Punta Leona to Golfito and the Golfo Dulce
 
Leona to Drake
 
This was another mix of light air and swell and night time panga fishermen.  There was a lot of slow sailing and more motoring than we like to admit.
 
 
Drake to Golfito
 
This was all motoring for us as we wanted to guarantee getting there in one daylight session.  You may be able to settle into a light air sail if you are willing to spend an overnight or two.
 
Plenty of large debris and logs in the water.
 
Golfo Dulce
 
Less and less swell as you get deeper.
You might get some diurnal winds you might not.  We had a good mix of motor and sail.
Lots of rain often in the afternoon.  It’s nice to get to the anchorage before it starts.  It can be rain REALLY HARD.
It’s deep close to shore.
Many anchorages are on really tight shelves before a big drop off.  This means you may need to anchor with shorter scope so you don’t swing on to the beach.
Still lots of debris in the water.

​Playa del Coco to Bahia Ballena
 
When we left Playa del Coco we knew we were leaving the “windy zone: behind.  Typically within 50-75 miles we would be out of the bulk of the effects of the Papagayos, It was both good and bad.  On one hand we would be rid of the Papgayos but on the other we might totally lose any wind we might need to sail.
 
Our experience was mixed.  We had winds F1 to F3 with enough of a cross swell to be annoying. We had a mix of sailing and motoring with more motoring as we got farther south.
 
There was a lot of small panga fishing traffic at night. Long lines with blinky lights. You need a sharp lookout inshore or you need to travel well offshore with the tankers and other large ships.
 
 
Bahia Ballena into Golfo de Nicoya to Punta Leona
 
There wasn’t much wind for us.  You might sometimes get some afternoon winds or you might not. There is a bit of current as you get deeper into the Gulf and this is also where we started to see some fairly large debris and logs in the water.  Something to think about if you are travelling at night.  Water clarity also drops pretty sharply in here.  
 
We only travelled during the day so no info on the fishing taffic.

March 2018

​SJDS to Santa Elena
 
Leaving SJDS
   
We waited for a lull in the Papagayos and made a run for Bahia Santa Elena.
 
We used the motor to take the strain off the anchor chain but after the anchor was up we were able to sail out of the anchorage. We stayed about a mile offshore and actually sailed under headsail alone.  Wind was on the beam the whole time 20-25kts with the odd gust in the high 30s.
 
Crossing Bahia Salinas
 
We waited until Santa Elena was due south of us before cutting across Bahia Salinas.  We felt this would limit our exposure if the wind kicked up again.  It was an easy sail down towards Elena with the wind on the beam.
 
 
Bahia Santa Elena
 
Easy entrance even though it was a bit narrower than I had expected.  The bay was also a bit windier than expected as well.
 
 
Santa Elena to Coco
 
We weren’t sure what to expect around Cabo Santa Elena. We know Cape’s tend to accelerate winds and currents so we prepared for the worst.  The run from the bay to the point was a nice beam to broad reach.  
 
If the winds were cranking once we rounded the Cape we would tuck in tight above the Murcielagos and beat our way east as a motor-sailor or even just as a straight motorboat (whichever was more comfortable. We would take whatever measures to keep the fetch down and get east as quickly as possible.
 
I think we got a little lucky and had pretty mellow winds all the way around.  We never saw more than 20kts although the forecast was for 10kts….   With the lighter winds we decided to swing wide around the Murcielagos.  From the time we rounded the Cape to the time we rounded the islands the wind went to 0kts and the water temperature jumped 10 deg F!!
 
From there until we were within a few miles of Playa del Coco we had less than 5kts of wind.  At the very end we got a last little bit of wind to sail the home stretch
 
 
If we did it again I would do this stretch the same way.