Crazy Catamaran

Current Location: 20 miles east of San Blas islands, Panama

It's night two on the crazy catamaran. 22 of us, yes 22, on an apparently unnamed Lagoon 52. Music is blasting out and the rest of the guys are singing along to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californication I think. (Ah now it's the Rolling Stones maybe in deference to us oldies). We are old enough to be parents of everyone else on the boat including the skipper (and probably grandparents to a few of them).

We're still flying along at over 8 knots even though the spinnaker is now down. A fantastic sail, almost 200 miles in 24 hours. Wind on the starboard quarter, flattish seas, 15-20 knots, sunshine and a load of great young travellers. Topped off by catching a small tuna which quickly became sashimi served with a chilli sauce.

On board with us, in addition to the crew, we have several chefs, a food scientist, a welder, two super yacht hosts/crew, several gap year students and a young real estate entrepreneur who wants to expand his business from Philadelphia to Medellin. Judging by tonight most of them will soon be alcoholics (but then alternatively they may just turn out to be cracking, open minded members of the next generation).

This is the first time I've sailed any distance of a catamaran and it really does have things going for it. Comfy trampoline. Huge cockpit. Great view. Fantastic downwind. And an amazingly loud sound system. One hull good, two hulls better?

Frenchman David and his two crew members have been great and we've had a blast. This isn't a cheap trip at 500US dollars each for 5 days so everyone is making sure they get their moneysworth. The 3 Canadians hit the rum at 8.45 this morning and are now suffering the effects of sunburn. Several of the girls tried to emulate them and have suffered from 'seasickness'.

Food is good with a cook but everyone chips in with choppin' and washin'

During the night we will arrive in the first of the San Blas islands so we should wake up in a beautiful tropical Caribbean island tomorrow (Bob Marley now to get us in the mood). It's odd to have handed all responsibilities for sailing to somebody else.

Oh, by the way Andy, it was a Catfish Girl sailing day today!