Tuesday 7 February 2017

Panama Canal

Going through the Panama Canal was one of the most unique and interesting experiences of this trip.  Despite best laid plans, Justin's Aunt and Uncle were not able to make it to Panama to join us to go through the canal.   And due to delays in canal scheduling, Mitch and Nicole had to fly out before we got to go through the canal.   Fortunately,  Mitch and Nicole secured a ride on another boat through the canal as line handlers and didn't miss out completely.

We awoke early on February 7th, got our three line handlers on board, and set out before 8 am.  We hired a line handler, Luis, from Balboa Yacht Club.  We found a couple, Russ (an Australian) and Dianne (a Kiwi), on a volunteer line handlers forum.  Russ and Dianne are canal enthusiasts and have been through the canal several times. 

Our crew: Victor, Russ, Luis, and Dianne

We were quite fortunate to have Russ and Dianne as they really made the trip.  They were very knowledgeable about the entire process; they're even writing a book on the subject.   Their knowledge really helped address our concerns and calm our nerves about going through the canal as this was our first time through any canal, let alone the Panama Canal.   They also regaled us with interesting factoids and stories about the canal.   They were better than tour guides.

Russ and Dianne's Website: http://madaboutpanama.com/mad-about-panama/canal-experiences/

A canal boat brought our transit advisor to our boat.  Victor normally drives one of the tug boats in the canal.   He goes through the canal about once per week as a transit advisor.   Victor was awesome and a total professional.   We felt very comfortable entrusting our boat in his hands.

We went through the locks on the Pacific side with a small cruise ship in front of us and two tug boats behind us.  We tied our boat to another sail boat (also from BC, Canada), which was tied to a tour boat (that was once owned by Al Capone and used for bootlegging liquor), which was tied to the canal wall. A large cruise ship was in the adjacent set of locks all by its self.

All the ships entering the Miraflores locks with us

Victor, our transit advisor, sorting out with the other boats how to tie them together

Our route on the chart plotter

Just dream beside the other sail boat, which is beside the tour boat

Justin and I in front of the small cruise ship that shared the locks with us on the Pacific side

Inside the Miraflores Locks

Entering the Pedro Miquel Locks

Getting into position in the locks

We got through the Pacific locks (both Miraflores Locks and Pedro Miguel Locks ) by 11 am.  We motored to the locks on the Atlantic side, arriving just after 3 pm, in time to go through the locks.

Driving through the cut

We made it through Gatun locks just after 5pm.  The other sail boat that went through the Pacific locks with us was a half hour behind us, but was too late to go through the Atlantic locks that night, and it had to stay on Gatun lake for the night and cross the locks the following morning.

Tying up the boat to the wall of the Gatun Lock before the water level is dropped

Touching history

Opening of lock doors

Myself handling the lines while the water level is going down


Exiting the Gatun Locks

Victor, our transit advisor, and Justin


We anchored outside of Colon.  Russ and Dianne stayed on the boat for the night.   I made dinner for us all.

Container ships anchored outside of Colon; one of which was abandoned on its side

We moved the boat to Shelter Bay Marina the next morning.  We swam in the pool and got nice, hot showers. 

Shelter Bay Marina

Abandoned US army barracks by the marina

Then Russ, Dianne, Justin, and I caught the shuttle into Colon for supplies.  We drove over the old and new canals to get to Colon as the ferry was temporarily out of service.  We met the construction engineer for bridge being built over canal on Atlantic side, who told us about the construction and laid to rest some myths about the bridge supports shifting. We said goodbye to Russ and Dianne.
 
Justin driving over the new locks on the Atlantic side

Russ and Dianne heading home after our crossing

Cars driving over the lock doors of the new canal

On February 9th, we prepared the boat for sea and left Panama by mid day.

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