our meet up with the crew of Plan B, Monica and Joaquin, El capitano and Steve our host for the transit we were strolling around the marina and the close by Fort Sherman U.S. military reserve, a national parc with virgin foresthere some remaining ruins of the baseKim (she was a good friend of Helen and the fourth line handler, she flew in from NZ just a day before) taking pics and El Capitano trying to see wildlife?the amazing nests of the Oropendula bird, unfortunately I didn’t catch the birdsflip flop collection Shelter Bay marinainstead of wall painting , here some stone paintinglast repairs on Cerulean Steve deep diving into the bilge his friend the tiger watching himwaiting for thr pilot to come aboardThe pilot finally arrivedand the transit beganheading to the first lockPuente Atlanticowaiting for the big boat to approachthis big army ship was heading in front of us to be first in the lockrafting up with the french boat before entering the lockgetting ready for the first lock at Gatun, the pilot told us to be soon ready to catch the monkey fistsSteve just caught the monkey fist, made a knot around our lines and the man ashore pulled in the lineHelen relived inside the first lock all went smoothLine handler Kim in action, almost completely lifted upthe next lock up the wall the “monkey fists thrower”the french boat nested up with us and in front the big army boat, all of us waiting to get liftedthe gates just closingin the morning at the buoy at Gatun lake waiting for the next pilot come“speeding” through the lake and Gaillard cut to reach the other locks Puente AtlanticoKim taking her job serius being in charge for taking good picsour waiting buoy for the big ship to enter the locka crocodile sunbathingLake Gatunthe pilot crew leaving the army ship after the first three lockssomewhere in the Gaillard Cutthe pulling locomotivewaiting timebig ones passing usthe new pilotPuente Centenariothis big boat needed some assistencethe happy crewalmost through, here inside the Miraflores lockthe big ship following usan official pic taken from the camera at the Miraflores lock, we were still alone in the lockhere it came, the big monsterthe grand opening to the Pacificand leaving the lockHelen and Kimand finally slowly going downand…we made it!!!
One thought on “Impressions of the Panamá Canal transit”
wow. what a great post. can’t believe you got to go through on a sailboat. my wife & went through a few years back on a 40 person motor boat. on new year’s eve! it was a once in a lifetime experience. thanks for posting
SY Altimate 
wow. what a great post. can’t believe you got to go through on a sailboat. my wife & went through a few years back on a 40 person motor boat. on new year’s eve! it was a once in a lifetime experience. thanks for posting
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