Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
April 6, 2011
Translation for Zeilmeisje Laura Dekker on Facebook
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Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
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Panama Canal


I am back from a close look at the Panama Canal. Tomorrow [Sunday, April 10] I will be going through with Guppy. So I went through a first time as a line handler on a friend's boat who was going through. As I said before you need a minimum crew of six people in the Canal: four people to hold the cables to keep the boat in the middle as you travel in the locks a pilot who gives advice and yourself the skipper to keep an eye on everything. In the first lock it quickly became real busy. We went in three yachts together with a cargo ship in front and one behind us. So, the yachts had to be tied together which had to be done in a hurry. After that things were easy for me since I was on the middle boat and had nothing to do anymore. And then it all went well with the following locks. I had heard horror stories before but it felt just like going through a lock back in the Netherlands. In the very last lock we saw an ambulance coming right after we had been through. Obviously something must have gone wrong with one of the boats coming after us. The rumour is that someone has lost many fingers... So, the tour through the Canal went great. We have wonderful views of the mountain tops and the forest, and at night we hear the monkeys screaming. We also have had time for water jockeying between ourselves. It took one and a half day to do the trip and in the evening of the second day all line handlers went back to Colón from Panama City by car. Tonight there is a party at the harbour for me, but before going I will sail the inflatable mini-catamaran which I have with me for a short while still. But firstly and before all that I will spend some intense time with my schoolwork.

Until next week!

Laura