[PUP] Panama to Key West, choices and advice needed

[Scott E. Bulger]

Facing a few hard decisions and would benefit from those of you with
experience crossing the Caribbean (especially W to E, Panama to Key West).
We are in Mexico, heading to Costa Rica.  Our goal at departure was the East
Coast up down and then perhaps the Windward Islands and beyond, but this is
a 2 year cruise, not a lifetime!  We are 6 months in and having a blast, but
face a major decision, there are three options:

a.  Continue through the Canal, see the San Blas, Bocas Del Toro, Rio Dulce,
Belize, Key West, north to Maine and back down, sell the boat in Florida.  

b.  From Costa Rica ship the boat back to Victoria B.C. and go to Alaska
this summer, return to Seattle and live on the boat while we build a house
to return to land.  

c.  Continue to through the Canal, have my wife leave the boat in Panama and
re-join me in Guatemala, Cancun or Key West and follow agenda A.  

The problem that complicates these decisions is despite our best efforts my
wife continues to battle sea sickness.  We've tried all the remedies and so
far they have provided some relief.  Going downwind in the calm Pacific she
uses Meclizine to provide relief, but actually simply sleeps through most of
our passages (if it's above a 2' swell).  This works for us, we have several
thousand miles under our belt and once we get to Key West I'm 100% sure we
can manage the East Coast.  The problem is the month it would take me to get
the boat from Panama to Key West.  Everything I read tells me to be prepared
to beat into a very confused, rough, challenging sea from Panama to Cancun.
I'm certain it will make her miserable.  So, I'm wondering if those of you
that have traveled this route can share their experience (Thanks to Mike and
Sara Wise who have provided hours and hours of advice on the subject!!!).
Right now option 3 looks good to me, the question that comes up then is can
I get crew in Panama to make this trip or should I call in friends from the
states?  Another option would be to ship the boat to Ft. Lauderdale, but at
that point the Alaska option would prevail.  Thanks to those of you willing
to share their thoughts and experience!

 

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA