PANAMA CANAL TRANSIT

One of the great advantages of joining a group of yachts on a Rally,  is the fact that a great deal of the paperwork is seen to by the rally organisers. Debbie and Eddie are  the invaluable Oyster dream team that keep the rally running smoothly.

Oysters rafting up in Gatun Lock

They ensure that a great deal of annoying bureaucracy is avoided by the individual boats...(they have yet to arrange a Pacific coffee drop for the Nespreso machines on the boats though!)

This backup was particularly invaluable in the organisation of our Panama Canal transit. Normally, the transit involves visits to office after office of disinterested Spanish officials and/or big bucks paid to an agent..all very time consuming and frustrating.

Not so for the Oyster fleet I am pleased to report. We gaily consumed canapes and cocktails in Shelter Bay and waited for Debbie  and Eddie to give us an appointed day and time to head out and do battle with the locks en route to the Pacific Ocean.

On Tuesday 19th Feb at 12pm, Legend was given the go ahead to proceed to the Canal zone for our transit.

The Canal transit authorities require  each yacht going through the Canal to have on board one of their appointed advisers, in addition to a skipper and 4 line handlers.

On board Legend IV were Alan and I, Chris and Helen and Dylan and Sally. Dylan's Dad, Dave, line handled for us on Legend 1when we went through Panama  in 1987. At the time Dylan was 5 years old and was sailing around the world with his parents on their yacht ,Nyati. Today Dylan is sailing around the world on his own boat, Orion, along with his fiance, Sally. Wonderful to have them on board for another round of deja vu!

Sally, Dylan, Skipper and Admiral heading for the Pacific Ocean..Bridge of the Americas in the background.

The Canal trip takes 2 days. On the first day you "lock up" from sea level through 2 enormous locks and spend the night at anchor in Gatun Lake, a freshwater lake which is reported to be inhabited by man eating crocodiles. We resisted the temptation of a freshwater swim this time but on our previous trip no one had mentioned the crocodiles and I seem to remember games of water polo being played in the lake. Heaven knows where the crocs were in the olden days or are we all just getting old and soft?

Dylan and Sally in an idle moment while locks close behind us.

Early the following morning, we "locked down" back to sea level through another 2 locks and entered the Pacific Ocean..a big milestone on our trip.

Once the boat was settled at anchor, we spent several days frantically shopping in Panama City. There will be very little decent shopping for provisions between here and possibly Australia in July. Legend 1V is loaded with to the gunwales with food and drink and hopefully we will survive the epic adventure ahead.

Sloth in Marina at Panama City!

Note to anyone who may be worried about me...there is plenty of Bombay on board! Bit of a blow that low cal tonic is no where to be found...perhaps Debbie and Eddie can help!

Panama City from the Anchorage