Before the Panama Canal: The Start of Our Pacific Preparation
We’re currently in Shelter Bay Marina, at the very beginning of a longer preparation phase before one of the biggest milestones of our sailing journey — transiting the Panama Canal and eventually heading into the Pacific.
This episode isn’t about crossing the canal just yet. Instead, it’s about everything that comes before — the behind-the-scenes reality of getting ready. From renewing our kids’ passports and applying for a long-stay visa for French Polynesia, to canal logistics, boat maintenance, organizing, and simplifying life aboard, there’s a lot that needs to happen before we ever cast off lines.
We also take time to reflect on how far we’ve come — from buying our first catamaran at the end of 2023 without knowing how to sail, to traveling nearly 7,000 nautical miles, visiting 14 countries, and building a life together as a family aboard a boat.
This is just the beginning of the preparation process. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more of what it takes to get a boat — and a family — ready to leave the Caribbean behind and work toward the Pacific.
Not every week of cruising is dramatic or exciting on camera, but this is what the lead-up to big crossings really looks like.
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00:00 Life Before the Panama Canal
00:17 Renewing Passports & Long Stay Visas
01:27 Scheduling Our Panama Canal Crossing
01:39 Waiting To Pick Up Our Guests
01:49 Dock Life & Boat Projects
02:07 Shelter Bay Marina Tour
03:52 The Cruiser Community
04:28 Our Plan Moving Forward
05:27 Reflecting On How Far We've Come
06:28 A New Chapter Ahead
Sailing Big Lost
Welcome to Sailing Big Lost ⛵ Follow our family as we leave our old life behind and build a new one at sea. Sailing Big Lost shares the real, unfiltered journey of learning, risking, and growing together aboard our sailing catamaran. From major life decisions and hard lessons to unforgettable places and everyday moments with kids, we show what full-time family cruising actually looks like — the beauty, the chaos, and everything in between. This isn’t just about sailing. It’s about choosing a different life and seeing where it leads. Want to follow along more closely or support the journey? 🌍 Website: https://www.sailingbiglost.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailingbiglost 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sailingbiglost ❤️ Support the journey on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Biglost ⛵ Family sailing • Life aboard a catamaran • Cruising adventures
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Before the Panama Canal: The Start of Our Pacific Preparation Locations
- Shelter Bay Marina (9.3683156,-79.951332)
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