Log Date: February 11, 2005
Location: Panama Canal Transit
Construction on
the Panama Canal began around 1850 with the help of the French
who eventually either gave up or were thrown out. With the help of the
US it was completed in 1914 - over 10,0000 people died on the job - many
from malaria. The first trip through cost $25.00, our trip cost $600
however large ships on an average pay $50,000 and up to transit. There
are a total of 6 locks - 3 up and 3 down. The canal operates 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.
The "Canal Advisor" (AKA - Tug Boat Captain) arrived at our boat around
3:30PM on Monday. We entered the Canal about 5PM and went through the
first three locks that brought us up 26 meters (about 83') to the
man-made Gatun Lake. There are 2 canal men on each side of the lock who
had long lines with a "monkey fist" (large knot about the size of a
baseball) which they threw to us so we could attach our heavy lines and
they could pull them to secure us to the cleats on the side of the
canal. We were positioned behind a small freighter and tied to another
sailboat during the lockage.
A bell rang and then you noticed the water swirling and churning up mud.
There was no sensation of rising up. The line handlers kept the lines
tight but there was limited strain. It took about 10 minutes to fill
each lock. It took longer positioning ourselves and getting the lines
just right than the actual "up-locking". We did this 3 times to get up
to Gatun Lake. Then we tied up to a mooring (large enough to hold the
QEII) for the night.
The second day began about 7AM when the Canal Advisor was brought back
to our boat. We motored through the lake for about 26 miles at a neck
breaking speed of 6.5 knots (wow!). It is a wildlife sanctuary so there
are no recreational boats - only medium sized tour boats and of course
humongous freighters. Gatun Lake does have crocodiles but we did not
see any, the Smithsonian Institute has a research facility here as well.
Most boats have problems when going through the "down-locking" portion
of the canal because of a slight current pushing the boat forward in the
lock. If the rear lines are not attached quickly and at the same time
on each side - the boat can go sideways in the lock. Lots of
coordination between the boat driver, line handlers and the canal wall
line handlers. We got to the the first down locking about noon and once
again rafted with the same sailboat as the previous night. The next 2
locks continued to lower us back to sea level without incidence.
We were glad to transit the canal without any problems. We were lucky
because usually on the down locking the sailboats are situated in front
of freighters. Since we down locked with a small tour boat, they were
in front of us only. When Susan went through on someone else's boat,
they had a large car transport ship positioned in back of them'. She
said this was pretty hairy..."will they stop before plowing into us?”
The Panamanian's that worked for the Canal Authority are happy that the
Americans are gone from the canal because they can have jobs previously
only Americans could occupy. However, nobody is happy that the US
Troops pulled out because the US bases provided lots of jobs to others.
We are now in the Pacific Ocean! We can see the skyscrapers in Panama
City from our anchorage. There are final preparations to do to be ready
to head off to the Galapagos by early March.
GO PATS! Listened to the game via Armed Services Radio on our SSB.
Enjoying Life Onboard.
Laura and Susan
SV Mystic Traveler