Wow! What an experience, transiting the canal in a small boat. Up three locks behind Tokyo Spirit cargo ship, while side tied to another 44 ft. catamaran from Austria. We did not get going until after dark. Each boat had 4 line handlers, a captain and Canal Adviser. All had important jobs and had to pay close attention. Into the first lock, close the gates, and in comes huge volumes of water raising all. The line handlers are thrown a thin rope with a monkey fist on the end, they tie that to a big loop on the end of our 180 ft long ropes, one on each corner of the boat, then the Canal worker puts the big loop onto a bollard. Our 4 line handlers then tug on the lines as required to keep us in the center of the lock, as we go up. Lots of turbulence! When the lock is full, the canal workers walk the ropes forward to bollards on the next lock, as we motor forward slowly. The big ships have an electric locomotive that moves them. Lots of current and surge as locks are filled/emptied. We arrived in lake Gatun at 7 PM and side tied to a huge mooring. Next day 9am, new canal adviser arrived. We motored 26 miles across fresh water lake Gatun - 82 ft above sea level! Then into the narrows and to the Mira Flores - down locks. Up locks small boats go after a large ship if space is available, down locks - the small boats go first.

We rafted with the Austrian catamaran again and went into the lock in front of a big cruise ship. Didn't get the name. As the locks were emptied our line handlers had to let out lines to keep us centered. The last lock was more difficult, strong winds and lots of fresh water meeting salt water. We then motored to Balboa Yacht Club, near Panama city and attached to another big mooring where we spent the night. Next day, sails up and headed to Vista Mar Marina - a new marina 47 miles down the Panama coast. This is where our granddaughter Allsion and husband Nick left their boat when they flew to St. Martin to help us make the 1000 mile Caribbean crossing and canal transit. This last sail also gave us plenty to do. First, we put up the big red genikker again (some people never learn) then the wind cranked up to 30 knots and we could not get the roller furler to work, again! so had to douse the sail in a mad scramble to keep it out of the water. Finally got it squared away, then sailed to the Marina. Then had to back into a slip with cross wind blowing 25 - 30 kts. Luckily we made it, the 2nd try. It helped to remember my early sailing days with an ulta light F-31 trimaran, when one had to really, really consider the side winds. You need to position yourself then go fast. One can maybe/ control the back of a boat , but if you stop, the wind controls the front. Will hang here in nice Marina for a couple of weeks awaiting cousin David. Meanwhile, the Christmas winds continue to howl - we had 40 knots last night. Today we had to shut down the wind vane charger - it was screaming and all 8 batteries were fully charged. Going shopping today, need some tonic!

A real privilege to sail a small boat thru the Panama Canal accompanied by experienced grandchildren - both have previously been thru the Canal by small boat. Allison with us back in 2003 and Nick with his parents in their boat back when.