Panama Canal

The Panama Canal has to be one of the highlights of the trip and it didn't disappoint. The boats all go through rafted up in threes and we were in the middle with Derry on one side and Telemed on the other, and the first to go through. It was an early start as we waited for the three pilots, one for each boat, before we could transit. Before going into the locks we passed under 'The Bridge of the Americas' and past the start of the lock system for the new canal, to be opened in June of this year. Though I'm not sur how ready they are.

Going from the Pacific side towards the Atlantic involves two locks, a small lake then another 'going up' lock before crossing Gatun Lake at the top followed by three 'going down' locks. We transited with Valrossa, a large tanker like ship, behind her going up and in front going down - something to do with currents  and water disturbance when the locks are filled and emptied. The ships are initially helped into the locks with tugs pushing and pulling them into place, the tugs being replaced with small locomotives to move them from one lock to the next. I was surprised at the close fit of the ship with only what seemed like inches of space on either side of it.

Once we got into Gatun Lake we had to wait for a replacement pilot to take us on to Colon which prolonged the journey by 3-4 hours. The weather for the entire day was typically tropical rainforest with continuous rain, albeit warm rain, though I did get quite chilly once the sun set.

We eventually got to Shelter Bay marina at about 10.30 pm, a small establishment on the opposite side of the Canal to Colon and effectively in the middle of nowhere. I stayed on the boat for the first night then moved to an hotel on the outskirts of Colon that was also in the middle of nowhere. In fact it took longer to get from the hotel to the marina than it did to drive from the hotel to Panama about 40 miles away.

It is now Sunday 29th and we leave this evening to meet the last three boats through the canal before heading unto the Caribbean and on to New York. The arrival window into NY is the 12-14 June so let's hope for a good race and early arrival.