The fleet arrives in Panama

The first multihull yacht and the first monohull sailboat have crossed the Leg 1 finish line in Panama.  The 50 foot trimaran Branec IV, owned by Roger Langevin was the first of the yachts to arrive in Shelter Bay Marina, Panama. Branec IV crossed the finish line at 16:03 local time on Monday January 28th. Roger and his crew, Nadjat Lameche and Sabine Englebrecht said that they've had mixed conditions during the first leg of the circumnavigation rally, but overall, the sailing has been really enjoyable.

First Monohull arrives

The first monohull to cross the finish line was the Oyster 72, Kealoha 8 of Southampton, owned by David Holliday, and skippered by Adrian Osborne. She arrived at 22:00 local time, declaring zero engine hours. At the midday position reports it was clear that the Italian yacht Akoya was trying to reduce the upwind gap between her position and the rest of the fleet. Her course over the past few days indicates that she is succeeding in doing this, but she may have to cover more sea miles as a result of having the wind on her stern at this stage.

Another Italian yacht, the Amel Super Maramu 2000, skipperd by Ernesto Pennacchini, has arrived in Shelter Bay Marina to join the World ARC fleet, but as she did not start in St.Lucia, she is not in the running for any winner's positions on this leg.

29 January 2008

Shelter Bay Marina gives a big welcome to the World ARC fleet!

Good music, good food, good company, great location

Tucked inside a natural cove, sheltered by the Bahia de Limon breakwaters, and within a national park, Shelter Bay Marina, a former US military jungle training base is putting on a great welcome for the World ARC crews. On the evening before the first yachts are due to transit the Panama Canal, the band 'X-ile' played a superb set, and land-legs were quickly found so that there were plenty of smiling faces dancing on the patio and terrace as darkness fell. A gentle stroll near the boatyard before heading to bed, and you find yourself in another aural world. Monkeys calling, the familiar caribbean sound of tree frogs, and delicious, almost sweet, verdant air.

Less than half the fleet left to arrive

The past 24 hours have been busy with yachts crossing the finish line and pulling into Shelter Bay Marina. Amongst others, arrivals have included Gray Lady, Into the Blue, Blueflyer, Faraway, Strega, Tallulah Ruby II, and the first of the double-handed crews, Don and Anne Myers with their Amel Super Maramu, Harmonie. Both of the Beneteau 57's (Storyteller, & Southern Princess) are in, and all three Oysters have arrived.Andrew Bishop meeting with the Panama Canal Operations Captain

First transits scheduled for Thursday 31st

World ARC staff flew straight to Panama City after the start in St.Lucia and met with the Canal Operations Caption, Capt. Miguel F. Rodriguez S. to discuss and finalise the plan for the transit of the fleet. We're working hard with our agent, Matchship, to ensure that the fleet transits in good time and safely. On Thursday 31st, the first yachts will commence the transit, gathering in an area known as 'The Flats, before taking onboard either a pilot or an advisor to begin the journey towards the set of locks known at Gatun Locks. These lock will lift them in stages so that they ascend and enter Gatun Lake, where the yachts under 20m will anchor overnight, before completing the transit the following day.

Capt. Rodriguez has suggested that the fleet take the more scenic route of the 'Banana Channel', which is also a short-cut (and mostly only used by yachts). It promises to be an Indiana Jones experience, following a buoyed channel with jungle canopy, vines almost within touching distance, and an abundance of wildlife.

30 January 2008

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Ocean to Ocean - The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. It has had an enormous impact on shipping between the two oceans, replacing the long and treacherous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America. A ship sailing from New York to San Francisco via the canal travels 9,500 km (6,000 miles), well under half the 22,500 km (14,000 mi) route around Cape Horn.

Layout
The canal consists of seventeen artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels and three sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajeula Lake, acts as a resovoir for the canal.

Canal Lock Size
Initially the locks at Gatun had been designed as 28.5 metres wide. In 1908 the United States Navy requested that the locks should be increased to have a width of at least 36 metres. This would allow for the passage of US naval ships. Eventually a compromise was made and the locks were to be constructed to a width of 33 metres. Each lock is 300 metres long with the walls ranging in thickness from 15 metres at the base to 3 metres at the top. The central wall between the parallel locks at Gatun has a thickness of 18 metres and stands in excess of 24 metres in height. The lock gates are made from steel and measures an average of 2 metres thick, 19.5 metres in length and stand 20 metres in height.

Capacity
The canal is presently handling more vessel traffic than had ever been envisioned by its builders. In 1934 it was estimated that the maximum capacity of the canal would be around 80 million tons per year. Canal traffic in 2006 consisted of 278.8 million tons of shipping.

Despite the gains which have been made in efficiency, the canal is soon expected to approach its maximum capacity. An additional complication is that the proportion of large (close to Panamax-sized) ships transiting is increasing steadily; this may result in a further reduction in the number of transits, even if cargo tonnage rises.

World ARC transits underway

The World ARC fleet are small fry compared to the Panamax merchantmen, but the Canal Authority (ACP) are treating us as equals. Yesterday the first group of eight yachts began their transit. Friends and family have been flying into Panama just to experience the Canal transit.

World ARC-http://www.worldcruising.com/worldarc-

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