This video gives on impression of our handline transit through the Panama Canal from Colon to Pamama City (Northbound). It took us two days as we left late in the afternoon on the first day. Then stayed overnight on the Gatun Lake to continue our journey the next day towards Panama City and enter the locks there in the afternoon. The Gatun locks consist of three chambers that function as steps toward the Gatun Lake. So the landlines come into action three times before you get onto the lake. In the video you see us entering the first chamber and going up. On the Panama City side we went through the Pedro Miguel Locks (one chamber) and than the Miraflores locks (two chambers). In the video we are in the last chamber of the Miraflores locks and going down.

This video is about how to arrange a handline transit (for a pleasure yacht) without an agent. This was in 2019. We allready saw that the prices and boat categories have changed in 2020, but the procedures remain the same. All necessary forms can be found on: https://www.pancanal.com/eng/op/forms.html. The specific form which you can send in advance can be found here: https://www.pancanal.com/common/maritime/forms/4405.pdf We found going through without an agent simple. We have also heard positive stories about sailors going through with an agent. It remains a choice, but we are hands on people and enjoy the contact with locals and seeing in person how things are arranged.

Sailing Yacht ´Dappere Dodo´ arrives in Bonaire. A tropical paradise under and above water.