Panama Formalities

There was just enough energy to get the boat docked on Tuesday before the crew crashed. As we are pushing a hard schedule to get to the Pacific in order to meet Jean in the Galapagos ASAP I had many tasks to perform that day. The great people here at the marina were wonderful to work with. First we checked in with the office and covered the dockage. Then we contacted an agent for our transit of the canal. Eric Alverez would  help us to get the many other items in place over the next few days. Eric stopped by and we went over the details together. He is a very proficient and easy person to work with. After meeting with Eric I went  to check in with customs. They contacted immigration, who came by the boat later that day to stamp our passports and papers. Once we were cleared the kids and I pulled down the Yellow "Q"flag. It had become wrapped in the halyard so we sent Juli up the mast to free it. The next day  I went back to customs and applied for a cruising permit. Any vessel staying longer than 72 hours is required to get one. This place could teach Disney World a thing or two about fees!  Every time I speak to an official it cost me $20. But it is almost done. Today the person from the Port came to measure the vessel and enter us in the Panama Canal Authority database. Just in case we ever want to do this again?  She used a rusty Home Depot 25 foot tape measure. The good news is the boat has grown. Instead of 50'she is now classified as a 54 footer. Remind me to replace my Home depot tape measure before we build our next house. Anyway again good news. The other boats here with kids are going through next weekend and we hope to be going with them so the kids will have friends. One of the boats sadly is heading to Easter Island and then Pitcairn before French Polynesia.  So we will not see them after the canal.  If all goes well we will be in the Pacific waters by the 10th of February. Wish us luck.