Jim Formato (@jim_formato) • SailTies
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Jim Formato

Jim Formato

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Buffalo, NY

Raced in my twenties and thirties, did what I was told and knew nothing about sailing but loved the rush of the her heeling and speeding through the wind! Now retired, bought a 23’ Merit Sprint and been dreaming of costal cruising. Active in NauticEd and SailTies. Two awesome resources.

2,709

NM

Total Distance

133

Days

Time at Sea

QUALIFICATIONS
US Federal Communications Commission qualification image

Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit

US Federal Communications Commission
BoatUS Foundation qualification image

Modern Marine Navigation

BoatUS Foundation
NauticEd qualification image

Skipper Level 1

NauticEd
Jim Formato
Tim Scesney

Jim Formato & Tim Scesney

24 January 2026 at 07:15

Salardup to Carti

Awesome time with Jay and Kenna from SV_Sitka. Best host every a trip of a lifetime. Transport to the airport through the jungle is an adventure too

10

Salardup to Carti

11.8

NM

37min

Tuborgana to Wannukandi, Panama

Jim Formato
Tim Scesney

Jim Formato & Tim Scesney

22 January 2026 at 10:16

Swimming pools to Salardup

A beautiful quick broad reach to another part of paradise. Truly an amazing area and the Native Guna- Yala’s are incredible hosts. Native meals, cruiser movie night- pinch me

10

Swimming pools to Salardup

10.5

NM

1h 59m

Diatupu to Tuborgana, Panama

Jim Formato
Tim Scesney

Jim Formato & Tim Scesney

20 January 2026 at 09:34

Green to Swimming Pool, San Blas

Oh I forgot- sailing with the Barber- Timmy Boom. Love him. Our host Jay and Keena are beauticians. Great great folks. Swimming pools is vibrant. Bar, music, volleyball and dinner

10

Green to Swimming Pool, San Blas

7.6

NM

1h 50m

Isla Verde to Diatupu, Panama

Jim Formato
Tim Scesney

Jim Formato & Tim Scesney

18 January 2026 at 08:54

Lemons Island to Green Island- San Blas, Panama

After a day at Lemons. Meeting some cruisers having a great day we set sail to Green Island

10

Lemons Island to Green Island- San Blas, Panama

15

NM

3h 27m

Nugnudup to Isla Verde, Panama

Jim Formato
Tim Scesney

Jim Formato & Tim Scesney

17 January 2026 at 10:04

San Blas Islands Panama Panga to Sailing Sitka-Lemon Island

7 days in the San Blas, Panama on Sailing Sitka. It’s going to be adventure. Lam’s Tour ride through the jungle then a 10 mile panga ride to our host Jay and Kenna!!! Going to be epic!

10

San Blas Islands
Panama
Panga to Sailing Sitka-Lemon Island

10.4

NM

2h 11m

Wannukandi to Nugnudup, Panama

Jim Formato
Bruce F

Jim Formato, Bruce F & 1 other

30 November 2025 at 16:28

Up from the Caribbean all the way to Ft Pierce, Fl no stopping 6 1/2 days of sailing

Left the Dominican and shot up through the Bahamas. A couple of crazy high wind sea nights and a couple extremely calm seas. We fished, we swam (sharks!), we laughed and we are well. A passage for the books. Thanks crazy crew

7

Up from the Caribbean all the way to Ft Pierce, Fl no stopping 6 1/2 days of sailing

711.9

NM

5 days 22 hours

Cofresi, Dominican Republic to Saint Lucie County Fire District Station 2, United States

Marco Laurienzo

Marco Laurienzo - Good to have you back. Like they say, What doesn't kill you makes for an interesting story. See you soon.

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Jim Formato
Bruce F

Jim Formato, Bruce F & 1 other

28 November 2025 at 04:38

San Juan, PR to Puerto Plata DR

Two days 6 hour sail to the Dominican. Point north and heading home!!! Crew is awesome, well fed and decent weather. Squalls at night are a little terrifying but we manage. Capt Bruce knows his vessel well. We were going to spend a night her but the winds really tail off at the start of next week…..so let’s do this……..

10

San Juan, PR to
Puerto Plata DR

293.9

NM

2 days 7 hours

San Juan, Puerto Rico to Cofresi, Dominican Republic

Jim Formato

Jim Formato - No!! We shared the Mofongo dishes. 3 types they were amazing

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Jim Formato

Jim Formato

26 November 2025 at 08:15

Dinghy ride to do laundry

Starting g this day off right. Coffee, breezy then a ride in to do some laundry.

4

Dinghy ride to do laundry

0.3

NM

4min

San Juan to Miramar, Puerto Rico

Tim Scesney

Tim Scesney - What’s with the boat/cars? Are they jet boats?

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Jim Formato
Bruce F

Jim Formato & Bruce F

25 November 2025 at 07:35

San Juan Baby

Started out early and had a wonderful sail to San Juan. On the hook here is a bit sketchy but hey we are vagabonds🤣⚓️⛵️

10

San Juan Baby

35.5

NM

5h 58m

Punta Aguila to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Jim Formato
Bruce F

Jim Formato & Bruce F

24 November 2025 at 12:43

Making our way to San Juan

12 mile jaunt that I helmed from off of the hook to onto a ball-one motor gang man style!! Not before Bruce speared a Snapper to go with steak tonight. Live aboard surf n turf. Within 30 miles of the Capital, San Juan where we get two new crew and lose the best chef ever C-Mo but not before we have Thanksgiving together in town.

6

Making our way to 
San Juan

15.1

NM

3h 39m

Punta Arenas to Punta Aguila, Puerto Rico