#18 Panama Canal Transit

On 28th February we set off for the Flats, Colon for advisor pick up. Our crew was Mike (Aurora B), Peter (Innforapenny) and Bill & Susan (from Canada). The advisor was due at 1715 but arrived at 1800hrs. We motored towards the first set of three locks at Gatun with darkness falling, lots of wind and lots of ships. Once near the first lock we had to raft up with two other boats. This was an amazing comedy as the advisors on each boat gave conflicting commands. There was lots of shouting and then it rained. The advisors almost sent us aground. Not a good start! The rafted boats had to follow a large ship into the lock but as we were about to enter the lock they closed the swing bridge right in front of us for an ambulance. We had to turn around and wait for it to reopen. All this in 25kn of wind and the odd rain squall. After the swing bridge was reopened we headed back to the lock and tied up behind the ship. The lock gates closed and the water began to rise. There was lots of strain on the lines and lots of shouting. Once the lock was filled the front gates opened and the big ship in front of us put his engines ahead. The turbulence it created was so great that a stern line on Serendipity (the outside boat to starboard) broke. This sent us all hurtling forward and towards the left lock wall. We had to ease our stern line and there was incredible force on this. We thought our cleats and winch would be ripped off. The lock line handlers were very quick to get another line to Serendipity and it was quickly secured. We came within inches of major damage. We broke a winch handle and Nani strain her hand (we thought initially that she’d broken her thumb!). This was only the first lock and there were two more to go!
Once the boats were secured and settled we eased lines and motored into the next lock. Again there was lots of counter commands from the advisors but we got in OK and secured the lines. It rained again. Once the water level was raised again the big ship took off but made less turbulence this time. We settled the boats down and then it was time for us to move to the final up lock.
The third lock went well and after we cleared out of it we untied the raft of boats and headed towards the mooring area in Gatun Lake. As we neared the mooring area it poured down with rain. We anchored about 2200 hrs and the advisors were collected via pilot launches. We were now ready for a beer! Nani cooked dinner of steak and salad. We all hit the sack about midnight.
The advisors were due at 0630 in the morning. Ours (George) arrived late and we raised anchor at 0720hrs and commenced the 27 mile trip to the first set of the down locks. We needed to motor at about 7kn to get to the lock on time and we furled out the head sail to assist us. This was a nice run with a good breeze and no rain. Nani cooked us all breakfast of eggs, bacon, mushrooms & tomato whilst we were underway.

We arrived at the locks on time and rafted up with Serendipity to go through the locks. The down locks are much easier than the up locks. We went through these locks without incident and when the final lock gates opened we motored into the Pacific.

We arrived at the anchorage about 1500hrs and again a well earned beer and champagne cocktails. Liz (Aurora B) and Penny (Innforapenny) joined us for the celebrations.