Panama

The passage from Negril, Jamaica to Panama was windy and rough, with the average wind at close to 20 knots, and gusts to 30, with seas 10 to 15 feet. We had sea water in the cockpit, and some splashed down into the galley and nav station. 

We arrived in Panama after sailing for four and a half days on February 5, 2018. Puerto Christobal (Colon), our original destination was too far, and we wouldn't make it before night, so we set our course for Puertobello. 

Landfall at Puertobello, Panama

Puertobello was identified as a good harbour by Christopher Columbus, and the Spaniards turned it into a transhipment point for the plunder of the Americas that was being shipped back to Spain.  The harbour has three forts in it to protect the ships laden with valuable cargo, but was still a target by various pirates.

We added our names to the wall, a maritime tradition, permitted by the marina, which brings good luck!

The next morning we raised the anchor, and sailed to Colon, where we made arrangements to meet our agent for the Panama Canal Transit.  Shelter Bay Marina was very well protected, and had great facilities.  Every morning there was a cruiser's net on VHF 77 where important information was exchanged.

Cruiser's BBQ and Potluck Dinner at Shelter Bay Marina, Colon.

The marina provided a free bus into town to selected shopping areas, so we took advantage and saw what the stores had to offer.  Groceries were inexpensive, and a few marine supplies were available. 

Tim buying some fishing gear at Abermarles Marine Store in Colon

One day we met with our agent, Roy Bravo of Emmanuel Agencies, S.A., and there was a backlog of boats due to the just completed ARC race boats, and next week was Carnival, so there would be a shortage of Advisors and line handlers. Advisors are required to be on every vessel transiting the canal less than 65 feet.

Rented oversize fenders to protect Vata during the canal transit.

I climbed the mast to check the boat from top to bottom, a must before any passage.

A web cam pic of us in Gatun lock sent to us from Jessie.

We transited the canal on February 18 and 19th, with an overnight stay at a mooring in Gatun Lake.  The transit was simple, thanks to our professional line handlers, who expertly kept our boat safe in the swirling water of the locks.

Following the GT Star into one of the Gatun Locks, and rafted to a sailboat from Fance.

The Atlantic Venus following us in the descent to the Pacific in the Miraflores Locks.

A container ship passing us in Gatun Lake.

Panama city was, well, a city!  Many tall buildings, traffic jams, and lots of people. We stayed on a mooring at the Balboa Yacht Club, and they provided a free water taxi from the boat to their wharf, and return, 24 hours a day. Taxis were cheap, so we set out to find our long list of marine supplies, with limited success. The list was getting shorter, and I finally had decent charts to use on the up-coming pacific crossing.  A surprise to us, was when we asked to be taken to the "mall", and we ended up in the Albrook Mall, the largest mall in the Americas. Wow. The hustle and bustle of the city, we knew would soon be replaced with a return to nature and tranquillity.

Basic apartments in the older part of town

The food court at the Albrook Mall, Panama City.

Panama City Skyline

Next, we will have a short visit in Panama's Las Perlas Islands, where Survivor was once filmed, and then the long passage to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

Dusk over the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa (Panama City), Panama.