The first group of yachts from World ARC completed their Panama Canal transits today and are now berthed on Panama’s Pacific coast near Panama City. The transits went very smoothly and all crews were excited to have passed such a major milestone on their circumnavigations.
Transiting the Panama Canal is a serious undertaking but before departing Shelter Bay Marina all participants within the group received an expert briefing by Rally Control on the procedures and timings of the transit and what they could expect during the various stages. Long lines and extra fenders that are required during the transit were then delivered to the yachts and before long it was time to set off.
The transit commenced in the late afternoon as the eight yachts in Group 1 departed Shelter Bay Marina for the “flats” anchorage where they awaited the arrival of their advisors. Each yacht would have an advisor on board for the duration of the transit - the advisors are trained by the Panama Canal Authority on enabling non-commercial yachts to pass through the locks safely. With the advisors all aboard the yachts then rafted together in nests of 2 or 3 before entering the first Gatun lock at approximately 2115. Entering the vast locks in what suddenly appeared to be very small boats was a daunting manoeuvre at first. Long lines are taken to the chamber walls, the huge gates close behind you and soon the water starts bubbling all around as the chamber is flooded. Up locking is slightly more difficult than down locking because of the turbulence created by the flooding of the chamber but the skippers and line handlers all did an excellent job keeping the rafted nests safely in the centre of the locks.
After completing the third lock of the Gatun Locks the gates ahead opened into Gatun Lake where the nest separated and it was then time to take a mooring for the night. The following morning the group motored across Gatun Lake before coming together in nests again and making the first down lock at Pedro Miguel Locks and then 2 more down locks at Miraflores Locks shortly after. On the completion of the last lock the chamber gates opened and the yachts motored ahead into the Pacific Ocean, for all yachts in this group it is the first time they have entered the Pacific Ocean!