Panama!

Back in the fall of 2021 we lingered a bit to see our friends on S/V Kolohe...after all, they were headed for the Pacific and we weren't likely to see them for a very long time! As we parted ways we told them to let us know if they needed help in the Panama Canal as transiting boats have crew requirements to meet. Well, fast-forward to February 2022 and Ava (perhaps jokingly!) asked if I and another of the cruising moms wanted to come be line handlers for their canal transit. As we were sailing near George Town in the Exumas (which has a big airport), I jumped at the opportunity to help! We even tried to get the whole family in on it, but having failed to secure a trustworthy boat-sitter, we opted to send the 1st Mate off to Panama while the Skipper and Swab stayed in George Town for some SCUBA action. 

Jo & Ava in October 2021--NOT the last time they would see each other!

The trip required a flight to Miami with a connection to Panama City, Panama and therefore required a COVID test within a day of the Miami stop. Easy-peasy in George Town! Wednesday I took a water taxi to a land taxi to the airport and had a really smooth day of travel (complete with luxurious lounge time in Miami!) and arrived in Panama City that night. Michael drove me from the airport to Shelter Bay Marina, arriving at the boat around 2300.

The next day I met the other volunteer line handler, Robert, and got to see two of my favorite cruising kiddos again! We walked the lush jungle trails around the marina and the old Army facilities, spotting monkeys and looking for sloth. While we were out, the boat got word that their hired line handler would be arriving THAT EVENING (Thursday) and that they needed to meet the agent at 0430 the NEXT MORNING (Friday) at an anchorage outside of the marina. As they didn't want to leave the marina in the dark, we all had to kick it into gear! While they wrapped up final provisioning, sail repairs, and rental car return, I stayed back with the boys to tidy up the boat for all the additional folks, stow gear, and handle trash. We were so efficient that David and I managed to squeeze in a little pool time! As twilight was setting in the other line handler, José, arrived and we immediately got underway. We made it to the anchorage as the last glimmer of daylight disappeared and settled in for a short, rolly night. 

Crammed a lot into a short stay at Shelter Bay Marina!

The crew prepares.

When the agent lept aboard Kolohe at 0500 Friday they quickly got underway and headed for the first lock, Gatun, where we would ride a triple-flight of locks up 85 feet to Gatun Lake as the sun rose. For this portion, we were port-side tied to a big fishing boat so we didn't have to handle big lines as much as we had to watch fenders and snug up tight to the other boat. Kolohe was the last boat in as the doors to the Atlantic closed behind them and their adventure began.

It was action-packed from "anchor up" until we officially waved good-bye to the Atlantic Ocean!

By 0815 we were clear of Gatun Locks, breakfast was served, and we transited Gatun Lake for the next four-ish hours. It was beautiful! Some boats spend the night in the lake as part of their transit, but Kolohe was scheduled to chug along.

Serious props to Ava for keeping the whole crew fed throughout the day! Gatun Lake was a nice journey.

Next up was the single-step Pedro Miguel Locks which would lower Kolohe 31 feet. We ended up "centered" and alone for this lock so we got to catch the monkey-fists from the tenders ashore, send our big lines up to bollards, and then each of the four line handlers (Ava, Robert, José, and I) tended our lines as we descended. Once the doors opened (we were in the front!), we quickly pulled our big lines back aboard and prepared for the next lock!

Ava, Robert, & I preparing for the next locks. I tended the port bow when we were centered.

Miraflores Locks, the final two-step lock in our journey, would lower Kolohe the final 54 feet (plus or minus for tides) to the Pacific Ocean. This was a moving one, and offered some excitement! We briefly tied up alongside a wall to wait for our turn, then we again set up for a center/solo locking. Between the two steps, we retrieved our heavy lines but the tenders ashore kept the messenger lines and walked along with us to set us up in the final step. Kolohe was in the front! It was so awesome to see this family that we love so much make this big step in their cruising journey. When the doors to the Pacific opened I couldn't help but smile! By 1500 they were through! We dropped off José and the fenders and lines, dropped off the agent, and anchored off of Flamenco Island. It was a whirlwind day, but they did it! Ava and I jumped in the water at sunset to properly celebrate, too!

My toss for our short tie-up was short, but the shore team saved me! Ava and I taking a moment to be silly before we were all back in action for the first step of Miraflores (that's Robert securing the messenger line to our lines).

The opening of the second-to-last lock...almost there!

Ava with a well-earned celebration as we are free at the final lock!  Robert and I were super happy to help Michael and Ava through this part of their journey (and we did it under the watchful eyes of many tourists at the Visitors Center!).

The next day I looked for some parts ashore while they ran errands, and with Frank's help changed my flight to depart Panama City on Sunday, overnight in Miami, and return to George Town Monday. Why would I put myself through that? Trent was SCUBA diving! And if I got back Monday night they had room on his dive Tuesday morning! So worth it! It also freed Kolohe up to not have to wait on my flight as Robert and I had different travel plans. While I would have loved to stay longer, I was super excited to get back to my guys!

I am so proud of the Kolohe crew! You can continue to follow their journey at https://www.sailingkolohe.com and on Instagram!

FUN FACT: Both the Skipper and I have been through the Panama Canal before! It was in 2002 and it was on a bigger, grayer ship...he was a Conning Officer and I was an unqualified nobody! 

~Jo, 1st Mate