2.24.2013

A Man, a Plan, a Canal: Panama

Bill and Caroline (s/v Juffa) celebrate a successful transit

In Google Reader, you can "star" posts that you want to save for later.  And when you know you're eventually going to transit the Panama Canal, the transit stories get "starred," right?  So here we are in Shelter Bay Marina, finally, and we'll be heading through the canal as soon as most of the broken things are fixed, so... we're reading all the starred transit stories.  Here are the ones we've collected so far; they're in chronological order, with the most recent transits at the top.  Great pictures, lots of details and advice, a bit of humor and terror mixed in. [5/22/13 - Update: now we're on the other side, getting more broken things fixed, so we're in a prime position to collect new transit posts, since we meet these folks when they pop out on this side.]

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Topic coordinators: Jane and Ean, more JOY everywhere!



Consult water-log to find out how admeasuring might surprise you, followed by a recounting of a "like clockwork" transit.


On Wanderlust they handled rain and an "interesting" captain on the boat they were rafted with.  But the sun came out as they came through the last lock:


This post from Diana and Ross (Sailing on One White Tree) has tons of great pictures, including screen shots from the web cameras in the locks.

Brianna, On the Horizon Line, writes from the perspective of a linehandler and a Frequent Contributor for MoFi - she warns that the monkey's fist has a Dark Side:


Jane and Ean on more JOY everywhere! were blessed with one of the "uneventful" transits - the major crisis came before transit, when they had to find replacement linehandlers at the last possible moment due to a passport problem.


Most Panama Canal transits are "boring" - it's true.  But NOT true for Doolittle Cruising.  Read Molly's perspective, then Ben's review of a messy, out-by-the-skin-of-their-teeth transit - and finally, the same story, as told by one of their line-handlers (Michael, The Floating Monkey).


One bad oyster don't spoil the whole crossing for Bettie del Mar:

 
With a typical British flair for understatement, Juffa calls the experience "interesting:"

A last minute command decision turns out to be the right one for You, Me, and the D:

For It's Irie, a one-day postponement is the only glitch in an otherwise flawless transit:

Little Green Boat provides a little history along with the details (note: for the whole story, start six posts back.):

4 hired hands, 2 advisors, and a mid-crossing water shortage make for one very long, but happy day for Sailing Camelot:

Saben reports that Noriega's "condominium" is just one of the sights to see:

Touching at times; nerve wracking at others. What more could you ask for in the excellent adventure?

Nicky, 9 years old, wrote a report for "school" when he and his parents transited the canal on s/v Namani:


The Log of S/V Astarte includes an agent recommendation, information about the role of the advisors, and a review of the nesting process.


Bill (The Voyages of s/v Galena) did three back-to-back trips through the canal - first as captain, then twice as line-handler.


S/y Lison-Life writes about the process step-by-step, including crocodiles and champagne.


An entire year of cruising is included in this one post: scroll WAY down to the transit date; Sea Life includes a word document in the post, with additional advice about the transit.


Bumfuzzle was first delayed and then deluged.  Scroll down to transit date.

And from Sailing on Maya, a very technical post from a recent crossing


Hi, blogger! Do you have a blog post on transiting the Panama Canal that you'd like to share? Please post your link with a brief description in the comment section below and we'll add it to this list.

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