Gulf of Papagayo: Strong katabatic winds

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Gulf of Papagayo: how the place works

The same pattern as Tehuantepec, only further south off Costa Rica and Nicaragua: trade wind air is forced over a gap in the mountain chain and falls onto the Pacific as the Papagayo. From December to March it often holds for days, with calm water close inshore and a gale twenty miles out.

Gulf of Papagayo: what breaks there

Boats anchored in the bays of Guanacaste drag when the wind sets in at night, and sail and rig damage arises beating north. The anchorage that looks calm in the evening is a different place at three in the morning.

Gulf of Papagayo: what this means for your policy

The same applies here as with all katabatic winds: whether anchor damage is covered depends on the ground tackle and on whether anyone was aboard. In this area an anchor watch in season is standard.

Cruising range

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