[PUP] Grey Pearl transits Panama Canal today

[Georgs Kolesnikovs]

>From Tina Jones, co-captain of the Nordhavn 62 Grey Pearl:


Ahoy Mateys!

The Panama Canal is experiencing an extraordinary
backup of ships wanting to transit - the worst in
its history. There are currently 131 large ships
waiting to go through. Pleasure yachts have NO
priority and the canal is only allowing 3 or 4
every other day to pass. Consequently there is a
huge backup of yachts  - wait time of well  over
a month!

Late breaking news
after diligent efforts (it's a
long story ) the Pearl has managed to nab a
precious transit spot and  we will pass  later
today Thurs. 3/20!!
We  will  start transiting about 7 pm Thursday
evening and will  clear out on the Pacific side
 sometime early tomorrow morning Friday 3/21.
Panama is on Central Time, one hour behind Wash.
DC.
You can watch the Pearl by going to this web site:

This is the Panama Canal Authority Web cam to
watch the boats go through the different locks.
<http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html>http://www.pancanal.com/e
ng/photo/camera-java.html

We'll start on the Atlantic side at  the Gatun
Locks (moving from Colon to Bilboa). Each of the
three lock chambers will raise the boat
approximately 28'until we reach the Canal's
highest elevation of 85' . The Autoridad del
Canal de Panama(ACP) requires that you have
assigned a ACP Pilot or ACP Transit Adviser on
board. Also, necessary are line handlers;  two
for the bow and stern. Ideally, we would to like
have a "center tie" in the lock chamber
you can
only request but, we could very well be "side
tied" to the wall or a tug. The line handling is
very important as there's a considerable amount
of wash from the rushing water locking up or
down. From what we've read, turbulence and
current can be tremendous, requiring strength and
stamina to keep lines under tight control while
hauling them in or paying them out. If one line
slips , the hull of the boat can be thrown
against the concrete walls or steel lock gates.

We have fellow Nordhavn owner, Wayne Davis
('Envoy') on board; Veteran crew member Jose
Gutierrez arriving to board just as we pull away
from the dock
and, what could not be helped was
buddy, Steve Kellenberger (X-IBM buddy of Braun's
& veteran of the Azores to Gib leg in'04) flying
in later with hopes of rendezvousing somewhere in
between! We got the call that we were scheduled
to go
and, go we must!

That' all for now - until we reach the other side!
Best,
Tina & Braun