Norm Katz

Short motor over.

Mira Flores locks anchored outside Panama City. Good to be cruising again. Day 2 of our Panama Canal transit started with the trip across Gatun Lake before entering the Gaillard Cut—the narrow section carved through the Continental Divide. From there, we passed under the Centennial Bridge and continued toward Pedro Miguel, our first lock of the day. This time, instead of being lifted up like we were at Gatun, we were going down. Pedro Miguel dropped us into Miraflores Lake for the short run to the final locks of the Panama Canal: Miraflores. This was the moment we had been waiting for. As the water slowly drained from the lock chamber and the massive gates opened in front of us, there it was—the Pacific Ocean. We motored out of Miraflores, passed under the Bridge of the Americas, and headed toward Panama City with its skyline in front of us. Just like that, Endless Summer had crossed a continent. From the Caribbean Sea, through the Gatun Locks, across Gatun Lake, through the Continental Divide and finally down the Miraflores Locks to the Pacific.

Panama Canal Transit — Day 1 Shelter Bay to Gatun Lake We left Shelter Bay in the late afternoon to begin our Panama Canal adventure. With light winds and a schedule to keep, we motored toward the canal entrance, surrounded by the excitement of commercial traffic, tugs, and ships preparing for their own passages. The canal waters carried us through a remarkable transition through the Agua Clara locks from the Caribbean into the heart of Panama. As we entered Gatun Lake, the busy channel gave way to calm freshwater surrounded by lush jungle and quiet shores mooring in Lake Gatun

Easy short sail. Jib only.

Awesome beam reach sail.

Wonderful broad reach sail 5-7 kn.

Motor

Motor