Dream surfing trip turns into surreal lockdown
LOCKDOWN was a surreal experience for four Guernsey men stranded in Panama.
Since November, Adam Harvey, Matt Skipper, Theo Maubec and Matthew Fox had been sailing between deserted Panamanian islands to find secluded surf spots.
On 22 March, the Panamanian president announced indefinite airport closures.
‘Our flight home on 24 March was cancelled. We had no choice but to stay,’ said Mr Maubec.
Attempts to return home were stymied further as the British Embassy did not schedule repatriation flights.
Applications to secure spare seats in other repatriation flights were unsuccessful for two months.
‘We hitched a ride on a US repatriation flight out of Panama, two weeks after our visas expired.’
Sailing back would have taken two to three months in unfavourable conditions.
‘We set off at 6am on Tuesday 2 June and finally got through Guernsey Border Control on Friday [5 June] at 4pm. It consisted of two private boat journeys, one 12-hour bus ride down the isthmus of Panama, four flights, five airports, one rental car and a taxi journey to our quarantine zones.’
An expatriate kindly offered them accommodation.
‘There was worry about looting, 90% of the residents have jobs dependent on tourism, which no longer existed. Our time was split between the house and boat, ensuring someone was always at one,’ said Mr Maubec.
‘Men could only go shopping on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with women on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.’
Passport numbers determined who could shop on each day.
Weekends were total lockdown and alcohol was prohibited throughout.
‘Restrictions were extreme and enforcement severe on the main island, but limited on our little island. On the path [to the shops] were huge crowds of teenagers standing shoulder to shoulder shouting like crazy. They started having cock-fights to occupy themselves, completely disregarding strict lockdown rules. It was a shock to the system.’
Big swell season ended around March and waves were empty.
‘We managed to score head-high waves half the time between March and June. We lived a short, isolated jungle walk away. It was a unique opportunity to have such amazing waves on our own. As time went on a few other local surfers joined us.’
Panama returned to lockdown on 7 June and only one case was recorded in Bocas del Toro.
‘We were very lucky to get out when we did.’
n To see a video of some of the first part of their adventure on YouTube https://bit.ly/2V0zNoc
