panama City and home. We were moving along at a solid seven knots with a full quarter wheel of weather helm. Crashing over the swells and surfing over the tops, rolling from side to side in the waves, it was a thrilling passage and lots of work in the bargain, the kind of work that brings a smile to your face with just a thought of it. Finally it came to an end with the capture of our mooring, the boat was secured, and as darkness fell we made our way, each back to the lives we had left only days before, ashore.

Thanks to the Panama Sailing School, Captain Marcos Villegas, my crew mates Lauren and Jamie, for a wonderful experience, memories, and a smile that will be a long time in fading. Visit www. panamasailingschool.com for an educational experience that you will never forget.

This article was written by Jim Sellars, you can read more about his experiences at www.wealthmanagementcanada. com.