Panama Canal Transit A Success!!
10 April 2019 | La Playita Marina, Panama
George Stonecliffe

On April 5-6, Julia Max transited the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific! The first day started with the Transit Advisor boarding at 1544 on the Colon side of the Canal. We exited the third lock of the Gatun Locks at 1840 just at sunset. By the time we moored to the ocean buoy in Gatun Lake by 1900. The first day we transited with one other boat (in a center-lock nest of two boats) named Valhalla. All went smoothly in the three Gatun Locks lifting us to Gatun Lake. On the second day we started at 0920 with the Transit Advisor coming aboard. One other boat joined Valhalla and Julia Max for the transit through Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks. The one incident in our transit had to do with Valhalla where they moved with strong engine movements, and broke their midships cleat as they applied too much force. We were grateful no one was hurt as metal parts flew near one of our linehandlers. Julia Max was the center boat for our transit, and we were in control both with helm, rudder and engine speed of the nest of three boats before and after the incident. We finally cleared the final lock at 1820, a very long day. And we entered La Playita Marina on the Pacific side at 1945. Julia Max and a crew of Sue Stonecliffe, Peter Rose, Bill Merrick, Craig Johnston, Eddy, and George were elated in the successful trip!