LEAVING PIRATES & THUNDERS - SwT 104 - SAILING TO SAN ANDRES

[@anitahardesty2163]

Unbelievable what you went through. I'm sorry for that! This will show other cruisers not to go there! Love your channel. Came here from captain rick moore!

[@americanhuman4130]

The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy. Great vid as always. Safe Travels.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching! Its just plain crazy how they do it... All the best🍻

[@JC-21470]

Really enjoy your videos Thomas, nothing fancy, just the real nuts and bolts of the sailing life. Thanks for giving the truth about corruption in certain countries and how it might make sense to use an agent in certain areas. Life experiences you will never forget and that will probably help others taking a similar path! Looked like a nice beam reach up to San Adnres, should be a great sail with 20-25!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! If no one dears to shine som lights on the problems it will never be better. The Marina knows and should take some action as its tons of poor reviews on the same persons online at Panama Cruisers among some. Cheers🍻

[@boatlover123]

Great episode. You have quite a sense of humour to go with your sailing abilities!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@2DCardBored]

Sun can't shine every day! Sometimes it would be nice if it did more often...great story! Nice work.

[@SailingwithThomas]

True words! Thank you for watching and for being here. Cheers 🍻

[@everythingexplained]

Have a nice journey to San Andres. Looking forward to seeing Cpt. Rick and family on your channel :)

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@kimmacdonald1049]

Thomas as always great story line. Thankyou.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! All the best 🍻

[@marius53891]

Thanks Thomas for next episode! As always really enjoyed watching.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for being here and for watching! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@tomcraddock244]

It’s sad Panama is so corrupt!! glad you got out safely.it’s cool your hooking up with Captain Rick,that should be fun!! have a safe trip Fair winds Thomas ⛵️

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! Yeah we have tried for two years now🤣 So it was about time to meet again. All the best 🍻

[@careylogan7639]

What a hassle!!! You are a bit more patient than I would have been. Loved the video bro. Cheers!!!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you! It was driving me nuts, borderline to extorson is never fun. Thank you for watching🍻

[@sailingsereiawithgary8385]

This episode was educational. It's good to know what to plan in far away places.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching! All the best 🍻

[@darrenleask6042]

Loving your blog's Thomas

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! Cheers 🍻

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Be safe keep rolling, Thomas! Stay away from the tstorms for sure!! 👍👍

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! All the best 🍻

[@ThoughtfulWander]

@@SailingwithThomas 👍👍

[@braddobson2060]

Very good video. Have a safe trip

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! All the best 🍻

[@charlesmoser1095]

Thomas you are too funny…. Great stuff in Panama!!! Have a safe trip to San Andreas and stay safe!!!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@paulmaskill3138]

looking forward to the next episode enjoy

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much! All the best 🍻

[@markuskoarmani1364]

Good going Thomas! Please provide agents good agents in Panama here. Maybe we can keep them honest by referral aand ratings. Fair winds my friend.

[@SailingwithThomas]

I will definitely share the ones I’m gonna use as I have some knowledge about a few already. Thank you so much for watching and for being here. Cheers 🍻

[@manuelgarrido3087]

Hi Thomas! What a hell of a place! paperwork is never fun bet there it looks like it's also very expensive and nonsense. I hope you had a good crossing to San Andrés. Lightning is never good news on a boat. Take care!

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching! Yeah I feel really sorry for all the boats taking direct hit. To some it can ruin their dreams of cruising as the costs of fixing things after something like this is out of this planet expencive. Cheers🍻

[@rljpan1207]

A learning experience, once again.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching! Cheers 🍻

[@robinmalina2645]

I really enjoy your videos Thomas, it is my dream to sail like you🤩🤩🤩

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching and for being here! Im sure one day your dreams will come through, just go out and enjoy sailing. All the best🍻

[@nooneanybodyknows1321]

The corruption is evident. Who do you complain to remedy? You, others that are experiencing the same treatment, and perhaps the embassy, if you are from the US? That really changes the mood of travel. Nice video, Thomas. I hope you have a lightning-free sail to San Andreas. ⛵

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching! The US is pumping Panama full of US tax paiers money to fight this kind of things. Seems like waste of money to me... All the best 🍻

[@karaDee2363]

Not the first time I've heard of the nightmares dealing with Panama's bureaucracy... Definitely a place to avoid if you can..

[@SailingwithThomas]

Yeah unfortunately it’s difficult to avoid as it’s the gateway to the Pacific. Sadly the corruption destroys so much for such a beautiful country. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@eyeofchorus6313]

This reflects very badly on the whole government of Panama; a country to avoid.

[@SailingwithThomas]

True words! Looks like the billions of US tax dollars into this country for anti corruption and transparancy is not paying off that well.... All the best🍻

[@josephlai9759]

Thank you for showing us the ugly realities sailors have to face dealing with cross border administration or rather systemic corruption from officials.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching and for your comment. Sometimes its important to talk about the elephant in the room. All the best 🍻

[@mosca3289]

Always interesting, thanks. One question about lightning. How come aircraft can safely handle a lightning strike but not boats?

[@SailingwithThomas]

Im obviously no expert on airplanes but know a little bit. Back in the late 60s early 70s lightning was dangerous for airplanes as well, and there was som fatal accidents due to direct hit. However they have focused a lot on protecting the electronics and fuel caps etc. New standards made and everything had to be lightning proof. Airplanes body is made of aluminium and as they are in the air electricity kind of bounces off and into the clouds. It’s like holding one cable with charge you will not feel much. But if you held two cables you will notice the electricity. A yacht is sitting in water with ground under is like holding the second cable. So the electricity can travel through the mast and on its way to ground will make lots of damages. Smaller planes are not all lightning proof even though they are in the air. But even on small private planes there have been an evolution to better safety. Still for planes flying through a thunderstorm turbulence is the biggest challenge and sometimes danger. But again I’m no expert only was quite interested in aviation as kid. Im sure some with more knowledge can give a better answer. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@mosca3289]

@@SailingwithThomas Thanks Thomas. I have only a little knowledge about aviation but it is an interesting question so I should get googling.

[@user-mj6sl9qv8j]

Theres a KZbinr who sails regularly around there and says he has fixed his lightning strike issue by setting up steel bristle arrangements at the outer points of his boat (top of masts, bow and stern) and says these more effectively dissipate any potential difference meaning he is always neutral to the area around him. Not sure if its just him?

[@SailingwithThomas]

Lots of solutions on the market but how efficient they are is to be debated. Some solutions have no proven effect and some is even like inviting lightning to the party. I have tried to find a good solution myself but lack of scientific backing have at least to me been so far no reason for spending money. Some insurance companies now demand this without documentation for what they mean it can contribute with. However I don’t have the full overview and could be there is some new interesting solutions worth checking. My best insurance is staying close to a catamaran as personal experienced statistics they are like having a sacrifice anode. Don’t ask me why. Thank you so much for watching and for your comment! All the best and cheers 🍻

[@1960jammy]

Do your radar pick up the logs in the sea?

[@muralk3153]

We had a similar typhoon in Japan which crossed over from the Japan sea over to the South Pacific. It turned back into a typhoon soon as it crossed. I have been following typhoons for some times and this was the first.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Just as it’s scary weather systems it’s also quite fascinating! Amazed to here we share the same interests in weather patterns and systems. Thank you so much for watching and for being here. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@kentwood2914]

I truly appreciate your honesty and telling it how it is. Too many people are politically correct and as a result their channels are not worth more than entertianment, at best. I think your situation there would have driven me mad.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much Kent! This was almost driving me nuts but what can you do... They even approved me filming, so guess they don’t care. Hopefully sailors avoid Shelter Bay for clearing in or out so this famous guys loose their extra income from sailors. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@firstnamelastname9013]

👏👏🍻

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you so much for watching! Cheers 🍻

[@petercooke2115]

ThAnks Thomas,that lightning must be nerve wracking,hope your customs people don’t have any enterprising cousins in Nicaragua.Are you going anywhere near Corn Island or Bluefields?

[@SailingwithThomas]

Thank you for watching! Yeah the lightning is no fun knowing how much damage and costs it brings if hit. All the best🍻

[@claytonburton7721]

⭐ p͎r͎o͎m͎o͎s͎m͎

[@SailingwithThomas]

Cheers 🍻

[@40watt_club]

I miss Kylie ... where is she ?

[@SailingwithThomas]

Hopfully she will start her own channel or something. All the best🍻

[@robertscranton8293]

Crooks...ummm

[@SailingwithThomas]

Yeah! Thank you for watching 🍻

[@MiQBohlin]

Hmm… Panama seems even less interesting after this one. Pity they don’t take their business seriously and head for a service minded hosting for their clients.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Panamá has it’s good sides and beautiful places as well. However Colon district is not a good place to be. This district was quite intense with pretty frequent piracy attacks on sailboats until early 2020. In 2019 there were places like Nobre dos Dias where you where almost 100% guaranteed being gunpoint robbed after sunset if staying at anchor. Some was even brutally raped onboard, and one was even killed by pirates in San Blas. It has come down a lot last two years, but still there is no reason to be naive in Panama. Especially not in Colon district. All the best and cheers 🍻

[@MiQBohlin]

I get it. It’s a pity when a minority makes a fuzz for every other in an area. Anyways, looking forward to learn a little more about San Andrés. Looks nice!

[@arkady1028]

If you are living in a constant nervous, dealing with every problem you encounter with sailing and country life, buy a little home in Trofors and relax, sale your Bavaria and go for a little canoe

[@nick.caffrey]

No. Too quiet.

[@SailingwithThomas]

Not sure how I should read your comment. But either its a kind of humour I dont understand, or its sarkasm that normally works very poor in text. A lightning strike at sea can be fatal, trust me I know. A lightning strike in a marina is only expensive. A direct hit to my boat would most likely set me back 70-80K EUR so it’s at least to me a valid reason for not being excited about it. All the best and cheers 🍻