A Cuna family in the San Blas islands came over to our vessel to ask for fresh water, and to sell Molas (bright hand-died cloths). The way they managed their dugout canoe, and raised the spritsail and jib, clearly showed their centuries-long link with the sea.

Also, these canoes go upwind better than one would think. Their only real keel surface is a sharp forefoot and the sternman's paddle, but they travel from the Islands to the mainland regularly, beating up against the trade wind without fuss.