PANAMA CITY - 22 June 2009

We are excited that we are now back in the Pacific Ocean after 3 years since transiting the canal in May 2006! We are roughly half way home!! We had a relatively good passage from the US Virgins - we averaged 150 nautical miles a day except for our last 24 hours when we encountered quite a strong head current. At the time we were concerned that our prop had faltered but subsequently learned that it was indeed a strong current - phew that was a relief!!!

For the first time we had a third crewmember, Peter Riella, our friend from Melbourne, on board! He fitted in well and for his first passage and did admirably - it was great to have his company and his great sense of humor not to mention his willingness to assist where he could. Naturally he didn't do a complete watch but he was up and about during the nights to check that everything was ok.

On two consecutive nights on my watch, as a result of a freak wave, water came into the saloon porthole and the other where the computer went flying across the saloon and unfortunately came to grief on the floor in pieces, added to what otherwise could have been an uneventful passage for us. AC performed well travelling between 6-8 knots with following winds the majority of the time! We didn't get to use our new MPS and sock on this passage but have plenty of miles ahead of us for that!

We arrived in the Panama Region around 10.30pm on Thursday 11 June and stayed two nights at the Shelter Bay Marina. The Canal authorities came on board on Friday morning to complete formalities, however as we have transited before we already have an official number and did not need to be measured again so that sped up the process considerably. We were quickly cleared to transit and our agent in Panama City informed us that our transit over two days would be on Saturday.

We were once again lucky as we learned that many of the yachts waiting for transit were waiting up to a week!The whole transit process is extremely efficient! Because of the length of AC we get to have a proper Pilot and as previously they were excellent. Our line handlers arrived at the last minute as they erroneously went to another boat, threatening our slot, but once on board they were very organised and professional.

Peter and I acted as line handlers as well - Peter once again did well. There are 3 locks either side of the Canal - and we went through the Gatun Locks on Saturday and stayed in the Lake overnight. Our Pilot disembarked but we had to accommodate and feed our line handlers which was no problem.

The next morning we were all up at 6am however our next Pilot did not come on board until 7.30am (finishing in the marina on the Pacific side at 5.00pm) so it was a rather long day!We were centered tied on the Gatun Locks and side tied to the wall on the Locks on the Pacific side so Peter and I weren't really needed on the Pacific side. However we were very watchful of ensuring AC was well away from the concrete wall as we were lowered down in the Locks! As we exited the Mira Flores Lock and proceeded forward to spot the wonderful sight of the Bridge of America's - we are finally back in the Pacific! We were also pretty pleased that once again our transit went perfectly - I must admit I enjoyed the second experience much better - wonder why!!!We have been in Panama City in the Flamenco Marina now for a week.

Peter left us on Tuesday - his status deservedly upgraded from Deck Hand to Second Mate and very excited to have completed his new adventure!

We have caught up with our friend Willie Friar a few times (who we met 5 years ago on South American cruise and of course caught up with in 2006)! Willie use to be the Public Relations Director for the Canal when the Americans ran it so is a very well respected citizen of Panama. Already she has treated us to two excellent lunches during the course of this week, one at the Radisson preceded by Green Apple Martinis - unbelievably good, and yesterday at the private City Club. It is all quite painless with having her driver pick us up and drop us off!

Dinner on AC Thursday and tonight is dinner at her home, along with our agent Peter Stevens who is quite a character! So you see we are being well looked after in Panama! During the days we are endeavoring to tick off all the jobs we need to complete before we head off to Tahiti. New optical glasses for me - I managed to stand on my old ones in St Thomas - shock horror but fortunately, the process of replacing them here has been both pleasant and inexpensive relative to Europe and even NZ! Terry was not well and in bed a couple of days but OK now - we thought it may have been a virus but not the dreaded swine flu!!! I have also been to the doctor to have my leg checked out - X rays etc - and now on another course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory so hopefully the swelling on the my knee will subside soon.

Terry has a small salt water leak in the genset to fix and we are waiting on a voltage regulator to arrive (ordered 3 weeks ago from Australia - long story) - we are now trying to source from someone else in the US. We may have to go without it! So all going well we should be off by the end of this week. It is 4,500 nautical miles to Tahiti - our longest passage so far - probably 35 days or thereabouts! We are pretty keen to get there as quickly as possible to see Nicole, David and our grandchildren - we are so looking forward to spending the last part of our journey with them all!

We have a Panama number until we leave - +507 6528 5403
In terms of our email to alphacrucis@110pct.com address - as we do not now have a lap top we will endeavour to pick up this mail when we have access to a computer.

Take care,
Lots of Love
The Jolly Rogers-------------------------------------------------