The Cruisers-Network-Online, a Yahoo Group, have been buzzing with
posts this month about the mysterious disappearance of an American cruiser Don North of the sailing vessel Windancer. Don and his dog were thought to be enroute to Ustupu from Chichime in the Kuna Yala of Panama’s San Blas Islands.
In his February 9th post, Eddie Tuttle, M/V Tohill, the moderator of the Cruisers-Network wrote;
“Don and his boat, a 38 foot Morgan aft cockpit with a white hull, blue canvas covers, solar panels, and a wind generator. Don had several dinghies on deck and a female Schipperke dog named “Kuna”. Don is single-handed and had recently suffered a back injury. He also is taking medication for diabetes.”
Clues have been scarce and the Cruisers-Network has implored people cruising the area of the San Blas, Portobello, Panama to Cartagena, Columbia to be on the look-out for Don, his boat and for a man named Javier Martin. Javier Martin is wanted as a person of interest in a homicide investigation ongoing in Panama involving missing cruiser Don North, and the homicide of a French cruiser named Jean Pierre.
According to recent reports, Javier Martin is from Valencia, Spain, and described at a Latin male, approximately 5′ 7″-8″, thin build, with dark hair and eyes. His age is unknown at this time, but he appears to be in his 30s or 40s and very fit. For years he owned a charter sailboat named “Twlya” in which he used to take backpackers between Panama and Cartagena, Colombia, and spent a lot of time in the San Blas Islands.
Fortunately, Reporter Don Winner, editor of the Panama Guide.com is now on the case. You may recall from previous posts here, that Mr. Winner was a key investigator, (though unofficial) in solving the mysterious disappearance of resident ex-pats in the Bocas del Toro area of Panama last year. True to his name, Mr. Winner managed to put all the pieces of the puzzle together before the authorities and helped to solve the case which led to the arrests of William “Wild Bill” Holbert and his wife for the murders of an American couple among others living in this idyllic cruiser’s haven.
Yesterday, February 11, 2011, The Cruisers-Network-Online had this broadcast:
“IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF JAVIER MARTIN, CONTACT THE FBI IN PANAMA CITY AT TELEPHONE NUMBER 507-207-7000. DO NOT TAKE ANY ACTION YOURSELF AS THIS PERSON OF INTEREST COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.”
After numerous calls for help from cruisers, sailors and boaters in the San Blas Islands area, information is finally beginning to flow and Don Winner is starting to put those puzzle pieces together again.
Winner wrote on his Panama-Guide.com, “OK, this story is evolving pretty quickly. Apparently, the Frenchman who was found murdered last weekend, Janpiere Bouahard, and the Spaniard Javier Martin, were involved in some kind of a feud or dispute. Apparently the Panamanian law enforcement authorities arrested Javier Martin and interrogated him as a possible suspect in the murder of Bouahard, but then released him for lack of evidence. Now apparently Bouahard’s 50′ aluminum hulled catamaran called the “Levante” is missing – it’s not anchored near Portobelo or near the Green Turtle. What’s more, Javier Martin reportedly also crashed his boat the “Twyla” near Chichime, effectively putting an end to this business of taking backpackers between Panama and Colombia. So, we have a guy named Javier Martin who was in some kind of a fight or feud with the Frenchman Janpiere Bouahard, who has been murdered. We have a guy named “Martin” who was reportedly taken on as crew by the American Don North – and now both Don North and his sailboat the “Windancer” are missing. Javier Martin is questioned by the authorities and release, and immediately thereafter Janpiere Bouahard’s big boat the “Levante” is missing. This catamaran is a relatively large boat and Javier Martin is an experienced and capable sailor – so he could be anywhere. Literally. My gut tells me if you find Javier Martin and the “Levante” – that he will be able to tell you what happened to Don North and the “Windancer.” Supposedly the “Twyla” is still crashed on a reef near Chichime, and another boat called the “Green Twilight” – supposedly owned by Javier Martin – was towed into port by the Panamanian authorities. So – be on the lookout for Javier Martin and the “Levante” – photos follow below… (more)
Hacerse a la Mar, S.A. Javier Bermejo Martin is the owner of a Panamanian company called “Hacerse A La Mar, S.A., which was registered in the Public Registry on 17 March 2010. The name of this company appears on his Hacerse A La Mar website. The President is listed as “Javier Bermejo Martin” with the Treasurer as “Salvador Frasquet Mascarell” and Secretary as “Javier Bermejo Martin.” Also listed on the company as Directors are Javier Bermejo Martin, Gabriela Ailin Anderson Aguilar, and Salvador Frasquet Mascarell. For what it’s worth…”
Anyone who has any information regarding Javier Martin should contact the FBI in Panama City, Panama at telephone number 507-207-5000. Also you may contact Investigative Reporter Don Winner, editor of The Panama Guide.Com online newspaper at telephone number 507-6614-0451 or US number 845-514-9893.
Tuttle implores cruisers to please “spread this information to ALL YOUR CRUISER FRIENDS via SSB radio and VHF radio nets throughout the world. Javier Martin could be anywhere now. Do not approach Javier Martin yourself, but contact any police authority and let them know of the above information. Javier Martin should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.”
Special Thanks to Glenn & Eddie Tuttle, M/V Tothill and to Don Winner, Editor of The Panama Guide.com.



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Thanks, Nancy. I’ve shared this on Facebook where I have lots of friends who are actively cruising in the area.
[…] my previous post for more info. All facts and photos here are courtesy of Don Winner and the Panama […]
Thank god they caught him! Special thanks to Don’s nephew who went to Panama to get answers!
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I have been there for seven days and it was a great experience in my life.