Pacific Blues

Our transit through Panama Canal went smooth, although we would have loved
to do it one day. We were however informed that we would do one lock on
day one, and the next set of locks on the second day. Nothing we could do
about that. The Panama Canal is celebrating 100 years of operation this
year. Hard to believe that ships already started to cross from the
Atlantic to the Pacific here a hundred years ago. The second locks we also
went through and arrived at Balboa Yacht Club on the Pacific side just
before sunset. After a long day I decided it is safer to anchor for the
night before we set sail for San Francisco.

On Tuesday morning we started our final leg. And as expected, a very slow
start. Against the currents and against the wind. Not strong currents and
winds, but strong enough to slow us down quite a bit. Our first day out
was quite interesting, with the wind doing a complete 360 on us. And as
the wind slowly shifted, we threw whatever sail angle and sail we had at
it to maximise our efforts. We made fair progress running a motor all the
time as well. Yesterday was a bit slower, with the wind and current
staying against us, and no matter which way we tack, slow is how we go.
Today is basically the same. The sea is flat as a lake, just a breeze
against us. Most of the wind we are creating with a motor running. Lots of
ships the first few days as expected, but as we are heading further away
from land, the ships are getting less and less.

We expected the first five days to be slow. Two more days to go and then
we hopefully will get more workable current and wind. And the meantime,
the clock is ticking. We are hoping to reach San Francisco on 6 April, and
we are still hopeful that conditions will improve vastly. Not impossible,
yet.

Stuart has had some good fortune catching a bonny and yesterday a yellow
fin tuna. It is hot out here, 31*C. And frustrating going so slow, but it
is all part of sailing. We also had the good fortune of meeting Doug and
Michelle in Panama. They have a power vessel named Grey Goose, and they
followed us out of Panama. We left a few hours before they left, and they
caught up with us in the afternoon. Came in a bit closer and took some
photos of us on Infinity. www.greygooseadventures.blogspot.com is their
blog address. We hope to stay in touch with them via email. Their next
stop is a few days further in Mexico.

Hanging in and hoping for the best, we appreciate the good wishes and
encouragement. Hopefully will post a bit more upbeat post next time. Until
then, take good care.