Panama Canal
Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Wed 4 Mar 2009 22:13
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08.56.174 N 079.33.282 W
We are in the Pacific Ocean, well we are at the
Balbao Yacht Club after our transit through the canal. What an
experience!
We left last night and on our arrival at the first
lock the heavens opened and it rained bucket loads, there was also a strong
wind. We managed to raft up with a French boat and proceed through the first set
of three locks without problems. We went in behind a big
cargo ship. Being drenched did not seem to matter. We moored up to a
very big buoy for a short night in Gatun Lake. A new pilot came in board around
7.30 and we were on our way again. The trip through the lake was
beautiful. We arrived at the next lock, there were no big ships this time,
only four yachts: one on its own and three rafted up. We arrived on the Pacific
side before three o'clock, all very tired. We have had a lot of rain, but it was
still a great experience. We are now tied up on a buoy at the Balbao Yacht Club
and will visit Panama City tomorrow before sailing to the Perlas Islands on our
way to the Galapagos.
    Sea Topaz ready to go with 20
tires
Marine our pilot for the first part of the
trip
In the Gatun locks with
a big
ship
Tied up on a big buoy for the night
    Other ships in the
canal
Going for the
last set of locks
Miraflores
Locks
Hector the pilot for the second part of
the trip
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