Four Guernsey men locked down in Panama surfing spot
AN ADVENTURE of surfing and sailing resulted in four Guernsey men getting stranded near to where the Navy are shooting at surfers.
Over a couple of years Adam Harvey and Matt Skipper sailed from Guernsey, moving down the Atlantic coast into the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to arrive in the Caribbean sea.
In November they bought their boat, the Bella Vista, in Panama as Theo Maubec and Matthew Fox joined them.
Now they are locked down in a renowned surfing area, part of an archipelago separate from mainland Panama.
Mr Harvey said: ‘we are surfing amazing waves with only good friends every day while watching the sunrise over the jungle. We’ve had some of the best sessions we’ve ever had – it’s nice to have something so positive and uplifting with all that’s going on in the world.
‘Our lives are on the boat – we live and travel around on her. We bought her cheap and did lots of work on her. Our end goal is to sail into the Pacific, exploring some of the most remote areas in the world while trying to find world-class waves.’
After falling in love with Panama’s quality of surf, they decided to delay their Pacific voyage for a year.
‘We tend to take it as it comes. If we like an area and there’s good waves we’ll stick around for a while. If not we’ll hoist sails and head for the horizon.’
Despite the shootings two to three miles away, they ‘are managing to surf still very early morning completely alone off a tiny island before the Navy come. You need to question the logic when there are more officials in close quarters trying to get guys out the water than there are surfers in the water spread out.’
As they sailed to remote areas the four ‘were quite far removed from everything happening around the world. It felt like there were big changes very quickly.’
Currently they are anchored up but remain positive at the opportunity to repair the boat in preparation for the Pacific crossing.
When going ashore for provisions they ‘had no major issues so long as we go at the specified time-based on passport numbers.’
For two hours every two days at certain times they are allowed to go to the shop.
‘We are lucky as we’re anchored near an island half of which is uninhabited. We’re able to get a little exercise each day – important mentally and physically when living in such a small space.’
After a technology hiatus ‘now we have good phone signal. We felt it was important to keep in contact with friends, family, and the British Embassy.’
Panamanian locals in cities reliant on imports have been impacted most by Covid-19.
In a poverty-stricken area reliant on now non-existent tourism there are concerns of crime, so they have stocked up on dry food: ‘if things get too dangerous we’ll sail away from the main towns.’
In remote areas locals are self-sustained with fertile soil, which ‘is a great benefit in times like this. We’re seeing locals who have lost their jobs with no money or food. We worry this will impact crime and our security.’
After Panama airport closed they planned to come home but ‘this turned out to not be possible, so we’re here in Panama until things loosen up.’
There are no confirmed cases in the town yet.
‘We’re very aware that things can change quickly. If things were to change Guernsey is probably the better place to be. We are still actively attempting to get home, however there is little we can do.’
It would have taken five days to get to the airport after securing the Bella Vista, which ‘sadly was not enough time to make the final flight home.’
Seafaring life has led to fishing for food, building shelters, hiking, free diving, and an emergency face-stapling procedure after Mr Skipper took a surfboard fin to the face.
Staying on land poses difficulties, but ‘the hardest thing is getting out of the surf knowing that these incredible waves will roll in without a single person in sight.’
n You can follow their progress on instagram @svfarout
