Hello from Panama. It’s been quite a
journey to get here. Normal service has been resumed after I lost about a day
with fatigue and dehydration. We were heading for the final finish line and I
had been involved with a number of sail hoists and dropping. This uses a lot of
energy because as one of the bigger guys, I get to haul the sails up and lift
them on and off deck. Also, I was down below wooling the spinnaker. All of this
was done in very hot conditions and I hadn't taken in sufficient liquid. So I
had to spend a little time recovering from heat and exhaustion, mostly in the
sail locker, lying on top of the sails (its the coolest place) with a wet towel
over me to aid cooling. I now regularly take in 8 litres of fluid per day with
added salts and minerals.
I am fully recovered and continue to work
hard on the boat. Following the finish, we had a long way to
get to Panama to get our slots for our transit through the canal. Firstly we
had to motor to Costa Rica to get fuel. This was no big port or harbour we were
going to, but Banana Bay Marina in Golfino Bay. Marina is also perhaps rather a
misnomer. It was a bar with space for three of our boats and one ladies loo and
one mens! We were allowed into the building only after our skipper presented
all our passports and went through a very lengthy administrative process. This
was all because we were not entering the country. Some 6 hours later,
refuelled, we set off sailing into the night.
The next morning, we were on deck at 6 am and set about a number of jobs which would have us looking in good order as we arrive in Panama. One was to clean the deck using the fire hose. Then disaster struck. I was at the helm and the engine cut out. To cut a long story short, someone had made an error with a valve which led to a pressure build up on the water supply from the engine to the hose. Connections blew and the engine compartment flooded. We went into emergency mode getting the water out and contacted one of our competitors close by. They joined us as we assessed our position. Fortunately the wind had got up and we hoisted relevant sails. We sailed for many miles but with the knowledge that our engine may be irreparably damaged. Would we get to Panama in time and was a fix possible? Well, we made good time until the winds died. At this point, our accompanying boat, OneDLL took us in tow. This is a tricky manouever and requires high concentration from the helm of the towed boat. Several of my crew mates took turns at this.
We arrived in Panama at 4pm Saturday and
the Clipper engineer was straight onto the boat to start working on the engine.
That was yesterday. We went off to a local hotel to have a comfortable night
after 20 plus days on board. A shower. Oh the ecstasy. A flushing toilet. Ahhh.
A large bed which did not require me to undertake aerial gymnastics to get into
it. Heaven!
Back at the boat this morning, we gathered
to do the deep clean. We got the news that the engine fired up but our
alternator has broken. However this will not delay us and a replacement may be
available at the other end of the Canal. What of the deep clean? Well in 32
degrees we worked for 4 hours and got most of it done. Vast volumes of
antibacterial spray is used on living areas. All the bunk mattresses are taken
on deck and sprayed. The galley was scrubbed clean as were the bilges.
Essential rigging checks were made when one of the guys was hauled up to the
top of the 90ft mast. More food was purchased and stowed away in our
freshly cleaned freezer chests.
So tomorrow brings one of the
highlights. We get back on board at 6.30am and slip lines. A
Canal pilot comes on board and we head for the Canal entrance along with two
other Clipper yachts. Six went through today. It is quite possible that we will
follow a massive container ship through, but we can only wait and see. The
first bit will be passing under the Americas Bridge which is the only vehicular
connection between North and South America. Wow!
So I hope you have found our adventure
exciting. We have got soaked to the skin in squalls, seen more dolphins, a
whale, turtles and seabirds and tomorrow will see a man made
spectacle to contrast with nature's.
I will be back to you once we have raced to
Jamaica and will report on the Panama Canal experience.
Fair winds to you all.
Malcolm
 |
| Race completed, time for a sit down! |
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