At about 0730, we started to lift the anchor. It took quite some time because all the chain hanging freely in the water (about) 10 – 15 m) was incredible dirty. Some plants grow on the stainless steel chain. I needed water and a brush to clean the chain. Lucky, the chain, which was laying in the mud was clean.

The anchor was also full of a very sticky mud. It took at least half a mile until the anchor was mostly cleaned of the mud in the bay.

Yesterday, I met with Joa and Carlos our taxi driver in Panama. I got almost all the things I needed to buy. Having Carlos as our trusted taxi driver is very good. He knows where are the shops selling what we need.

Also yesterday, shortly before noon, when I arrived with my tender at the marina I got a shock. To keep the tender for the rest of the day they charged me 10.70 USD. By far the most expensive dinghy-dock i ever heard about. I talked with some other sailors who stayed there for a week. They told me they share a weekly dinghy-dock ticket. If things have prices which are simply a rip-off, people get creative.

As Joa asked me if he could join me on the way to Vista Mar Marina, we are together on board. As my OBM is unfortunately not on board, having Joa on board is better then docking into a marina single handed.

ETA in Vista Mar 1530.

Tomorrow shopping for boat items and a bit of food.

The day after tomorrow sailing to Vista Mar Marina about 40 NM from the current anchorage.

Although it’s very difficult to work on the boat here due to the motorboat created waves rocking MaRe like sailing at 6 Bft upwind, i could do a few smaller things. The big ones can’t be made here.

The lucky day is real. It was yesterday when i talked with Gue, the cooking sailor or sailing cook of the Atlantic crossing team. He said again “yes” to a new adventure! He will join the passage to French Polynesia. Longest distance from Ecuador’s cost will be 3500 NM. So I call yesterday my lucky day for the first time. Afterwards I got in touch with Nic of the Atlantic crew. He was happy that i reached out for him. He will very likely come on board in Ecuador because he has to do something in Eurooe. Part 2 of my lucky day yesterday.

Bae and Ady of the Atlantic crew can’t join; professional reasons. I understand this although I would love to have these two in the crew as well. This was not yesterday but a few days earlier, thus no influence to my lucky day yesterday. Or maybe, I should have reach out for them yesterday, during my lucky day???

Now about magic
Magic can happened today!
After having send several emails and reminders to Vista Mar Marina, I called them up hoping they understand either English or my very broken Spanish.
The lady spoke English and i asked if they have a slip/berth for my boat. When i told her the dimensions of MaRe (not the name) she asked “are you the member of the German TO club?”. I was baffled. She knew my mails and details of them etc. Asking her why she did not yet reply, she just “I checked all price and discount lists!”. She must have checked hundreds of printed out pages because it’s a week ago since I sent my first mail. I was about asking in how many weeks I can expect a reply to my mail, but suppressed my sarcasm and asked only when i may expect a reply. “Today” was her answer. I don’t check my mail right now because then i still can believe on magic happening today…

Since days I’m waiting for replies from Vista Mar Marina and a technician.

No reply yet from the marina to my request for a berth. Send already reminders.

The technician finally replied that his son is hospitalized because he has cramp seizures. That’s an understandable reason for not an earlier reply.

In the days since I’m here, I’m doing a lot of PC work including support for the CRM system I implemented at OBM’s company.

I also got an interesting introduction into OpenCPN. It is a PC based chart plotter, which can function as a backup to my Raymarine Axiom plotter should the Axiom fail and it is an excellent tool for planning and comparing possible routes.

SW is installed already – in Linux 2 clicks and typing the name of the SW – but now I need to learn to download charts and to use this SW.

Thus, at least 2 days more PC work.

MaRe is currently at anchor, just outsides of La Playita marina at the southern end of Panama City. She swings around her anchor changing positions and directions with the wind and the current in the bay.

Yesterday she floated for a while above her anchor. Then the wind increased again to 4 Bft and she used fully the chain I gave her.

Sometimes she gets rocked by pretty big waves rolling on to her. I don’t know if they come from the big ships going in and out of the Panama Canal or if the come from the tug boats running out for their “prey”, the big vessels.

The big vessels need the tug boats to get into the locks or help them to make the turns in the water ways between the locks.

I’m pretty busy with organizing work to be done. As here is banana-maniana mentality, follow up calls are needed as well. I also have to do some IT work for OBM’s company in Tokyo; Internet enables that.

Beside this I had to spent some time with admin work for the boat. I need to know where money is spent. This also takes time.

I’m also looking for a small crew who is interested in sailing with me to French Polynesia.

Then there are questions and comments from friends who follow me here.

Last but not least I have to set-up OpenCPN, a very interesting navigation SW running on a PC. This can also be considered as a replacement for my Axiom chart plotter, should the Axiom fail. An additional backup system. And OpenCPN runs even on my tablet. I consider to write a bit more about it because it’s really an interesting SW for sailors.

All in all I’m pretty busy with work while swinging and sometimes getting rocked in my first bay in the Pacific.

Comments and questions are always welcome. Mails at skipper-cat-mare@myiridium.net I can always get via satellite.

As I got some questions about the Panama Canal, here are 3 links.

Home

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Panama-Canal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal

MaRe is at anchor at the anchorage area just outside of Marina La Playitas, Panama City. It’s her first night in the Pacific.

In the late afternoon the gate of the 2nd chamber of the Miraflores lock opened, and MaRe went into the waters of the Pacific.

It was either in the Miguel lock or in the 1st chamber of Miraflores lock that I got the feeling I’m now at the point of no return. I have to continue into the Pacific and sail the big Pacific loop which I dreamed of and which I planned.

The next real destination will be French Polynesia. From where I’m now, it will be roughly 3700 NM away. For non-nautical people roughly 6600 km. The route is not yet decided upon.

If someone is interested to join, please get in touch with me at: skipper-cat-mare@myiridium.net

The 2nd day has a very long stretch to cover under engines. Currently we are on that stretch.
Today’s advisor, Carlos, wanted to take the helm so he is not bored. This he is on the helm right now and I can write.

Yesterday, Laurence, our advisor came at 1530 and we lifted the hook and went with 2 monohulls towards the Gatun lock. Time was dragging because one of the other boats was not able to move at a constant speed towards the lock.

This boat, the longest of the 3 boats became the center of a 3 boat nest (boats tied against each other). Just outside the lock, while the tug boats pushed the commercial vessel “CHEM STELLAR” into the lock, we tied up. MaRe was on PRT side.

The center boats helmsman did not look to the 2 other helmsmen at his side. Only thought about his own boat. Fortunately the advisors had good understanding. Only by this we could avoid hitting the wall. Fortunately my 2 engines deliver enough power for me to push the nest towards STB.

We made it safely through the 3 chambers – each a height of 9 m – of Gatun Lock.

When we left the last chamber of was dark. The advisor guided is to a buoy at which we could tie up for the night. And we had to tie up with the center boat of our nest. I felt that only sure to the advisors on both boats the other boat let us tie up.

The tieing up was the strangest thing I ever saw. But it worked.

Now as I’m writing this we are at Punta Frioles, which you might see in Google Maps (should Google still show something where they don’t make money with commercial which are often won’t). Give it a try or look at OpenStreet maps.

MaRe is at anchor in the flats.

Fenders are prepared. The 8 ball fenders from the agent are combined with our own fenders, thus we have both sides secured. When we approach the lock we only need to put them outside. 20 sec for each side.

4 lines are coiled and ready to be connected.

The solar panels on the cockpit roof are protected against a monkey fist hit by the 2 outer upholsteries of the cockpit.

Cristobal Stn informed us that the advisor will arrive at 1530.

So let’s see…

Fenders and lines arrived.

Update on the schedule:

Leave marina 17th, 1300 same drop the hook are three New Flats just outside of Shelter Bay Marina
Inform Cristobal Stn (canal traffic control)
Advisor will arrive at 1630
Thereafter the hook will be lifted and we move towards Gatun Lock….

Pacific, MaRe is coming!