The Panama Canal as a Dryer

 Pelicus, Diapers & The Bridge of the Americas

There are times when other people's accomplishments take some of the wind out of your own sails.  Their grit and determination neatly deflates any puffed-up opinion you may have of yourself.  That's how we felt meeting the crew of the catamaran, Pelicus.  The 5 person, 2 dog crew had sailed from Seattle, Washington to the south western end of Mexico when we met them and we were delighted to encounter them again and again throughout our sail  to Panama.

A crew of 5 should make for easy passages but when that compliment is made up of 2 adults and three children under 10, one in diapers, you realize that Mom and Dad are doing double duty by taking care of the family and taking care of the boat. Throw in a couple of canines and you are forced to wonder why anyone with a house on land with electricity, a stove that does not move and a grocery store within driving distance would have anything at all to complain about.  

Once, wandering through a crowded outdoor market in El Salvador, a stranger whispered to the Mom, "Senora, keep your children close.  They can be taken for ransom."   That frightened her so badly that the little hands were sore from being so tightly held for the rest of the time in the market.

We crewed for Pelicus when they transited the Panama Canal.  Each private boat going through the Canal must have 4 line handlers, a helmsman and an official adviser on board.  Hiring extra crew is prohibitively expensive for most cruisers, so helping one another through the six locks is the rule.

We are proud to say that we were on board the only boat going through the Panama Canal that day with diapers drying in the rigging.