TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Due to higher seas and stronger winds, we left Bocas del Toro a day later than originally planned on Thursday January 14th.  We had an excellent run to begin with, using the jib, motor, and current to push us along at 8 knots (over ground) and with the swell and wind chop at a reasonably comfortable angle.  By early morning the wind had come around and the waves were much more sloppy so for the last few hours we motored in rather lumpy and rolly conditions.  We entered Colon Harbor around 4 am and slowly approached Shelter Bay Marina in the NW corner of the bay.  After making a couple of circles in the marina basin, we saw someone on the dock with a flashlight ready to take our lines but the dock was not very well lit so we decided to wait until daylight.  We motored in slow circles in the channel leading to the marina, briefly attracting the attention of the Canal Security boat.

Since then, our activities have been a whirlwind of cleaning, storing, and fixing things on the boat (thanks to the glorious sunny and breezy weather which is helping to blow away the musty smells) and working with our agent, Victor, to initiate the process of making a transit through the Panama Canal.  Victor took us to the Canal Office in Colon on Friday afternoon to get things going and on Saturday an officer came out to measure the exact boat length and width (they take your word on the draft or depth).  Alex was very friendly and helpful and completed numerous forms, having ascertained important details such as the availability of a bathroom, of drinking water, and meals for the Canal Advisor who will accompany us on the 2-day transit.  Today we take the papers to a bank in Colon where we deposit our fees ($609) and security deposit ($891).  Victor will drive us into Colon to do this as it is not a safe town to be wandering around with any money, much less this amount of cash needed for the permit and deposit.  On Friday, Victor drove us through the downtown area and talked about living in Colon with its terrible crime rate.  He also took us to one of the “safe” supermarkets where we got a few supplies and learned where the marina bus will drop us off and pick us up.

Shelter Bay marina is full and is expecting 20 + plus more boats in the next day or so as a rally of cruisers sailing around the world stops in.  We are very glad that we made our reservation during our unexpected visit back in November.  We are getting to meet some new people but it is particularly good to see Connie and Steve again on “Better Days”.  We originally met them in Jamaica.  From there they went to Cartagena and the San Blas where they were frustratingly struck by lightning.  So they have been in Shelter Bay since November getting all their electrical equipment replaced and repaired.  They have already been line-handlers on a boat making the Canal transit and have kindly agreed to help us.  The prospect of the transit is exciting but also a bit nerve-wracking so it will be much more enjoyable with experienced friends aboard.

While in Shelter Bay Marina, we are trying to get some boat work arranged (having an insurance survey, fixing the auto-helm, replacing our outboard, etc) so we may request our transit for around Jan 27th rather than immediately.  Hopefully, I will have time to reorganize this blog and catch up on my emails before then…