This morning dawned beautiful, flat and calm at Benao Cove, 12 miles W of Punta Mala, the turning point to enter the Gulf of Panama. As forecast more than a week ago Punta Mala and the Gulf of Panama are flat calm. We experienced 15 knots of sea breeze as we approached Benao Cove yesterday, which left us wondering exactly how the point would be this morning, but our concerns were for naught. Previously when I commented that there was a calming of the Gulf forecast and that we were making plans to take advantage of it, several concerned individuals emailed me that I should not trust the forecast. Well over the last week I became increasingly confident that the forecasts were valid, because they were holding true, with the period of calm even being extended into the early part of the week. Anyone planning a voyage like this has to use all the tools they have to make decisions. Had the forecasts gone through several different predictions I would have had less confidence in them, but they only became more solid in reporting the light and variable winds. In addition to looking at the Gulf of Panama I watched the Western Caribbean as well. It too was calming along the East (North) coast of Panama. So as we rounded in no wind, we also had the benefit of a half a know of ebbing current that surprisingly aided our turn. After hugging the coast for 5 miles we angled out to a course that would take us to the Flaminco Yacht Club at the canal entrance. An hour or so after entering the Gulf the adverse current set in and our progress was slowed to about 5.5 knots. Then from 10am to about 1300 we experienced a very complex set of swells and bouncy chop. I think the Gulf was just giving us a bit of a suggestion about how lucky we were to be here in essentially benign conditions. Two weeks ago Larry and Julie in the sailboat Komara made this trip and faced 20 to 30 knot winds and 2 to 3 knots of current right on the nose. It took them 36 hours to cover the 94 miles to Flaminco. We got just a hint of that with these bounces and we couldn't help but think about what it would be like to have some real wind. Well, after 13:00 the seas returned to a milky calm and I even threw two sailfish lures in the water. Marian, without the aid of any medication, was even able to read and relax in the saloon during the entire voyage. Our anticipated arrival at Flaminco is about 1am on Monday morning. With some luck we will be measured and scheduled for transit within a week or 10 days. I may do a short haul or lift and check the bottom out. I'd like to make sure the keel cooler bolt isn't reacting with the metal and make sure the stabalizers are ok. I'm a bit early to claim success, but at this point I'm feeling pretty good about Alanui and this almost 4,000 mile adventure!! Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA Approaching Balboa Panama