No 1's transit blog
Winya_wynah
Tue 28 Apr 2009 22:11
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The tension had been building ever since we arrived
in Shelter Bay Marina in Colon! The knot tying had been rehearsed over and over
again (never to be put into practice in my case). The likely lads had arrived
from the UK and had done a splendid job of helping us prepare Winny for her
transit, & John and I had done the provisioning for the next 5 months (
a job I hope not to have to do again in a hurry).
Then the day dawned, after days of rain and
thunderstorms we were blessed with a blue sky. The call came on the radio 'Winya
Wynah - Cristobel Signal Station' I took the radio nerves all of a quiver and
replied, times noted we dashed off for a speedy lunch and to finish the last
minute preparations.
Prior to this adventure I had never dreamt of going
through the Panama Canal,and now it was all happening, emotions were running
high - I was excited, nervous, apprehensive... I also had not expected that we
would go through the first 3 locks at night, which added to the drama and
atmosphere. It was all over too quickly, but very smoothly thanks to
our
hot team
!
 There are many gaps in my memory of that
first transit, as I went from the galley ( you have to keep the
advisor happy at all times with plenty of food and drinks as you go) to the
winch, missing completely the final gates opening!
As the new day dawned I was looking forward to the
transit, and our sail through the lake. But things were not to run a smooth
course as you will have read in the Skipper's blog, when we had to leave our
faithful anchor behind!
Ricky today's advisor turned out to be lovely chap,
with a good sense of humour, who tried to keep the Skipper happy and positive
whilst we tried to retrieve our anchor, he even put himself over the bow to
attach a line to a tug to try and pull us free! But all to no
avail.
Once we were detached and on the move he told us
what we needed to do. I shouted out the orders (yes most of you know I am the
bossy one)! and I took the helm.
 Fortunately for me Ricky has a 7 year old daughter
who loves animation so we hit it off straightaway! Winny and I raced along at
7.5 knots, until I was relieved of my position and sent back to the
Galley!
The rest as they say is history - see Skipper's
blog - and now all we need is a couple of hundred feet of chain for our new
anchor and we can set sail again and continue on our
voyage.
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