We Spent 24 Hours INSIDE the Panama Canal
After 5 years of life aboard, trying to reach the Pacific Ocean, it was finally time to achieve one of our biggest milestones yet; driving our own boat through the Panama Canal.
Experience our full 2-day transit through one of the greatest engineering feats on Earth. Understand exactly what it's like to drive a sailboat through the Panama Canal, from rafting up and entering the locks, to spending the night in Gatun Lake and seeing the enormous metal doors of the Panama Canal locks open, like something out of Jurassic Park. We pass the iconic grandstands of Miraflores before reaching the final lock, and our destination - the Pacific Ocean.
Planning your own transit? Read my complete step-by-step guide on the blog: https://travelsketchsailing.com/post/how-to-organize-a-panama-canal-transit/
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😎 Tip jar: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE8A1d9Yabj4OA9AB
____________________________________________________
After backpacking Asia, road tripping Europe and doing a bit of van life, we’re now exploring the world aboard our Leopard 45 catamaran. Check out our website https://www.travelsketchsailing.com/
https://www.noforeignland.com/map/boat/travelsketch
0:00 Welcome to the Panama Canal!
4:00 Under the Atlantic Bridge
5:20 Rafting the Yachts
8:40 Entering the Gatun Lock
12.09 Flooding the Chamber
13.25 Going Through Gatun Lock
15:38 Spending the Night in the Panama Canal
18:15 Gatun Lake & Life of a Linehandler
23:28 Pedro Miguel Locks
27.13 Miraflores Locks
28.30 We Reached the Pacific!
This video covers the full crossing experience from the helm:
- Staging outside Shelter Bay and taking on the Panama Canal advisor
- Who has to be aboard during a Panama Canal Transit
- Tying alongside another catamaran (nested) for the Gatun locks
- Surviving close calls with weighted messenger lines (monkey's fists)
- Mooring overnight on Gatun Lake and crossing the Continental Divide
- Navigating Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks center-chamber
Travel Sketch
Join the crew of Travel Sketch as they document their 2026 Trinidad mission and structural hull reconstruction aboard their Leopard 45, Liger.
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After 5 years of life aboard, trying to reach the Pacific Ocean, it was finally time to achieve one of our biggest milestones yet; driving our own boat through the Panama Canal.
Experience our full 2-day transit through one of the greatest engineering feats on Earth. Understand exactly what it’s like to drive a sailboat through the Panama Canal, from rafting up and entering the locks, to spending the night in Gatun Lake and seeing the enormous metal doors of the Panama Canal locks open, like something out of Jurassic Park. We pass the iconic grandstands of Miraflores before reaching the final lock, and our destination – the Pacific Ocean.
Planning your own transit? Read my complete step-by-step guide on the blog: https://travelsketchsailing.com/post/how-to-organize-a-panama-canal-transit/
👉 SUPPORT THE STORY TELLING
⛵ Become a YouTube member!
😎 Tip jar: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE8A1d9Yabj4OA9AB
____________________________________________________
After backpacking Asia, road tripping Europe and doing a bit of van life, we’re now exploring the world aboard our Leopard 45 catamaran. Check out our website https://www.travelsketchsailing.com/
https://www.noforeignland.com/map/boat/travelsketch
0:00 Welcome to the Panama Canal!
4:00 Under the Atlantic Bridge
5:20 Rafting the Yachts
8:40 Entering the Gatun Lock
12.09 Flooding the Chamber
13.25 Going Through Gatun Lock
15:38 Spending the Night in the Panama Canal
18:15 Gatun Lake & Life of a Linehandler
23:28 Pedro Miguel Locks
27.13 Miraflores Locks
28.30 We Reached the Pacific!
This video covers the full crossing experience from the helm:
– Staging outside Shelter Bay and taking on the Panama Canal advisor
– Who has to be aboard during a Panama Canal Transit
– Tying alongside another catamaran (nested) for the Gatun locks
– Surviving close calls with weighted messenger lines (monkey’s fists)
– Mooring overnight on Gatun Lake and crossing the Continental Divide
– Navigating Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks center-chamber
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