I guess this is the first real update covering my stay here in Colon. My first impression of Panama was more or less dismal. Overall the 11 day passage here was OK, asides from a few minor mishaps I already covered. The last two days as I approached Colon Panama the freighter traffic really picked up putting a damper on the sleeping, but I’m sure I still had some reserve energy as I made the final approach to the harbor. The wind was still blowing nicely from the stern and I’m sure I didn’t need my motor running however considering how busy the harbor was I thought it might be nice to have a little extra maneuverability, so I started to fire up the diesel. It started ok, but after just about a minute the temperature / oil pressure alarm came on… sort of. The alarm just whined a bit like it was halfway on, plenty loud enough to make me nervous. I decided to tack back offshore through a maze of anchored freighters waiting to enter the harbor. This gave me time to check the oil, coolant, etc. I couldn’t find anything wrong but went I went to start it again the alarm was sort of on again, so I opted to leave the motor off and just sail into the anchorage rather than risk damaging something. That went smoothly, I found a nice wide open spot to drop the hook at the outside edge of the anchorage and luckily the anchor set on the first try. Then again the 35LB delta has pretty much always set on the first try in all condition. I love that anchor (its connected to Salsa with 150ft of 5/16″ High-Test chain then another 150’ of nylon rode) this allows me to get a 5:1 ratio / scope even in 50’ of water. In fact the anchor hasn’t even failed to set and hold with only a 3:1 scope and all chain rode.

Arriving in Puerto Cristobol / Colon Panama was a weird feeling. I remember noticing the industrial hum coming from the freighters and equipment on the piers. I also noticed an eerie smog and smell that just stifles the entire area. I did know at least one other boat in the anchorage from chatting on the SSB radio during the passage so I gave them a call and found out they were only a few boats over from where I was. I kind of wanted to get off of the boat and check out the marina and bar, have a beer, and just unwind however John suggested that I get a little rest first so for some reason I listened and laid down for a little bit to take a nap. About 18 hours later I woke up filling a little better but still in the same smelly, noisy, hazy anchorage. I launched the inflatable dinghy and went over to visit with John and Mat. After chatting with him briefly I realized that I needed to start working on immigration, and the procedure for transiting the canal. That’s when I ran into my first problem. I think I covered it earlier but basically when I left the Bahamas I failed to check out with customs. Panama (and most anywhere else I suspect) has serious problems with boats showing up without a clearance / zarpe from the last country. Then I made another stupid mistake, after being told that the only way I would be able to check into the country was with the assistance of an agent, I hired Stanley at a slightly negotiated rate.

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