March 22nd, 2026
Some passages start beautifully and stay that way. This was not one of those passages. But honestly? Those are never the ones worth writing about.
We left Curaçao with everything going our way. The winds were favorable, the crew was in good spirits, and SV Anima was moving. Passing Aruba, the sea felt almost generous — like the Caribbean was rolling out a welcome mat and waving us through. We rounded the northern cape of Colombia with confidence, logging miles and watching the coastline slide by in the distance.
Then Santa Marta happened.
When the Ocean Decides to Remind You Who’s in Charge
There’s a specific moment on any challenging passage when you stop being a sailor enjoying the sea and start being a sailor managing it. That moment, for us, came somewhere off the Colombian coast near Santa Marta.
The waves built to four meters. The wind climbed past 30 knots and started knocking on 40. Even with a healthy distance from the shore, SV Anima was punching through walls of water, the crew working in shifts, quiet and focused. Nobody panics — you just do the job. But you feel it. Every wave, every gust, every hour.
We kept pushing south.
Cartagena’s Farewell
As we passed the area of Cartagena, the sea had one last thing to say. Three waves, one after the other, crashed directly into the cockpit. Not dangerous — just emphatic. As if the Colombian coast wanted to make absolutely sure we’d remember it.
We will.
The Fish That Got Away
Somewhere in the calmer waters in the beginning of yout journey, we got a hit on the line. A big one. The kind of tension that gets the whole crew on their feet, passing the rod, shouting instructions nobody is really following. We fought it. We wanted it. And then — the line snapped. Off it went, taking our hook, our lure, and a piece of line as a souvenir.
The sea giveth, and the sea taketh away.
Panama on the Horizon
As we approached Panama, the wind softened. The waves flattened. The ocean that had tested us for days suddenly turned calm and quiet, almost apologetic. It was beautiful — though it did cost us some speed and pushed our arrival later than planned. At that point, nobody was complaining about a gentle sea.
After 725 nautical miles and 4 days and 19 hours underway, SV Anima sailed into Puerto Lindo, Panama.
Exhausted. Salty. Grateful. Happy.
Final Thoughts
No major disasters. No emergencies. Just a long, honest offshore passage with everything the Caribbean had to offer — the good, the rough, and the unforgettable. That’s blue water sailing. And every mile of it reminds you exactly why you chose this life.
The full passage video is now live on YouTube — go watch what the Colombian coast really looked like from the cockpit of SV Anima.
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Cheers
Paul – SY ANIMA