11 January
I overslept and jumped out of bed at
0615 feeling something was different. Parting the curtains I watched
trees moving past and very closely. We were approaching the
northernmost set of locks as the sun was coming up.
Although this was to be our second
transit, it was different in that we were now ensconced on the port
side of the ship, so everything looked different. For a few hours we
had shade on our side and a perfect temperature to sit on deck and
watch Panama go by. By afternoon the temperature and humidity had
risen driving many inside. We locked up, sailed the lake, locked down
and passed into the Pacific at 1430. This was close to our original
transit estimate which had been adjusted for us by the Authority to
accommodate a medical emergency. We had been allowed to speed up,
lock through more quickly and then pause at Pedro Miguel lock for a
medical evacuation. The efficiency of the system is remarkable.
With our satellite internet still out
I was unable to provide notice of the time of our passage and the
internet link for monitoring the passage of the Princendam through
the locks.
Passing the city after clearing the
channel on the Pacific side was quite a view. With the sun setting
and casting late afternoon color, the shoreline of modern high-rise
buildings of the city was a beautiful sight. A dozen ships waited
offshore for their turn for transit. Into the Pacific now with fair
winds and following seas.
Noon to noon run was 175nm and total
distance 1698 nm.
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