[PUP] Grey Pearl transits Panama Canal today

[Peter Pisciotta]

> Consequently there is a huge 
> backup of yachts  - wait time of well  over
> a month!

When I went through the Canal in 2005, an expedite fee
could be paid, which allowed me to get through about
30 hours after I arrived in Balboa, Panama. At the
time, the fee was about $2000 USD for a 60-foot boat.
Peter Stevens, a well known local agent, was very
helpful throughout. A several week delay for a yacht
delivery could be very expensive for the owner.

Does anyone know if Canal transits can still be
expedited?

Peter
Willard 36
San Francsico

--- Georgs Kolesnikovs
<georgs at trawlersandtrawlering.com> wrote:

> >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.> 
> 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
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=======================
Peter Pisciotta
415-902-8439