ITIKI's Plans for 2022 / 23

Whilst we have been back in Australia, shivering in the sub 20s temperatures, we have been planning the next leg of our journey. This will be a big one with many bucket-list locations featuring on our route. We all know that plans are made in pencil and anything can and does happen, so there are always adjustments to be made along the way. Check out our Video below to see an animation of our plans.

We will be returning to ITIKI early October and hope to hit the water within 10 days, with a freshly Copper-coated bottom. We still have a few weeks of hurricane season to go so we will cautiously pop down to Southern Grenada and then slowly make our way up north  through the St Vincent Grenadines, with one eye on the weather, dropping into our favourite anchorages along the way. An important pit stop will be Martinique where we will collect and "road test" our repaired Parasailor, do a major provisioning and then start heading west.

Our first stop will be the small Venezuelan archipelago of Los Roques, off the north coast of Venezuela. We won't be going to the Venezuelan mainland but we are allowed to transit here for up to 2 weeks. From there we head to the Dutch Antilles, also known as the ABCs (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). Apparently a great spot if you are into diving, but we are not so it will be quickly on to Santa Marta and Cartagena in Columbia, the latter will be hosting us for Christmas.

Panama Canal

Next it is on to the San Blas Islands, a vast archipelago of over 340 islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Looking forward to white sand beaches and tropical rainforest here. Then we head to the Panama Canal. We will be measured for the transit fees and then spend a few days a little further north spotting monkeys and crocs in the Chagres river, which also drains from Gatun Lake. We can then make our way through the Panama canal and across Gatun Lake and into the Pacific Ocean. Now what boatie hasn't dreamed of one day making that iconic journey! 

We will make a quick stop at Las Perlas Islands to clean our coppery bottom before a challenging passage to the Galapagos Islands. Our expectations are high, for me this place is second only to Antarctica on my list of places on planet earth to visit. Some incredible and unique wildlife will be waiting for us! We have already made up transom nets to stop the seals coming aboard for a snooze!

The Galapagos Island's famous Giant Tortoise

It is from here we officially start what is known as the "Coconut Milk Run", a downwind stretch of around 3 weeks sailing to get to Hiva Oa in French Polynesia, part of the Marquesas. After that, well, our plans they get a little sketchy....