Panama Canal Transit as Line Handlers

We were finishing up preparations for another month or two of cruising the San Blas Islands of Panama with the Kuna Indians.   Work was proceeding just fine and over a 2 month process, everything from the bottom of the keel to the top of the mast was checked and prepped.  However, a friend on another vessel, Kindred Spirit, asked Dorothy and I,  to be 2 of 4 line handlers for their upcoming Panama Canal Transit.

We jumped at the chance.  We had done this 'line handler' trip through the canal in 2008 on another friends boat, Soggypaws and it was fun, so why not do it again!

A sure sign of a boat's preparedness for crossing the canal, are many plastic wrapped tires on both sides of the boat.  These protect the boat from any mishap between another boat or the sides of the concrete locks.

Someone who works for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will act as a 'pilot' to help direct  the maneuvers of each boat.  In this case we were honored to have Francisco, an easy going, fun gent.

 The canal is always in a state of change. Small diesel ferrys, a railroad, Lighthouse and electric power towers show the range of systems constantly in flux or as in the case of the lighthouse, out of date.

The canal is certainly a mix of old and new.
-------OK 'Artists' here's a wonderful light house subject for you to paint!

Cruise Ships, such as 'Silver Whisper' commonly transit the canal.

Passengers were out on their private balconies waving at us!  Yup, to them WE were the spectacle! Big and little share the canal every day

There are many miles, that each small vessel will travel alone, but when it's time to go into a lock to be floated UP or DOWN, usually 2 or 3 boats of our size, are tied together so only 4 lines can handle all of them.  Two lines for the front and two lines for the sterns of the vessels.

Things can appear congested, but really are not.  There is plenty of room even though we have to pass another Cruise Ship 'Coral Princess' and a stationary dredge/digging the canal deeper and wider.

When you get into the locks, in this case needing to go UP, the Canal Employees will throw you a small line with a knotted ball of line on the end (for added weight making the toss easier.)
------  The ball is called a Monkeys Fist.

When you catch it or can grab the line, you tie it to the end of a Large Polyetheline Line(that can float) you have probably 'rented' from an agent...... but now, aboard your boat .....and tied to your bow.
They will pull the heavier(in this case 'blue') line up to the top of the lock and put the loop of it (which you have previously tied in) over a bollard.  You then adjust the blue line to center your boat in the lock prior to and during the rising level of water. Then: Up or Down you go!

In this case we were preparing to go Down, not up, but you can see the smaller line tied to the end of a large loop in the Blue line.  I was just about to feed the blue line out to the Canal Employee.

And Off it Goes!!!!!!!!!!

Each boat or group of boats will have only 4 lines to adjust their position.  Being a Line Handler can and should be fun, but it's not a task to take lightly.  It is 'serious' work.

Al and Liz (of S.V. Kokopelli) were our partners aboard. Since we ended up with 2 boats rafted to each other, our boat Kindred Spirit ended up with 2 husband wife teams on one of either line. Nice break!

Note the big crack in the side of one of these locks. When the canal was built, it was built with unreinforced concrete(no rebar) so cracks have occurred.

Islamorada, a very old boat, has been used for many years to take Tourists through the canal on a daily basis.

And when the time comes, one Tour boat will tie off to the side of the lock and another( in this case Islamorada) will tie off to it for "Locking UP, or Locking Down".

'Rail bound' Stainless Steel clad tugs pull the ships through the locks. Notice the ship traveling in the opposite direction from us.  The canal is 'usually' 2 way traffic.

After transiting the locks, there is plenty of rest time to enjoy the sights of Ships, Luxury vessels, work boats or just the magnificence of the project.  In this case also the "Bridge of the Americas".  The canal cut South America from North America................only THIS bridge unites the 2 continents.

Well, off to the side of the canal, high above the trees is a sign reminding all good sailors to relax and have a nice cold Balboa beer once tied up to a mooring ball.

OK, can't argue with that!  ;)