Tag Archives: panama canal transit

Sugar Shack Crew ecstatic about transit.

Transiting the Panama Canal on Sugar Shack Part II

The transit through the Panama Canal Part II:  Check out our 2 minute time lapse video at youtube.com/svsugarshack.

After about 2 hours and lunch at Gamboa (in Lake Gatun), we started toward the Pedro Miguel lock.  While on the way, we passed what looked like a giant hotel resort, but reality it is the Smithsonian Tropical Research Center which was founded with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropical ecosystems and their relevance to human welfare.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Center

Smithsonian Tropical Research Center

As we neared Pedro Miguel, we rafted with “Una Mas” again and followed “Mi Panga” into the 4th lock.  This time, “Mi Panga” was close to the wall (starboard), “Una Mas” rafted to them, and we were on the other side of “Una Mas.”  We were three boats wide and had NO port lines up to the port wall.  It was a struggle with huge winds and an outgoing tide that was pushing us toward the forward gate.  At one point, Sugar Shack almost squished “Uno Mas” between us and “Mi Panga” as our bow tried to go in front of them.  Luckily we had tons of fenders out and there was not a scratch on either boat.

Note:  The current pushes you back as you go through locks 1-3 but they push you forward in locks 4-6.  They change somewhere in the middle of Lake Gatun.

A tug boat came in behind us and the large orange tanker came in behind the tug.  This time, “Mi Panga’s” line handlers had to release or give slack on the starboard blue lines (instead of taking slack in).  “Sugar Shack” and “Uno Mas” only had to manage the steerage to keep the boats in line.

Nobody was happy about this rafting situation and evidently, they were not supposed to have us do this.  All rafting is to take place as you enter the locks, not once inside.

Three boats wide with only one side tie to Mi Panga - YIKES

Three boats wide with only one side tie to Mi Panga – YIKES

IMAGE: Top shows our solar panels and boom super close to tug’s bow, Middle Matt and I at Tug’s logo, Bottom two are tug workers and tug logo.

Lock 4, three wide, with tug and tanker behind us

Lock 4, three wide, with tug and tanker behind us

Moving from lock 4 to lock 5, “Una Mas” untied from “Mi Panga” and Sugar Shack untied from “Una Mas.”  We all made our way to lock 5 with all lines on board.  Locks 4 and 5 are not connected to each other.

We passed a super cool “welcome sign” on the wall of the canal.

Welcome to Panama Canal sign on canal wall.

Welcome to Panama Canal sign on canal wall.

We had to raft up to “Una Mas”  again before we entered the 5th lock.  At this point it has become a non-event, easy peasy.

Rafted to Uno Mas in Locks

Rafted to Uno Mas in Locks

This time, in lock 5, “Mi Panga” rafted with the tug at the front of the lock, then “Una Mas” and Sugar Shack were center chambered, then the large orange tanker came up to our stern.

Here is an example of one of the panama canal gates (there are two of these on each side that close behind all of the boats)

Panama Canal gate (blue/green area)

Panama Canal gate (blue/green area)

IMAGE: This collage is a combination of locks.  Top 3 images are lock 5 with “Mi Panga” tied to tug and orange tanker behind us.  Bottom image is lock 4.

Lock 4, tied 3 boats wide with tug and tanker behind us

Lock 4, tied 3 boats wide with tug and tanker behind us

Pull lines up, cleat, release slack, close gates, release water, move forward, lock 6.  The last three chambers did not have the measuring gauge on the walls so I could not note the number of feet we fell.

As we moved forward we saw a group of cars that are used to move the large cargo ships.  Their lines are secured by these cars as opposed to line handlers.

We so badly wanted to say “Yeah we are in the Pacific” but technically we were still in the canal channel.  So, instead we screamed “Yeah, we transited the Panama Canal.”  This is a shot of the last lock as we are entering the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.

Last lock releasing us into the Pacific side of the canal

Last lock releasing us into the Pacific side of the canal

Matt was in charge of music so for each lock he played a rockin tune at full blast for all to enjoy.  We had everyone from our advisors, to the tug folks, and “Mi Panga” singing along.

MUSIC:

  •  “So long, Farewell, ” played on Lock 1:
  • “I’m on a Boat” jammed in Lock 2
  • “Welcome to the Jungle” blared in Lock 3
  • “Days like these” played in Lock 4
  • “California” rocked the house in Lock 5
  • “Celebration” blasted in Lock 6

We had hoped to find Van Halen’s “Panama” but could not down load it in time.  Everyone chipped in to help  with the 125′ lines – they were fun to man handle.

After we came out of the canal and were pretty close to the Balboa Yacht club, we saw the famous Bridge of Americas.  The Bridge of the Americas is a road bridge in Panama, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. It was completed in 1962 at a cost of $20 million, connecting the north and south American land masses.

Bridge of Americas

Bridge of Americas

After we removed the lines that had us rafted to “Uno Mas,” we each motored down the canal channel toward Balboa Yacht Club where we would stay for the night.  It was a short motor, maybe 45-60 minutes.  Our agent had arranged a mooring for us, so we just hailed the Balboa Yacht Club water taxi when we arrived.  Within 10 minutes, the pilot boat came to pick up Francisco and another 5 minutes had the water taxi on our stern.

The water taxi assisted with a mooring and then came back to pickup the lines and fenders to give back to our agent, Erick.  Sweet, the boat is getting less cluttered.  We hailed our friends on “Uno Mas” as we had planned to party, party, party.  Unfortunately, the long day and all the prep wore most of them out so they were in for the night. However, Gene and Stacy were ready to play.  Matt went to pick them up and they joined us for a champagne and jello shot celebration.

IMAGE: Wayne, me, Matt, Heather, and Michael Sugar Shack Panama Canal Transit Crew.

Sugar Shack Crew celebrating a successful voyage

Sugar Shack Crew celebrating a successful voyage

Stacy and Gene join Sugar Shack in our celebrations.

Celebrating a Successful Transit.

Celebrating a Successful Transit.

Uno Mas” was planning on hanging out at the Balboa Yacht Club, so we had made arrangements to take Stacy and Gene on our boat.  We picked them up early the next morning as we had a 40+ mile sail to Las Perlas Islands.  It was a crowded boat with 7 people: Matt and I, Heather and Michael, Wayne, Stacy and Gene.

Interesting Facts:

  • 35-40 boats transit each day
  • 10 boats transit the new locks each day
  • The Neo Panamax
    • New ship for the new locks are 1200’ long, 106’ wide and carry 40,800 containers.
    • Require 3 pilots on board

Fun photos:

Sugar Shack crew: Matt, Christine, Wayne, Heather, Michael, Francisco (pilot), and trainee who was on our boat for 2 locks.

Sugar Shack Crew ecstatic about transit.

Sugar Shack Crew ecstatic about transit.

Matt being goofy with pilot watching on.

Matt being goofy with pilot watching on.

Panama Canal Profile

The Panama Canal Locks and How they Work

For simplicity, I will be talking about transiting the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Boats start this adventure by staging at “the Flats” or “F” anchorage which is outside of Colon Town.  Once at the staging area, you wait to be boarded by a designated advisor or pilot who stays with the boat through the first set of locks.  Southbound transits usually have a start time of 1600.  (Of course, you’ll soon read, we transited at 0500 and did this passage in one day.)  Start times are an estimate of when an advisor will arrive and board your vessel.  The blue arrow on the image below points to the “Flats” anchorage.

The Flats Anchorage

The Flats Anchorage

The six set of locks, were the world’s largest concrete structures for a long time.  In addition, they have functioned flawlessly for over 100 years. The first set are called the Gatun Locks which are physically connected to each other.  Here, the vessel is raised a total of 26 meters in three different chambers.  Each chamber is 33.5 meters wide and 304 meters long.

Each chamber fills at a rate of 3 million gallons per minute and it takes 52 million gallons to move a vessel through all 6 chambers.

Approximately 35-40 vessels transit the old Panama Canal Locks and between 7-10 Neo Panamax vessels transit the new locks per week.  It costs between $600,000-$1,500,000 for the Neo Panamax to transit the new locks.  A cruise ship will pay between $600,000-$1,000,000 to transit through the old locks.  All depends on the amount of water they displace.  The Neo Panamax is 1200′ long with a 106′ beam, and carries over 40,000 containers.  It was built specifically for the new Panama locks.

This is an image of the Gatun locks.  The ship is in the 3rd lock after already being raised in the previous two locks.  Animated photo link.

Gatun Locks

Gatun Locks

The bulk of the excavation took place in the Gaillard Cut which remains, to this day, the area most susceptible to landslides. Gaillard Cut connects Gatun Lake to the last three chambers.

Once the vessel is through the Gatun Locks, they enter Lake Gatun a man-made lake that extends across the Isthmus.  The lake covers an area of 117 square nautical miles and was formed by building the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River.  The damn is nearly 800 meters wide at the base but it narrows to 30 meters at the crest.  The height of the damn is 32 meters above sea level.   Each vessel travels just over 20 miles across Gatun Lake to get to the next set of locks.

This is a view of the Gatun dam from the Panama Canal side.  As you might recall, we showed a photo of the same dam from the Rio Chagres side a few blogs ago.  Pretty cool.

Gatun damn view from the Panama Canal

Gatun damn view from the Panama Canal

On the other side of Gatun Lake are three more chambers.  Miguel Lock, is the first one which lowers the vessel 9 meters in one step from the level of Gatun Lake to that of Miraflores Lake.  Lake Miraflores is a small artificial body of water that separates the Pacific chambers. The ship is then lowered the remaining two steps to sea level within in the Miraflores locks.  This dissension varies greatly due to extreme tidal variations just outside the canal.  The Miraflores gates are the tallest in the Panama Canal due to the tides.  Photo source.

Side view of Panama Canal locks

Side view of Panama Canal locks.

The Process:

After the pilot boards the vessel in the Flats anchorage, it heads 4 miles south to the Gatun Locks.  Typically, cargo ships will proceed ahead of pleasure vessels.  (Again you will find our transit had cargo ships in front and behind us.)  At this time, private yachts will raft or nest together.  Most small yachts (under 25 meters) will raft or nest with one to two other vessels.  Typically, two monohulls will nest on either side of a catamaran.  The catamaran then becomes the main source of power and steerage.  It’s important to realize that all vessels have their engines on at all times to assist in steerage.

As the rafted boats enter the first chamber,  “monkey fists” are thrown to the boat from the center wall and then from the mainland.  These monkey fists are attached to 125′ lines with a bowline knot that are attached to the boats.  We thought the monkey fists would be much bigger, like the size of cantaloupes not the size of golf balls.

Monkey fist thrown to boat to retrieve blue lines

Monkey fist thrown to boat to retrieve blue lines

Upon exiting the Gatun Locks, the vessels are separated as they travel 20 miles to Gamboa where everyone will find a mooring for the night.  In addition, the pilot will leave the boat and the next morning a new pilot will board.  The yachts nest together again for the last three chambers.  The same process is repeated twice on the Pacific locks – as the first lock is not connected to the last two locks.

Each vessel will separate and head toward the Balboa Yacht Club where the pilot will disembark and agents will retrieve their fenders and lines.  And the celebration begins….

TRANSIT FLOW IN SHORT:

  • Flats Anchorage
  • Gatun Locks
  • Lake Gatun
  • Miguel Lock
  • MiraFlores Locks
  • Balboa Yacht Club

Here is a sneak peek at one of our transit photos.  Additionally, if you check back with us you will find several more posts on the Panama Canal.  Evidently, the typical process does not apply to our transit at all.  But, without a doubt the best experience we’ve had in a long time.

Sugar Shack being walked into the first lock.

Sugar Shack being walked into the first lock.

Rey's mascot posed for a photo with me.

Panama Canal Transit Preparations

Sugar Shack arrives to Shelter Bay Marina again after being gone for 3 weeks.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Bocas del Toro and the Rio Chagres, but we need to make ready for our transit.  We have a huge laundry list of things to do before we receive our friends and transit the canal.

We were assigned the same slip at the T-head of C-dock which provides a great breeze through the boat.  We secured the boat and connected up to water and shore power.   I hopped off to pay the marina and collect one of our deliveries.  Marine Warehouse delivered our Engel Cooler and spare alternator a few days ago and we needed to retrieve it.  I baked a batch of chocolate/peanut butter cookies and started an “art project.”  The sail-loft allows you to put your boat name on their building so I spray painted a red box.  Later I will paint “Sugar Shack” in white paint inside the red box.  While I was busy, Matt washed the boat with fresh water and filled the water tanks, emptied the trash, and showed Wayne around the marina.

Across from our boat, the marina “pet” was hanging out.  Yep, that is a 6′ crock and he is real!

Crocodile pet that hangs out at Shelter Bay Marina

Crocodile pet that hangs out at Shelter Bay Marina

We managed to get a few boat projects done, baked brownies, made pizza dough, made arrangements to get our propane tank filled and scheduled a taxi to take us provisioning.  It was a gorgeous day at the marina with light winds, blue skies, and a tempered sun.

Promptly at 1700, we showered and headed toward happy hour to see some of our friends and get some chow.

The next day, Victor our taxi driver picked us up and took us to Super 99, Rey’s, and the outdoor fresh market.  We did some damage at Super 99 picking up the majority of our food and drinks for our guests, then hit the fresh market for a 20 lb pork shoulder and fresh fruits and veggies.

Rey's mascot posed for a photo with me.

Rey’s mascot posed for a photo with me.

20 lb pork shoulder from fresh markets.

20 lb pork shoulder from fresh markets.

It took us awhile to put everything away.  Matt had the butcher chop the 20 lb pork shoulder into 3 sections so it was more manageable.  It still took him about 45 minutes to clean, cut, and vacu-seal everything up.  I am so looking forward to some yummy pulled pork!

We finished up last minute cleaning, scrubbing, and stowing just in time for our friends arrival.  Stacy and Gene arrived first.  They are staying on “Uno Mas” and will be line handlers during their transit of the panama canal.  We are hoping to nest with them during the transit.

Stacy arrives to Shelter Bay.

Stacy arrives to Shelter Bay.

Heather and Michael arrived late in the afternoon and I nearly fell off the dock running to hug them.  It is so awesome sharing our home with our landlubber friends.

The next day, we all went on a little hike near the marina with our friends from “Uno Mas.”  Mark led us around as he and Angie had found the trail.

Shelter Bay Marina used to be an old military base so there are a lot of dilapidated buildings around to explore.

IMAGE: Top shows us exploring two old buildings and artists showcasing amazing graffiti; bottom is an old gun turret and track where they transported ammunition.

Hike around SBM

Hike around SBM

Me walking to the SBM trail.

Me walking to the SBM trail.

IMAGE: Heather is so strong, she helped move a fallen tree. And lower right photo shows Michael swinging through the jungle thus earning his “Tarzan” nickname for the trip.

Hike around SBM.

Hike around SBM.

We received an email from our agent, Erick that we were scheduled for a 0500 transit time.  It was rather surprising as the majority of the transits from the Atlantic to the Pacific are 1600, not 0500.  Not a big deal really, but it means we would be doing the entire transit in one day as opposed to two days with a night in Lake Gatun.  We planned on celebrating being in the lake and going for a dip, but we will have to make other plans.

Matt readied the boat by removing our front life lines, removing our jib sheets, and placing our bean bags over our forward hatches (to protect them from the flying monkey fists).

Heather and Michael helped me finish my art project.  And if I must say, it looks spectacular!

Sugar Shack branded the sail loft wall.

Sugar Shack branded the sail loft wall.

After we returned to the boat we discovered that several things were delivered:

  • Fenders and lines for the transit
  • Generator that we expected a week ago
  • Propane bottle filled and ready to go

With all the deliveries made and most of the prep work done, we headed to the pool for some R&R.

Stacy and Gene headed back to “Uno Mas” while Heather, Michael, Wayne, Matt and I had a nice dinner on shore.  To bed early as we have a 0400 wake up call.