Waiting in Colon

Rumpelteazer Pacific Crossing
Robert Holbrook
Sun 10 Feb 2008 15:21

09: 22.065 N

079: 57.051 W

 

 

                                                                Rumpelteazer en route to Panama

 

Hello and welcome to the Rumpelteazer web diary!

 

Well here we all are – Robert and his motley crew of Andy, Pippa and Max – having arrived from London or Sydney on Wednesday 6th February.   We left Panama City by car the next morning, crossing the Panama Canal at the Gatun Locks near Colon.

 

Robert and crew at the Country Inn Hotel, Panama City                Pippa and Andy at the Gatun Locks

 

We are now on board Rumpelteazer in the Shelter Marina - on the west side of the entrance to the Panama Canal.

                                                         

                                                        Rumpelteazer in the Shelter Bay marina

 

We have been visited by the Panama Canal’s Ad Measurer and have received our Ship Identification Number to transit the Canal.  We were getting ready for departure, hopefully on Sunday 10th. 

 

And then things went a bit wrong ……

 

We had thought that we had needed some minor refurbishments to our port engine before we could set off, requiring we get lifted out and replace the seals on the sail drive.  Unfortunately the engineer discovered that the shaft and bearings were badly worn.  Solution – new shaft, bearing race and bearing housings.  Problem – they need to be sent from the UK.  Outcome – we will be seeing a lot of Shelter Bay, and are not likely to be able to leave until Friday 15th at the earliest. 

 

Rumpelteazer being lifted out            The dodgy sail drive

 

Fortunately the Shelter Bay marina has excellent facilities (loos, showers, internet connections and café) but no food or other shops for supplies.  We are already, after two days, getting tired of eating at the café so are planning a trip to Colon for provisions.

 

In summary, we are here, and getting ready, but frustratingly we have several days yet before we can set off.

 

 

 

 

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