Shelter Bay Marina -16 March 2024

Mark, Keith, Angus and Charles (Charlie) arrived about 10.20pm after a long journey and they were refreshed with a cold beer before heading off to bed for a much-wanted sleep. Mark in the double cabin, Keith with me in the stern and Angus and Charles in the bunk room. Joyce was in the forepeak.

We woke at a reasonable time and I cooked everyone bacon and eggs which I thought is the least I could do which went down well. There were as you know quite a lot to be done in the two days before we are to transit the canal on Monday -at least we hope that is the case and we are relying on our agent to make it happen.  This is where with a crew of 6 – the art of delegation – many hands make light work.  

Mark and Joyce set about the very important job of provisioning for us motley crew. This is not just for the trip to the Galapagos but also potentially beyond. This is due to the fact that there is limited provisioning in the Galapagos and the Marquesas and really things may be limited until Tahiti which is the end of July!! It is therefore quite a long list. We will have some time the other side of the canal as well.

I asked for a volunteer to fix an electrical issue and Keith said he would have a go. The speaker wires of one of the speakers in the saloon had come off (due to the tools hitting it) and needed new connectors. In addition, I had put a piece of wood there to stop the issue being repeated. He did a great job. I asked him to the  check the grab bags as he had organised them for the Atlantic. The grab bags if you recall are the bags we would take before we abandon ship if we had to. They contain water, a radio, torches, batteries food etc to help in addition to what is in the life raft.

Charles and I went to the engine room and we refilled the hydraulic reservoirs and checked everything including the oil in the watermaker. I also checked the nuts on the propeller coupling which had not moved since we glued them in place. All good so far.

Charles then added some poppers so we could fit the canvas extensions in place to the hardtop which stop rain coming into the cockpit. Angus cut some length off the bit of wood we had taken off the chain plate in the bunk room and which was creaking. The aim being with taking a bit off that it would not rub and creak on the wood around it.

John – the rigger came about 1.00pm and we discussed the fitting of the new turning blocks I had ordered and also some jammers for the running back stays to avoid the winches being clogged up. These will be fitted once we are through the canal. The heads (toilet) in Mark’s cabin has been playing up again so we will also have to get that fixed as well.

We had a Spanish Omelette and salad for lunch prepared by Mark and after we discussed the canal and what we will need to do. We had been given 4 -125 foot lines with a large loop at one end. The canal workmen when we enter the first lock will throw a line with what is called a monkey’s fist at the end (a large, weighted knot) down to each line handler on the boat of which there will be 4 on each corner. We have to tie the monkeys fist line to the loop on the 125-foot line which is then hauled up to the canal workman who put the loop over a bollard. The line handler on the boat then takes up the slack and effectively has to hold the boat in position in the lock when the lock gates open. Apparently, there can be quite a surge so it is important that our line handlers on Stormbird work together and as the water goes up in the uplocks they take in the slack and when we are in the down locks that they ease the lines.

Mark tied a monkey’s fist in a bit of rope, and we all took turns catching it and tying it to the loop in a blue rope. We also talked through how to put the line on the cleats for holding Stormbird. Charles and Keith will be on the bow cleats and Mark and Angus on the rear cleats.

We will have a pilot come on board who will direct me as Skipper on the helm what to do. Joyce will keep lookout and co-ordinate and will also look after the pilot who apparently likes to drink coke and needs to be fed. He has to have shade and use of a toilet.

After we had done this, I ordered the crew to relax and have a swim and rest. Even I got to have a swim and relax. We then went for supper in the marina which went down well and all wanted an early night. We will apparently hear about whether we are transiting the canal tomorrow am. We had decided to leave the provisioning for the Sunday. Mark, Keith and Angus felt good to be back on board and for Charles this is all new. Everyone was enjoying the warmer weather compared to what is has been like in the UK.                       

Opportunity for any Readers/Sailors.

In late May 2024 we shall be in the Marquesas in French Polynesia and we will then move through to the Tuomoto’s before getting to Tahiti about the end of July 2024. There may be some space on Stormbird during this period should any sailor/reader be interested in joining for this period or part of it in what must be one of the most distant and beautiful places in the world. If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we head off to Panama and beyond.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com  I can only upload one picture a day and visit our website www.stormbirdgoesglobal.co.uk