Ever since COVID-19 hit a couple of months ago, the question on everyones lips, including our own is: So what is the plan now?
Truth is – for the first time in our lives – our future is not in our hands, and we can’t plan anything for certain! All our plans depend on “ifs” which as we all know, don’t seem to turn in anyones favour these days!
Living this close to nature teaches you to always, have a plan!
If the wind turns when on anchor, where will our boat swing so it won’t hit a reef or another boat?
When we set sail for a new destination, what is the weather forecast along the way, and what is the best day to go?
If I’m going to the shop, what should I buy just in case I don’t get to another shop for a very long time?
If the boat sinks, how will we evacuate and survive?
We seem to always be putting a plan in place for “what ifs”!
But “what if” a pandemic strikes and we can’t continue our planned journey?
How can we plan for that? We can’t simply hop on a plane and go home, the boat is our home…
We’d need to find jobs. Oh wait no one is currently hiring…
We’d need to rent a home. But hang on, at the moment we have a home, which besides insurance is paid for…
We’d need to take Mokara out of the water. But this would mean haul out and dry dock fees…
We’d need to try and find flights. Which at the moment are ridiculous prices and very few and far between…
Not to mention that we would be putting ourselves at a much higher risk of contracting COVID than if we stayed where we currently are…
Going back to land with all the above in mind would definitely not make financial or reasonable sense!
Don’t get me wrong I know we are not alone – feeling this way! I think this pandemic has shown everyone, that in life we can’t really plan for anything!
Our plan pre-COVID was that we would cross the Pacific Ocean in April 2020, which would have put us nicely in the middle of the South Pacific islands by now. Probably around the Bora Bora area, or there about.
As we all know – this didn’t happen and we now find ourselves on the Caribbean side of Panama, with COVID cases rising, and restrictions becoming worse again.
But what do we do now? Do we sit here and wait indefinitely for COVID to go away so that we can continue?
What if it takes years?
As the months go by, we realise our thoughts that “Surely, by June – July, maybe September things will have gotten better and we will have our freedom again” are not realistic! When we first heard about the lockdown in Colombia we thought it would all be over in a couple of weeks – they would contain the virus, and we would all be back to our normal lives.
That didn’t happen!
Month after month seems to go by, and every month the boarder closures just get extended for another 30 days, or the lockdown and curfews stay in place or get tighter. Now I find myself expecting extensions! The restrictions have become our new way of life!
So much for our “Living Life, Wild and Free” slogan which we have printed above the entrance of our boat!
Which brings me back to my original question: What is our new plan?
As we don’t have the option to go home and get jobs, (so that we can refill our hugely dwindling savings). Whilst we wait for the best weather window to cross the Pacific to come around again in February/March 2021 we plan the following:
- We are currently located close to the idyllic San Blas islands, which are mostly only possible to visit by private boat. When/”if” they open this year, we will open up the opportunity for people (no sailing experience necessary) to join us, as crew to sail and explore these beautiful islands with us. Helping us by contributing to the boat costs on a daily basis.
- As the end of the year approaches, and “if” we have managed to replenish our savings slightly, we will start making our way to the Panama Canal. Crossing the canal either in December/January.
- Spend January/February exploring the Pacific side of Panama, which includes the Las Perlas islands and the islands of Montuosa, Jicaron, and Coiba near the Costa Rica boarder. These islands apparently have the best diving in Panama, with manta rays, whale sharks and tame fish, all protected by a strictly patrolled marine reserve.
- Cross the Pacific Ocean, perhaps stopping in the Galapagos Islands in March/April, and continuing on our adventure as planned, albeit a year later…
I’m sure you’ve already spotted the “ifs’ in this plan…
At the moment Shawn and I are crossing all our fingers and toes that this pans out for us. We need it to work, simply because we don’t have any other options…
In closing, if you or someone you know would like to experience life on board Mokara, either visiting the San Blas, Las Perlas or Coiba islands or would like to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to cross the Panama Canal on a sailing boat. Then please get in touch and let us know. We are very flexible with dates and can move our departure dates to suit you! We can accommodate a couple in a double cabin with en suite facilities. How involved you want to get is up to you, you are welcome to help sail the boat or you can simply relax – the choice is yours.
In the mean time if anyone out there comes up with a better plan for us that has no “ifs” please let us know!!