Surf’s Up in Bocas!
The 8th annual Reef and ALAS surf competition in Bocas del Toro featured 60 athletes, representing 7 Latin American countries, and enjoying three days of incredible surf and friendship.
Day 1
The competition started at 3:00 p.m. with the first round of the Open category eliminations, spectators watching from the edge of the beach. The wind and surf at Bluff beach were perfect and there were 20 competitors participating in the first round of the Open category. Last year’s winner, Magnum Martinez, came in first place again this year, four board-lengths in front of the second place winner.
A surprise rainstorm, causing everyone to seek shelter under awnings, umbrellas and the stage, interrupted surfing. Fortunately, it passed by quickly and the competition resumed.
The Panamanian surfers, Carlos Diaz, Ernesto Velasquez, Diego Salgado, Augusto Lopez, Felipe Carrillo and Gary Saanedra, with much hope and triumph, were able to hold onto last year’s title. Diego Salgado had the best mid-point of the day of 11.83, and his compatriot, Augusto Lopez, followed closely behind with 11.67.
Day 2
Competition began at 10:00 a.m. Once again, Bluff beach demonstrated its ability to provide the perfect Wave and the athletes on the tour insisted upon showing off their repertoire.
The second round of the Open category emphasized strong control by the athlete Gabriel Villaron from Peru. At the last moment he hit a difficult wave and fell into the tube, however, due to his great effort, the public gave him a strong applause. Otto Flores from Puerto Rico finished in first place, one board-length ahead of the second-place winner.
The locals, Gary Saavedra and Diego Salgado, who usually win first, second or third place, this time only made fourth place, even with their excellent surfing. The local people cheered them on to give them courage.
Day 3
Today the surfers put everything at stake to see if they could reach the semi-finals and finals. One minor mistake was all it would take to lose 6,000 points and the winning prize of $15,000.
From the beginning of the series, Rugby Colmenares of Venezuela dominated the scene. The other finalists couldn’t find the right maneuvers to shoot ahead of the winners. Javier Swayne, Colins Saunders and Kalle Caranza intended to score better, but Mother Nature was not cooperating. Luck did not present itself until Kalle Caranza managed to connect with a perfect tube for a few seconds, catapulting him into first place. His good fortune did not last long, as a few minutes later Rugby Colmenares caught the perfect wave and the audience burst into applause. The judge gave him 8 points and he was able to maintain his first-place status until the end.
The competition closed with more than 30 surfboards having been destroyed by thousands of strong waves. The winners were:
Open Category:
1 - Rugby Colmenares (Ven)
2 - Kalle Caranza (Mex)
3 - Colins Saunders (Ven)
4 - Javier Swayne (Per)
Women’s Category:
1 - Ornella Pellizzari (Arg)
2 - Lizbeth Vindas (CR)
3 - Agostina Pellizzari (Arg)
4 - Natacha Rogriguez (Ven)
Longboard Category:
1 - Ronald Reyes (Ven)
2 - Gerard Wilheim (Ven)
3- Juan Caraballo (Ven)
4 - Alex Wilheim (Ven)
Junior Category:
1 - Ronald Brown (CR)
2 - Manuel Selman (Chi)
3 - Juan C. Naranjo (CR)
4 - Piero Delucchi (Per)
surf photos by Charles Eitzen/Laughing Monkey Studios ©2005
*** EDITOR'S MESSAGE
As you can see, this is a two-month issue, because even newspaper heiresses need a vacation every now and then! What this means for advertisers is that they will have two months of advertising for the price of one! Additional copies of this issue have been printed to accommodate the extended time frame.
You will also see that this issue is larger with an extra page in color to accommodate some very important information and photos. Right now, there’s so much affecting our community that I felt important to print, even at my own personal and financial expense. Bocas is important to me and I believe this newspaper is very important for Bocas, so I would appreciate as much support from the community as possible, especially the businesses, who make this newspaper possible. I’m extremely grateful to those who understand that their advertisement is also a donation to the community in addition to increasing their business.
The Bocas Breeze is now online at www.TheBocasBreeze.com! It‘s still a work-in-progress but I’m trying to improve it little by little. Right now I’m in the process of archiving articles and advertising into different categories so that one can read the entire issue, plus view information only on specific topics. I’ve received so many fabulous photos I can’t possibly put them all in the paper, so I will be adding a photo gallery for all photos.
Thank you to the many people who have submitted such great articles and photos. Without them we wouldn’t have a newspaper either! Please keep them coming – especially your humorous stories!
Melody Burt
Pole Construction Part II
by Mack Robertson
Pole Buildings are one of the oldest construction methods known to man. They are especially useful when the structure needs to be elevated. Elevated structures are preferred in tropical climates for improved isolation from vermin and varmints, ventilation and security. Inexpensive materials and short building time also makes this method very attractive.
Pole buildings can be designed as an elevated platform with load bearing walls on top or using the poles to directly support the roof. If the second method is used, walls can be built much lighter, saving money. The roof and floor are supported by heavy wood girders, which in turn support the floor joists and roof rafters.
In a tropical home, interior volume is desirable to facilitate convection cooling. Heat rises to the roof and is ventilated through the gables instead of collecting down at the floor level. Tropical roofs are generally built with a low pitch (fairly flat), as there is no snow loading to design for as in the North. A-frames and other steep pitch roofs designed with upstairs rooms, more common to the northland, should be avoided due to the heat build-up next to the roof. Vaulted, “cathedral” style ceilings achieve the desired interior volume and ventilation.
Roof construction is a challenge when using the pole design. Prefabricated roof trusses are unavailable in Bocas. A crane is generally required to set them, and this is not an option, especially on remote island properties. For short-span buildings, trusses can be built in place up on top of the walls by using of lots of scaffolding. Worker safety becomes a concern when assembling trusses at the elevation of a second story pole-supported roof. Trusses, with their cross beams and braces, generally yield a poor interior roof appearance unless a drop-ceiling is installed. A drop-ceiling reduces interior volume, so a vaulted ceiling offers a better solution.
The availability of oversized lumber in Bocas provides an answer to the truss problem. Extra long rafters are available from local lumber suppliers, which allows for a vaulted ceiling construction at reasonable prices. The challenge is to adequately support the long rafters while avoiding intruding columns, beams and braces.
Renewed popularity of “Timber Frame Homes" provided me with a solution to the problem. In our new home we used 14 foot cross-timbers set on top of the interior rows of poles (crosswise). Then we set and notched two additional treated pine pilings lying down lengthwise. By this manner, the 24-foot long rafters then had three points of support; the peak, the pine poles and the roof girders. A timber-frame home look was achieved while avoiding the need for trusses. This effect, when coupled with cedar roof decking and exposed Cana Fistual rafters, made for a gorgeous vaulted ceiling.
For more information and ideas on pole-building design and construction, I recommend purchasing “Low-Cost Pole Building Construction”, by Ralph Wolfe. This book provided the base design for our resort cabins. “Pole Building Projects”, by Monte Burch, includes 25 different plans. These are available in most mall bookstores.
As always, we welcome visitors who are interested in the architecture of pole buildings to come to Careening Cay Resort, or our new home at Marina Carenero. Many new arrivals to Bocas have visited and several have copied these attractive, economic and easy-to-build structures.
Message from the Mouth of the Bull – Part I
by Butch del Bocas
I have arrived....... sort of.
I am writing to you from the innards of an island rain forest, where I am awaiting rescue.
My bargain priced plane seat was actually just seat belts, loosely bolted to a wing, and when we flew thru a perfect storm, I slid off. My fare included no parachute, but I did get a safety line, so as I fell to earth I glided to the sea, where I skipped like a thrown flat pebble from wave crest to crest until my air speed braked enough to let go of the line. I was wet, whipped, and about to be wiped out by a tsunami when two dolphins offered their dorsal fins to hang onto and towed me to shore.
Thus I was saved from sea swallowing, and as I lay nursing myself on this soft-round-breasted-like sand dune, It came to my attention. I had not landed on a sanctuary island; rather, I was beached on Jurassic Park. And It had come to greet me. I never saw It clearly, because It bellowed “Welcome” with such gutful gusto of breathe as to blow me off the nipple of my dune and catapult me into a primal jungle. Dazed, drenched in smelly sticky dragon drool, but undaunted, I scurried up a volcano to better observe my situation.
I am safe here, on the crater rim, because the creatures below don’t like molten lava, but in their overwroughtness that I can’t be eaten, they noisily strain out flatulence so pungent that it shrivels vegetation, causing there to be even less food supply for us all. The volcano’s constant thick plume allows precisely legible smoke signals, enabling me to send my SOS and this message.
Here comes my rescue aircraft now. It’s a helicopter. Or is it It – a tri-winged pterodactyl………….
………..to be continued in the next issue.
PROJECT AWARE COMES TO TOWN
by Janet Sanders
Project Aware, an international nonprofit conservation organization, has been involved with beach and underwater clean-ups all over the world. Each year 100 million tons of plastics and 17 million tons of sewage, sludge and garbage will pollute our waterways and cause harm to aquatic life. On 22nd April, Earth Day, Starfleet Scuba sponsored the Project in Bocas for the biggest one-day cleanup in the history of the town. Over 100 volunteers and 240 students took part in the event, collecting an estimated 350 bags of garbage from the town, the beaches and the seabed.
Students from Bocas School together with the Mayor and his staff took on the responsibility for the town cleanup. They collected an astounding 98 bags of trash in one hour. “I will remember this day,” said one of the students, “whenever I am tempted to throw garbage on the ground…someone has to pick it up.”
As part of the Project, Starfleet diver, Eddie Ibarra gave two presentations to the school. The students were then asked to draw a picture of their environment and prizes were awarded to the best drawings in each of the three grades. The winners, who will each be given scuba diving lessons, are Maritzel Acevedo, 4th Year, Naomi, 5th Year, and Keyse Quintoro, 6th Year. The remainder of the paintings are being displayed around the town for everyone to enjoy.
Joselyn Guerra from Bastimentos said she was proud to help because she learned that her town is beautiful when it’s clean. Bernardino from the 6th grade said that he felt happy to see his town clean, and now he’s learned how to pick up garbage. Osvaldo Ellington enjoyed walking around town and he thinks cleaning up is a good thing because it’s helped him learn how to work.
At 11 a.m., 31 divers and 16 snorkelers targeted the aquatic environment to start the massive cleanup and at midday 52 volunteers hit the beaches. Tons of garbage was collected, bagged and deposited by the army of volunteers who worked until they dropped. The refreshments, donated by many of the town’s restaurants, and served at Starfleet Scuba, were gratefully received and well deserved.
Nilvia Ellis and George Cufley, both from Starfleet, who were the brains behind this day, worked with Project Aware and PADI to organize this event and successfully persuaded and cajoled the majority of the town’s companies and organizations to take part &/or to make a donation.
The Mayor, in his closing speech thanked everyone who participated in the day. ”I am delighted that we, together, have accomplished so much in one day and I congratulate you all for your generosity and support. I hope this commitment to the town and its environs will last for a long time and that we will continue to work together for the benefit of us all.”
However serious the object of the project may have been, the main component of the day seemed to be “fun” and everyone said they would love to be involved in any future event. What more could you ask?
BOCAS CLEAN-UP DAY PHOTOS
Sometimes the old standby works best!
Presidential Lunch in Bocas
"Life is not about how fast you run,
or how high you climb,
but how well you bounce."
- Author Unknown
***
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand,
a glass of wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, worn out and screaming,
"WOO-HOO - WHAT A RIDE!!!" - Unknown
*** Jimmy Buffett Gets His “License To Chill” in Bocas
by JB Seligman
Popular island musician and storyteller, Jimmy Buffett, literally dropped in on Bocas with his seaplane during Spring Break. Followed by his yacht, “Continental Drifter II”, Buffett and his family enjoyed all that Bocas has to offer. Fishing, surfing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, bat caving and exploring – Buffett experienced them all, much to his delight.
Good Friday brought a wonderful experience to the Bocas Marina crowd in the form of an impromptu concert featuring not only Jimmy’s songs, but sprinkled with tunes by The Stones and Cat Stevens.
Jimmy, who amazingly never had a #1 album in over 30 years, finds himself with one now in the form of singing with country singers, Kenny Chesney, Clint Black, George Strait and others on his album “Licensed to Chill”. He also is on the New York Times Best Seller list for his new book “A Salty Piece of Land”. It is interesting to note that he is one of six writers to ever be on both the fiction and nonfiction bestseller lists.
When asked about his latest album success, Buffett said, “This show biz stuff is neat. All I did was show up and sing for twenty minutes on an Alan Jackson song, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and that totally rejuvenated my career. It has also lead to me singing with other country singers on my current album”.
Jimmy flew out before Easter and vowed to come back. Don’t be surprised if a song about Bocas pops up one of his new albums. Save the Turtles
by Carolina de Figueiredo
Here is an opportunity to truly give back to the environment we love to travel in. By volunteering with the Endangered Wildlife Trust's turtle conservation project here in Bocas del Toro, you are not only contributing to turtle conservation, but also ensuring an investment in the people and environmental education of the area. Most of our staff are locals, hired to provide them with financial alternatives to poaching turtle eggs, and to make use of their local knowledge. All our resources are locally supplied, ensuring all money circulated for the project remains in the area.
"The leatherback has outlasted dinosaurs and all sorts of other catastrophes," Pamela Plotkin, a conservation scientist at the Centre for Marine Conservation in Washington, D.C. says, "Now, at the hands of man, it is right on the brink of extinction." These turtles are listed as an internationally protected endangered species. Worldwide population estimates indicate a huge decline in numbers of leatherbacks between 1980 and 1995. This decline is attributed to a number of factors including loss of nesting habitats, destruction of nests by poachers, ingestion of marine debris, propeller wounds, and death through modern commercial fishing practices.
Here in Panama, in comparison to neighboring Costa Rica, the case was worsened as the Turtles were being killed, often before even reaching the beach to nest! This has obvious serious implications; therefore, this project offers an opportunity to be involved in the vital work of The Endangered Wildlife Trust. Here is information on the actual project:
Training / Qualifications:
No previous skills or qualifications required as all training is provide.
Field Conditions:
The base is situated on Soropta beach, a 12km beach favored by leatherback turtles, reached by a 25 minute boat ride from Bocas via island channels and canals. The conservation base itself is rustic with evening light provided by paraffin lamps and candles. Shared (2-3 to a room) accommodations are provided with bunk beds and mosquito netting. Our on-site cook will prepare your 3 meals a day. Vegetarians are very welcome.
Field work:
The work is done in 4-hour shifts at night, and involves patrolling the beach in search of nesting turtles. Once one is located, the biologist will demonstrate what data needs to be recorded, and then the eggs will be collected and relocated in a safe hatchery. Walking several kilometers daily on the beach is the main part of the work, and must be taken into consideration when deciding to take part in the project.
Duration:
The nesting season is mid-March to mid-June. We usually recommend a minimum of a week at the project to guarantee an authentic experience, but special arrangements can be made for those of you who only have a few days available.
Cost:
$120 per week includes 3 meals a day, housing, training, and transportation to and from the project from Bocas del Toro and $16 off on National Park entrance fee.
For further details and any questions you have, please contact Carolina, the volunteer co-coordinator via email: cazfig@yahoo.co.uk, or call 757-9962.  MAYOR'S CORNER:
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT REQUIREMENTS:
RESIDENCIAL AND COMMERCIAL
· Application for building permit
· Builder or owner pay tax (Tesoreria)
· Photocopy of ownership doc. - Purchase Contract, Concession Doc., R.O.P. docs. (show some documented ownership)
· Permit from Health Dept. (Health Center in Bocas)
· Permit from Bomberos (security/safe permit)
*PROJECTS WITH BUILD COST OVER $3,000
1. Professional Review (architect, engineer or building tech)
2. Contractor should have social security during building time (Integrated Health System)
3. Drawings approved by architect, engineer, plumber and electrician.
4. Four $1.00 stamps (timbres)
*PROJECTS WITH BUILD COST UNDER $3,000
1. Complete rendering (levels, 2 elevations, details of foundation, location, area drawn, general data of property)
2. Area inspected by dept. (confirm property line and construction area)
FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS THE FOLLOWING MAY BE NEEDED:
· Resolution by ANAM (environmental folks) approving EIR (environmental impact report) i.e.: commercial centers, large buildings etc.
· Health and environmental risk study (plants, gas stations, etc. etc.)
· VO. Approval by IPAT (hotel/restaurants), approval by representatives (municipal), (gas stations, plants etc.)
· Running electricity, aqueducts, gutters, moving large amounts of earth.
· Drawings (urbanization project) that needs approval from ANAM, MIVI (Ministry of Housing), IDAAN (water company), MINSA (Health Ministry)
· Evaluation of existing buildings and Improvement proposal on buildings outside of construction line. (20% application of the value of the building being improved)
As we continue to make small steps together, more clarity and transparency is achieved. I am on many occasions having obstacles placed in front of me by the provincial governing party, but I will continue to attempt and reach a productive working relationship within and around these obstacles. I am pleased to announce that the Municipality has been granted a full restoration of its building and facilities (this may take 6 to 8 months), therefore, we will be announcing where the temporary offices will be located by June 05. This is a small step maintaining the culture and wonderful pieces of art (buildings) that originally gave Bocas its roots and identity. I feel the community (local and foreign) is working towards a better Bocas. The land issues are being heavily attended by the respective depts. I understand the many issues and these concerns have reached the national government, and they are looking further into the irregularities. Once again I thank the Bocas Breeze for having a Mayor’s Corner and I plan to use this opportunity to share information and events. I am also working with the Bocas Breeze on developing a limited monthly Q and A for the Breeze, which would give many an opportunity to ask specific questions. It will be a good start to dialogue about specific concerns. Let’s do good for Bocas…
Eligio Binns
Editor’s Note: Last month the Bocas Breeze presented a number of specific questions to the mayor regarding “rumors” about the “new” building permit policies and procedures. Answers to the financial and ethical questions were not provided.
Bringing Your Pets to Panama
by Mary Austin Crofts
My husband, Kim, and I had been planning our great get away to Bocas for a couple of years. We laid out each step carefully.
We researched places to stay, the Pensionado Visa, began drawings for our house on Isla Solarte and, most importantly, how we would get our precious dogs (say children) to Bocas with us.
Without a doubt, the dog issue became the most difficult and stressful for us. We started with a “puppy travel agent” and found lots of great advice. Most airlines won’t fly pets in summer due to heat concerns and we needed to be here in August.
The proper kennels with the right labels, airflow, water and food containers are essential. Kennels need to be large enough for the dogs to stand up and turn around inside. If not, you’ll be turned away at the ticket counter.
We also worked with Mario Vilar, owner of Move to Panama, (www.movetopanama.com) who helped us comply with the many complex regulations.
In order to get into Panama and to obtain a “home quarantine” as opposed to leaving our dogs in Panama City quarantined for 40 days, fresh health documents were required. Rabies shot certificates must be valid within 10 days of travel. Parasite prevention and other shots must be current and a certified veterinarian must fill out an International Health Certificate verifying good health. These certificates need to be notarized locally and then sent to be authenticated by one of the Panamanian Consulates in the U.S. ($30.00 money order for each certificate), returned to us and still be fresh (within 10 days of travel.)
After 3 months of cleaning out 18 years worth of stuff, donating it, giving it to our children or packing it for storage and getting our home set up for a lease, we were off. We left Hailey, Idaho as planned, traveled to Boise where we rented a Dodge Grand Caravan from Alamo early Saturday morning and began the long trip to LA.
Because of our careful planning, expert advice and help, everything went very smoothly all the way to Panama City.
Jose Saenz drove us to Almirante where we took a boat to Bocas. It was a beautiful but long (10 hours) drive. On our fifth day of travel from Hailey to Bocas, we drove up to our new home on Bluff Beach. Finally, we had made it!
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