The Panama Canal was an amazing experience in itself! First of all, we were incredibly lucky with our fantastic line handlers — Lisa, Clynton, and Michele (a captain plus four line handlers are mandatory) — as well as the wonderfully supportive advisors from the Canal de Panamá.

On a personal level, it was also surprisingly emotional for me. Saying goodbye to the Atlantic — which had treated us very kindly with fair winds and fantastic moments — felt a bit like waving farewell to a good friend who never once tried to sink us.

The Canal itself is nothing short of extraordinary. I could go on about the 36,000 transits each year, the 200 million liters of water drawn from Lake Gatún every time a lock is filled or emptied, or how this man-made lake not only supplies water to Panama City but also forces the country to protect its surroundings — meaning vast stretches of untouched jungle and national parkland that feed the lake (which currently has more than enough water).
But I won’t. I’ll leave this marvel of engineering for you to explore on your own — and you really should… watch a documentary, fall into a late night rabbit hole…it is truly astonishing how it all works without even one pump!

Instead, we’ll just share our video and let the Canal speak for itself. Enjoy!

After our very civilized transit, we spent the night at La Playita anchorage, visited the Sloth Sanctuary, and once again discovered that sloths are weirdly adorable, anteaters are underrated, and Panama is home to far more snakes and crocodiles than anyone really needs.

Because we had promised Lukas not to spend his birthday at sea — and only slightly broke that promise with half a day of sailing — the boys were treated to a pre-birthday karting session. This made leaving for Las Perlas significantly less traumatic for everyone involved.

Then came the Pacific — making a proper entrance. Whales just outside Panama City, seabirds dive-bombing fish, a gentle swell… very cinematic. The Pacific simply feels different. Maybe it’s the cooler water (a brisk 20°C — basically Antarctic by our standards), the wild abundance of life, or just the fact that it’s a whole different ocean with its own attitude.

We celebrated Uki’s birthday with a beach BBQ at Mogu Mogu, Las Perlas Islands alongside our friends from Salty Rascal. And — after months (possibly years) of promises — the kids finally got to make their own fire using nothing but an ember knife. The moment they succeeded felt downright prehistoric. Caveman pride all around. Honestly… what a childhood.

After the birthday pavlova, I stumbled upon what may have been the most spectacular bioluminescence we’ve ever seen: glowing specks along the beach and a trail of light behind the dinghy motor so bright that our faces reflected blue in the darkness.

Once again — just as the Atlantic had done — the Pacific welcomed us with wonder after wonder. Surely a good omen for what lies ahead.

Since lunchtime, we’ve been en route to the Galápagos. Six days at sea await us! Expect daily updates… and an Equator crossing.