Photo Gallery

Through the Panama Canal

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Suzie waiting on 'Owl Hoot' for the boys to get back from provision shopping, we later got bored of waiting and found them in the pub!

Richard our Captain, owner of 'Owl Hoot'

Jack having a bit of a tidy up

Having a bit of a chat about what needs to be done

We then moved the boat from the marina and anchored out on the flats to wait for the advisor to come along. These are the huge types of ships that you really hate coming across whilst sailing, this one is tied to to dock so we are pretty safe!

All the other boats anchored up on the flats, most awaiting their date to go through the canal

Look at us poor little sail boats we don't stand a chance against those monster big boats!

Stuart likes this one as it shows all the big boats anchored out also waiting to go through the canal, or having just been through

He likes this one too as it is a war ship and a submarine, all boys seem to like submarines!

A very blurry picture of the first lock gates closing

The only other sail boat going through this day, a French vessel that rafted up alongside us. Not fair as we had to do all the work whilst they drank beer and sang!

I'm sure I am doing something very important here

The next morning after being moored up with all the big ships on Lake Gatun

Us moored up to the hugest mooring buoy I have ever seen

Waiting around for the advisor to arrive again, 6-7.00am we were told, 10.00 he turned up. Mind you we were better off than the poor French who didn't have an advisor turn up at all and they decided not to tell them either, they must have spent another night on the lake.

Suzie cooking up a hearty breakfast for all

Captain Richard, musing about the day ahead

More big ships

and some more

and some more!

Right we are off eventually!

one of the tugs that help turn the large ships, we also went through the locks last night tied up to one similar

A huge passing cargo ship

Taking over the wheel for bit

The divide between North and South America

Tug piloting a large ship

The Centennial Bridge

Our advisor busily working away as you can clearly see!

We finally reach the second set of locks at the other side of the canal, luckily this boat is coming out and we don't have to tie up behind him

Here it comes with the tug boat dwarfed along side

Entering the lock

This is one of the trains that holds the large ships in the centre of the locks

In comes a small ferry behind us, which we later have to tie up to in the next lock

The lock has filled and we are ready to go

Out to the Pacific side, where we have to wait a few minutes as one of the demolition barges sets of a charge. They are doing this all the way along the canal to deepen and widen it. We were expecting a huge bang with water and fish spraying everywhere like the bombs in the films, only to be disappointed with a dull thud and no movement of the water whatsoever! You can see in the back ground the Americas Bridge.

Here comes one of the tugs to whisk the advisor off

Our second night in Panama City at a German bar, not long after the near arrest of Jack and Stuart!

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