The Flats, Colon 12th March

An early start for a 20 mile motor sail from Portobelo to Colon. We wanted to get to Colon as early as possible to start the canal paperwork and we thought the measurer office closed at 11am for lunch which is the first stop so we wanted to get there before 11am.

The amount of shipping around Colon is amazing. You expect the shipping to increase but to get here and see all the big ships and all the containers is amazing.

We anchored on the Flats around the same time as Sunchaser, Vagabond Heart and Red Herring so Bill (Vagabond Heart) picked up all the guys and they went ashore to start the paperwork. They hire the services of a local guy called Tito for $50. He had been recommended by a number of people and was much cheaper than the other agents we had contacted (who wanted between $200 and $500). The guys went to register at the measurers office - you have to get measured, once measured you can pay your fee at the bank and finally you can ring at get a date for your transit. The measurer is coming either Fri, Sat or Sun between 9am and 1.30pm!

There is a big group of us in Colon now so there should be no problem with line handlers - Red Herring, Vagabond Heart, Sunchaser, Christine Anne, Honeymoon, Calysta, T Rex, Lucey Blue. Silk Sheets are due in any day.

In the afternoon we did some washing and internet and then went over to T Rex for a drink and to catch up as we had last seen them in Grenada.