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The adventurers crossed the Caribbean Sea between Martinique and Panama. On this part of the rally, the boats were totally free to choose their itinerary. They did, however, have to be on time for the Panama Canal crossing. The Predictwind live tracking map of the Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey 500 fleet shows the different routes taken by the participants.
Gathering at Shelter Bay Marina
At the end of February, the fleet of the Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey 500 gathered in the peaceful marina of Shelter Bay, facing the large city of Colón and its 90,000 inhabitants, gateway to the Panama Canal. Let's hear from Victor, Event Manager for the rally.
We talk to Victor by phone from Panama airport, where he is about to leave for the Galapagos:
"The boats stayed at Shelter Bay Marina for between a week for the latest arrivals and 10 days for the first ones on site, such as Chamagui 2. There, the bulk of their activity consisted of preparation for crossing the canal. This included measuring and registering the boats with the canal authorities for administrative purposes, and technical preparation for passing through the locks, which require four people per boat. After crossing the Caribbean Sea, the crews took advantage of these moments to make supplies, fill up with diesel, and then prepare for the departure to cross the canal".
The Panama Canal, a piece of history
As early as 1534, Charles V ordered a study to be carried out on the Panama Canal. This would save Spanish ships from having to sail around South America via Cape Horn. The King of Spain and the German Emperor, thanks to the accounts of the conquistadors, had identified the Isthmus of Panama and its 80 km of coastline as the narrowest passage in the whole of Central America.
The construction of the canal, begun by the French in 1881 and completed by the Americans in 1914, has had its share of ups and downs. Nearly 6,000 people died on site, for reasons ranging from malaria to earthquakes and landslides. The history of this site is also marked by a huge scandal in the 1890s. Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had "paternized" the Suez Canal 40 years earlier, remained convinced that the isthmus could be crossed without building locks - but he was wrong, and led many gullible shareholders astray.
With its rich and eventful history, the Panama Canal today represents a strategic point for world maritime trade. Some 14,000 ships pass through it every year - mainly commercial vessels, but also pleasure yachts, as in the case of the rally.
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The Pacific, a great moment for all
Victor describes the canal crossing in these terms:
"We split into two groups of 12 boats. Take the first group, for example, which left mid-afternoon on a Tuesday. It crossed the first three upstream locks in the late afternoon. Known as the "Atlantic locks", they involve an ascent of around 30 metres. The boats then found themselves on Lake Gatum, where they tied up to the buoy in pairs until the following morning."
On the second passage, Chamagui, Chaps, Bluway and Salavida found themselves moored together at the buoy on Lake Gatum, providing one of the most beautiful images of the Panama Canal crossing. Victor continues:
"Wednesday, 10am, departure for the second section of the canal, crossing Lake Gatum until reaching the two descending locks of Pedro Miguel and Miraflorès at around 4pm. Here again, the gradient drops a few dozen metres, offering a unique view of the Pacific Ocean below. Crossing this section takes a few hours, and by 8pm everyone had crossed the Bridge of the Americas into the Pacific. A great moment!
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Then, because of the requirement to have 4 "handliners" on board in addition to the captain, we organized a shuttle to bring crew members from the first team back to Shelter Bay, so that they could help the boats taking part in the second passage. This was a great opportunity for the crews to get to know each other and strengthen their mutual support. It was important to stay focused, however, because once the boats, which are presenting themselves in pairs, are engaged in the swirl of the locks, you can't miss your mooring knot!"
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The boats crossed the canal without damage. Everyone gathered at the Playita de Amador marina, on a peninsula south-west of the canal exit. It was time to celebrate the passage into the Pacific, a first for almost all the crew members present. Now it's time to set course for the Galapagos, 900 miles away, heading south-west!
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