Transiting Panama Canal

Another fast and easy sail found us approaching Colon one dawn, making our way amongst the many ships at anchor outside the harbor. We decided to anchor off Club Nautico which is not the safest spot but is so handy to town. It used to be such an interesting time being on this side of the canal, anchored at the Flats and hanging out in the yacht club, drinking cheap beer and sharing plans. Now everyone goes over to Shelter Bay which is in the middle of nowhere and very expensive.

 

 This was our spot for a few days while we arranged our transit of the canal with the help of a friendly taxi driver who kept us safe in the city. The 2 yachts next to us were manned by police 24/7 and may have been involved in drug-running.

Then we went over to Shelter Bay and anchored off the marina. Friends were there with us so it was a fun time while we waited a few days for our turn to go through the canal. We did get ashore and have a walk in the jungle surrounding the marina followed by some booze and snacks.

It was less than a week between visiting the admeasurement office and going through which was a surprise. The advisors got dropped off on the various boats at the anchorage and mid-afternoon we set off for the first set of locks with four of us as line-handlers and Phil the skipper.

Going up we were rafted up to a tug with a ship in front as we were raised 85 feet in three steps. The chambers are each 110 feet wide and over 1000 feet long. Once the chamber was full, we would leave the tug and motor into the next one then re-tie. By the third time we had it sorted. Goodbye Atlantic Ocean.

 

Once we were on the lake, we motored a few miles to a huge mooring, waved the advisor off and enjoyed a spectacular evening with a few rums, good food and three other yachts close by who had come up after us. There is now a wider canal for the extra big ships close by and the ships we saw were huge! There is a drought at the moment and the lake level is down 7 feet which has everyone concerned.

Next morning we set off early with another advisor onboard to cross the 35 mile lake.

Here's a huge ship exiting the Gaillard Cut. We were on a mooring here for a couple of hours as we waited for the ship we were going down into the Pacific with to catch up.

At the end of the cut we entered the Pedro Miguel Locks in front of a ship this time and with a catamaran rafted alongside. We dropped 31 feet into a small lake, motored across and then dropped down in two more locks. We were watched by a horde of people ashore and there is also a webcam on 24/7.

It was really exciting to be back in the Pacific !!!! I couldn't stop smiling. It now costs $1600US to transit but is so much quicker and easier than the other options so money well spent.

A few days later we took the bus and a taxi back to Shelter Bay to be line-handlers for Guy, so that meant two transits in one week but it was pretty relaxing being on someone else's boat. This photo is crossing the new bridge.

 

Now we are anchored at La Playita. The boat is full of fuel, food and water, ready to set off across the Pacific. Just have to decide where we want to go....Marquesas or down to Gambier at the bottom of the Tuamotus....weather is good for the next week or so....