We Made It!!! Messasge from 'the Pacific Side'
'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Sun 14 Mar 2010 13:41
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08:54.600N 079:31.422W
Pictures to follow once I have a wifi
link.
12th we fuelled- up in Shelter Bay Marina at 1200,
then motored over to the Flats. Anchored, checked lines and fenders then awaited
the arrival of the Adviser, who was 45 minutes late. Anyway, we were told we
would be alongside a tug and that two other yachts were going
through.
Problem no 1: Anchor windlass wouldn't operate in
the 'up mode'. Embarrassed skipper dives into the starboard bow locker and finds
wiring corroded, a quick wire strip and whilst Pam holds the wires together
Helen gets the anchor up. Sheesh! Adviser very understanding 'it happens cap, it
happens'.
problem no 2: 100 metres from the lock, the other
two boats rafted up, 'it is decided' that we will join the raft, not go
alongside the tug. Adviser argues with the lock captain, 'the tug captain is OK
with it, the yacht captain is OK with it & I'm OK with it so?' Nope, the tug
owner he say no! Hurridly raft up, Italian boat (inevitably the skipper is
Guiseppe) and Danish boat on t'other side. Bow lines from centre boat and stern
lines off the other two. Helen does a stirling job, Danish 'blonde bimbos'
not so good but we get through OK into Gatun Lakes, although it is now
dark.
Raft up alongside a 'Merkin' motor boat, a tourist
boat is on the other buoy......he shouldn't be there but is refusing to move.
Much confusion, arm waving and shouting as five other yachts arrive and have to
anchor for the night despite the lake bed being blessed with many sunken trees
(it takes Guiseppe and crew one hour in the morning to untangle his anchor from
a tree, after they had dragged during the night). Not much sleep on Trouters due
to
a) a cat attempting to raft up to us twice
and failing
b) 'Merkin skipper threatening to shoot the skipper
of the tourist boat on the other buoy
c) general noise of Trouters nestling up to the
huge mooring buoy
Anyway, the Adviser arrives in the morning and we
get under way. "What time is the lock transit scheduled?" "1030" BLOODY
HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can just about manage 6.5 kts at full throttles and we
have 28 miles to go and it's 0630 and I have my sun glasses
on..................
We make it, passing under Centennial bridge at
1030. Now we have to raft up. Well my dears!!!!!!!!!!!
Guiseppe catches us up , he rafts up to us
quickly, both advisors help in securing bow/stern lines and springs then the
Danish boat attempts to come alongside.......Guiseppe gets involved in micro
management instead of helming the raft, we turn through 180 degrees and are now
facing a 'durt great ship and tug' rapidly approaching. Guiseppe is told to just
shut up and do what he's told and we eventually get into Pedro Miguel Locks
about 1200. The usual confusion, with the controlling Adviser deciding he can
trust me to do what I'm told when I'm told so we use Trouters to 'fine tune' the
raft position in the lock.
To cut a long story short, we made it without any
damage (or none found so far). We're anchored at La Playitta, had a pizza, beer
and ice cream run ashore to celebrate last night and will 'get our breath back'
today.
Hope somebody managed to catch 'the live
action'.
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