Panama Canal

[nicollej]

Hi Luke,

Yes as Mark said it is really very easy, we just transited the canal on our boat last week. We had a wonderful transit, our advisors were just wonderful and so helpful, we had some lovely crusiers and a backpacker as our line handlers, it was great fun!!!!

The gentleman and his assistants at the Yacht Club who helped us with our paperwork (Tito who is not an agent, but sort of like an agent who does everything for you) were very helpful and promt. The paperwork fee was $35.00 USD including the taxi fares.

I highly recommend going through on another boat as a line handler first if you have time before you take your own boat through. It is a good experience to see how it all works before you are behind the wheel.

Also remember to have a budget for food to provide meals etc for your advisors and line handlers. You need to provide dinner for the first advisor and snacks etc and then breakfast, lunch & snacks etc for the second advisor. You will also need accomdation for the line handlers to sleep overnight on your boat at the mooring in the lake.

We would be more than happy to assist you with any other questions you may have about the canal transit as we know that it can be a little tricky to figure it all out, especially before you arrive in Colon.

But it is a wonderful experience and Colon is a fancinating place. It is amazing to see all of the beautiful big ships up so close, and Panama City is just wonderful too!

You will have a great time and it will all become clearer once you arrive in either Colon or Panama as you will be able to meet lots of other friendly crusiers who will be more than happy to help with information etc.

Smiles

Nicolle
"Sea Life"
Our Life At Sea

[luke timmerye]

hello everyone, hope the wind is true for you...
i have some questions about the panama canal, 1 is how do u go about appling for the crossing both in person and via an agent? 2 is the current cost for a 41' sailing yacht with and without an agent? 3 is does anyone no the expected wait once applied for the crossing? 4 tips to the crossing?

thx guys

luke

fair winds and smooth sailing

[MarkJ]

Just come to Colon or Panama City and do it. Its easy. No brain needed.

1 is how do u go about appling for the crossing both in person and via an agent?
Do it through Titio in Panama Canal Yacht Club in Colon. Cost $145 includes 10 tires for fenders, 4 x 125ft lines, taxi fares to and from the 4 offices you need to go to. You only pay one extra fee of $29 to the Fat Man in an office. Optional extras: 4 line handlers are required by law and hireable for $110 each, or some other cruiser might help you for free.


2 is the current cost for a 41' sailing yacht with and without an agent? $600 without an agent plus $800 buffer thats refunded the next day IF you pay on Visa card. You MUST say your boat does over 8kts or pay an extra $1,000.

3 is does anyone no the expected wait once applied for the crossing? 1 week as at 16/June 2008

4 tips to the crossing? Yes do it as a line handler for another cruiser of the transit will put 10 years on your life and you will be known as a non-supporting wanker in the rest of the fleet.

Its all easy but you do need to do things right or it gets time consuming and expensive





Mark