canal

Transiting the Canal, March '07
After many preparations to take off across the Pacific we are finally ready to make the Panama Canal transit. We'd left the boat at Shelter Bay Marina in February for 2 weeks while we returned to the US to visit Geoff and Marla in LA. Also, we had to do vast amounts of errands, doctors appointments and shopping for parts, supplies and provisions. Of course, this meant extra charges for baggage on the return flight but who knows when we will be able to buy our favorite items. Actually, Panama City was exceptional for finding most things. We had 4 friends volunteer to help us handle our lines in the canal as is required. Ian and Barbara from Gannet and also Kathy and Randy from Lekeke, who have an IP380 like ours.	Our transit was not stressful at all and we had a fun time under the direction of our assigned Advisors. We began the transit with a night entrance about 8pm and after dinner, all 6 of us spent the night on CYAN at Gatun Lake...a bit cozy but we were tired! The next day we finished the rest of the transit in beautiful weather and arrived at Balboa Yacht Club moorings about 5pm. The end of March, after settling more legalities with our agent and other last minute preparations, we left for our 9 day crossing of 900 miles to the Galapagos Islands and the rest of the Pacific.

Crossing Equator to Galapagos, March '07
It was a big deal for us to cross the equator over to the southern hemisphere. We felt only slightly obligated to make an offering of booze to Neptune for good luck. It was about 5pm...right at cocktail hour and appropriate.	Take note of the yellow dotted line that Chuck is pointing at...the actual Equator. You can see it here, folks!!! We got a shot of the chartplotter at 00 latitude right at the crossing time.

Panama Canal and Equator Crossing

Transiting the Canal, March '07
After many preparations to take off across the Pacific we are finally ready to make the Panama Canal transit. We'd left the boat at Shelter Bay Marina in February for 2 weeks while we returned to the US to visit Geoff and Marla in LA. Also, we had to do vast amounts of errands, doctors appointments and shopping for parts, supplies and provisions. Of course, this meant extra charges for baggage on the return flight but who knows when we will be able to buy our favorite items. Actually, Panama City was exceptional for finding most things. We had 4 friends volunteer to help us handle our lines in the canal as is required. Ian and Barbara from Gannet and also Kathy and Randy from Lekeke, who have an IP380 like ours. Our transit was not stressful at all and we had a fun time under the direction of our assigned Advisors. We began the transit with a night entrance about 8pm and after dinner, all 6 of us spent the night on CYAN at Gatun Lake...a bit cozy but we were tired! The next day we finished the rest of the transit in beautiful weather and arrived at Balboa Yacht Club moorings about 5pm. The end of March, after settling more legalities with our agent and other last minute preparations, we left for our 9 day crossing of 900 miles to the Galapagos Islands and the rest of the Pacific.

Preparing to leave for transit
Entering first lock
Ian & Barbara
Kathy & Randy
From the Canal Camera
on Internet
Thru last lock

Crossing Equator to Galapagos, March '07
It was a big deal for us to cross the equator over to the southern hemisphere. We felt only slightly obligated to make an offering of booze to Neptune for good luck. It was about 5pm...right at cocktail hour and appropriate. Take note of the yellow dotted line that Chuck is pointing at...the actual Equator. You can see it here, folks!!! We got a shot of the chartplotter at 00 latitude right at the crossing time.

Pointimg at Equator
Offering to Neptune
Check the plotter
Pacific Sunset

To go on to the Next Page
The Galapagos

To return to the Journey Log page

To Go back to the "San Blas Islands Page"