Panama Canal Transit
MALARKEY
Jo & Trevor Bush
Sun 27 Nov 2011 00:11
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8:55.0N 79:31.7W
The C-day was drawing nearer and I was more anxious
about transiting the canal than the Pacific.
We had heard and read so many horror stories, it
was freaking me out. 99% of all transits are successful and go without a hitch
but you don't hear about those, only the 1% where yachts lose their cleats and
get slammed into the lock wall or a ship doesn't stop in time and crushes you
into the lock gates. All a bit scary. So we needed some super
crew.............The two Romanian girls we met on the Lares Trek who have never
been on a boat before.......marvelous. Just for back up, old pals from back
home, Shaun & Cara flew down from Canada and stepped into the breach,
lending an experienced hand. I figured that the most important attribute for a
line handler was to look good in the photos and all, bar the skipper, are
particularly photogenic........so top crew.
Malarkey was suited and booted with long lines
and road tyres for fenders, suitably covered with tee-shirts so as not to
mark our lovely topsides. We were fortunate that a nice blue mega yacht had
just come through the canal from the Pacific and gave their tyres directly to
us. They had covered them so as not to damage their topsides and I noted that
all of the tee-shirts were in better shape than the one I was wearing, so I
changed one for mine........how sad is that?
Anyway, after a team talk, we set off for the Flats
Anchorage where we were to be boarded by our Canal Advisor.
   Trusty line handlers, Shaun, Cara, Deea &
Bea
Our company in the
lock
We got to the first lock just as the sun was going
down.........great we will have to do the whole thing in darkness, as if I
wasn't nervous enough. The light went so quickly but the sun was replaced by
super powerful flood lights, thank you ACP.
   Entering the first lock in
twilight
Shaun having a gay time on the
foredeck
Floodlit Lock
It seemed that it was only me & Jo that were
anxious about the transit, 'cos the rest of the crew were taking it all in their
stride and quite enjoying themselves. Everyone was in awe of the structure
itself and how it was a testimony to mans ingenuity, especially bearing in mind
it was constructed during Victorian times and is still in perfect condition
today. There are some very interesting facts about the canal but I have covered
them in an earlier blog and Wikipedia does a much better job.
   The canal, bit of a
squeeze
Canal
map
Malarkey locking through
There are 3 locks up and 3 down. In between is the
Gatun Lake where we moored for the night.
It must have been the relief of making it through
the first set of locks, 'cos as soon as we were in the lake, out came
the grog. And it flowed and flowed late into the night. A
crazy yank jumped into the crock infested lake and swam over to our boat at
about midnight 'cos he wanted to join the party. Unfortunately, he couldn't
climb up the topsides onto the boat, so he swam back. It was an interesting
interlude and was never seen again.
  Lining them
up
Party crew
Of course we all conveniently forgot that we had to
get up early to greet the new advisor for the lock down. Not all, no names
mentioned, managed to get up at a suitable hour that following morning.
Locking down was easier. There was less turbulence
in the lock and the handlers found it easier to ease the lines out, than to pull
them in. In fact looking back at it all, the whole deal was a doddle and I
worried for nothing.
   Crock on the port
bow
First view of the
Pacific
A glass of bubbly to celebrate
We took the opportunity to go cruising for a few
days in the Perlas Islands only a days sail away from the Brisas Anchorage,
Panama City. It was our first taste of the Pacific proper and it is full of
promise. We saw humpback whales breaching with their young and sharks chasing
rays right through the anchorage. The wild life is bigger here, probably in
proportion to the ocean we are about to cross.
   Humpback Humpback
giving a
wave
Our first Pacific sunset
Thanks guys for your help getting Malarkey safely
through the lock. You were all like true professionals and you made it seem easy
and enjoyable.
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