We Transited the Panama Canal as a Family | Atlantic to Pacific

Preparing to transit the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Sailing Big Lost staged their Vision 444 catamaran, Big Lost, for a 4:30 AM departure from Shelter Bay Marina. At 8:46 at night, the crew waited for two line handlers to arrive so the vessel could leave the marina slips and drop anchor in the bay ahead of their scheduled morning transit.

Heavy lines were laid out across the deck to secure the catamaran inside the concrete chambers. At 4:30 in the morning, their official canal transit advisor boarded the boat to guide the vessel through the approach channel and direct line operations alongside rafted partner vessels.

Ascending 85 Feet Through Gatun Locks

Big Lost entered the first set of locks, an ascending flight of three massive chambers. Once positioned in center hold and tied alongside buddy boats, the heavy steel gates sealed behind them. As the crew noted during the initial surge, “Once the gates close, there’s no turning back.”

Managing the lines required continuous attention during each chamber fill, though handling became more predictable as the transit progressed: “By the second lock, you start to understand the rhythm.” Over three locks, the chambers lifted Big Lost 85 feet above sea level to the quiet surface of Gatun Lake.

Motoring 20 Nautical Miles Across Gatun Lake

After exiting the final Atlantic lock chamber, the crew untied from their rafted partner vessels and set out across the open freshwater lake. Big Lost motored 20 nautical miles across Gatun Lake toward the Pacific locks, navigating between navigation marks while commercial traffic moved through the channel.

Descending Toward the Pacific Ocean

Upon reaching the second lock complex at Miraflores, the operational sequence reversed. Rather than rising, the vessel began lowering: “This time, we’re not climbing. We’re dropping toward the Pacific.”

Emptying chambers created significant turbulence, with gusting wind and water movement catching the hulls. The crew had to work hard on the stern line as currents pushed the boat, allowing two other vessels ahead to clear. Once the final gates opened, Big Lost motored out into open saltwater: “The Atlantic is behind us. The Pacific is ahead, and everything west of here is unknown.”

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