E38: Transiting the Panama Canal on a 27 foot Sailboat

Current coordinates: 8.459418, -78.999616
I am currently cruising around Panama and waiting to see if the South Pacific opens up so I can go through this season.
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For more regular photo updates and boating life, check out my instagram page: @boatlizard
I am a 28-year-old female solo sailor beginning my circumnavigation. My boat is a 27-foot-long sloop named Gecko. Follow me on my journey as I learn about heavy weather sailing, the trials of being solo, and my adventures in paradise. Follow my bi-weekly blog on : windhippie.com
Thanks for watching and subscribing! You guys are the best!

[@svamour4574]

I will sail around the horn before paying Panama 2k. You do such a great job, I wish you well.

[@amaturearcadia]

There was a date she missed when rate doubled she could have gotten away with 1000

[@SailingSeatramp]

Finally I got reception to watch it! Thanks for having me with you on this epic canal crossing! Miss u 😘

[@3gtx]

Brovo girl! What a great adventure. The little boat that could. Hope this message finds you well and can"t wait to hear your adventure in the Pacific continue when the world stops holding in place. Thanks for taking us along on your adventures.

[@pdutube]

I've seen several KZbinrs do this now but I laughed at your awesome tire scavenging skills. Well done, how symbolic there was a gecko in your tire!

[@elviejo1998]

My wife is from Panama and I have lived there off and on for about 10 years. We are currently in the states due to Covid restrictions in Panama but this brought back memories of the great life in Panama. Fished a lot in the canal and Lake Gatun, returning to Panama in a few months.

[@SixthEstateAZ]

I’m so happy as an old hippie to see your happily peaceful transit of the canal. 💪🏼🤙🏼

[@AWBepi]

Reusing the tires endeared you to me... The hand crank engine made me fall in love.

[@janmaaso]

What an adventure! You will NEVER forget this for as long as you live.

[@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239]

Jan H. Maaso she died. So she didn't remember this for very long.

[@bepowerification]

@@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239 for a dead person she looks pretty good in the video she posted 13 days ago. idiot.

[@Chainsaw_18.]

This was a Great video 👍Years ago I was Station near U.S. Army base Fort Clayton, Panama close to the canal. Seen boats enter the canal, but never see one go all the way through . Thanks for Posting this video 👍🍷🍾

[@robertanderson571]

Hi great video I am currently planning my sailing the world very soon

[@colinboniface194]

you're not cheap, you are very resourceful... Panama... Mate, that's a milestone... Well done you...

[@imagrasshopper9510]

Great story telling Wind Hippie. You're awesome!!!

[@VedranKasic]

For such an old engine, it performed great, trotling at full speed trough canal was awesome 💪

[@_PJW_]

Amazing what friends and ingenuity can accomplish! 🤩😲

[@laroccafishing4771]

this was awesome to see. I went thru in the eighties on "small boat day". everyone thought it must be so cool. haha it was a night mare and we were on ninety five foot boat. also went thru at night time so wasn't much to see. pilots wanted coke cola and cheese burgers all night long.

[@omegaseamaster1550]

Great times ahead Holly Stay healthy and keep up the great work

[@markandrade7547]

I love car tire fenders. I saved all my tires from my van for my fenders.

[@chriscoralAloha]

You got lucky with your crew and especially your advisor. The tire stash at the beginning was a good omen of your following luck. If only all canal crossings where so easy . Not allare so lucky. Keep hold of this vibe as it will serve you well in the not always peaceful Pacific. Good luck and great vlog.

[@benjaminhamilton7122]

Best and most informative regarding some details about recent transfers not on cruise ship!

[@zenzen9131]

Calm seas and fair winds Holly :)

[@davie261]

I watch a few sailing channels and came across yours. I have subbed and am now going back to watch more. Your attitude, honesty and ability to sail alone for days at a time in a small vessel amazes me. Of course your sense of humor is the glue that keeps it all afloat in my opinion. These are hard times we are in and watching your vids gives a welcome escape.

[@NeilRex-marrillier]

Found this by chance and absolutely enjoying it , have a lot of catching up to do , keep up the good and interesting episodes

[@SalingSamantas]

I love the detail about the process of getting through the canal. Good info if I plan on going this way.

[@samdemello6103]

Awesome passage through the Panama Canal, and Werth every penny of it !!! An experience of a lifetime !!! Well done Captain Holly !!!! ARRRR !!!

[@c.wrightkunkle3681]

Damn, I thought I knew what courageous was, but now I do...your trip. You are very courageous to undertake a trip like that with the limited resources. I’ve not seen your back story. I imagine you have some life experience that gave you the belief you have of your capability. I dream of getting a Cal40 and taking off. I’ve seen one for sale now for $12K. I have the ability to buy the boat, but I’m 73 and afraid I’ll run out of steam. What do you think? Good luck!!

[@johngriffiths118]

Hope you made it out into the big blue ol mate

[@tossed_about]

Wow !! What an incredibly resourceful young woman you are. Fearlessly negotiating foreign red tape is a skill even many old salts still tremble thinking about. Your cheerful bravery and determination is inspiring.

[@johnnya9001]

Spectacular. And very informative.

[@blairguinea1337]

Holly thank you..............and wow your such an inspiration ! Take it easy in the pacific

[@roryvonbrutt7302]

Gosh Holly glad you had all that help

[@cristianelvis]

You is the best. Congrats from Brazil!

[@therealpomme]

Be Free! Glad u had THE best Norwegian ever around (again) Cheers Thomas! 👍👍⛵

[@antoniolomedico5990]

wow ..learned lots. Panama will become my home base this winter, also been there many times ,that I can feel the breeze and the humidity .Great video, maybe the best about cruising the canal of Panama !!!

[@cptcas1405]

You are such a brave adventures young lady Holly setting a good example. Keep it up and fair winds.

[@RusstafaB]

Fantastic YT Channel, none of the show off stuff from other channels Really pleased found your channel

[@grahamrichardson9613]

Holly, Your a legend. Love your spirit. Go Girl

[@cometjockeydave4041]

I have two ideas. One, you could look into getting a more efficient propeller, which would not only give you more speed from the motor you have, but it would also mean less fuel consumption. Most boats just come with whatever prop the manufacturer could pay the least for to get the buyer on the water. Don't forget although there are ever more cruisers travelling around, most boat owners don't make big circumnavigations, or ocean crossings like you're doing. They are usually set up to sail for an afternoon, or a weekend with perhaps a weeklong vacation once a year if even that. Idea two, you could also get a ten horse power outboard for the boat to either supplement the main engine, takeover if the main ever quits, and offer better downspeed maneuverability in tight spaces especially if the wind is really blowing. Please be safe, and fair winds.

[@NPCSN]

Good call. Well said.

[@JohnKinsella123]

Well done! Very nicely managed and very gracious too!

[@sigvardc]

God Bless you little Holly Wishing you all the best !!

[@timsmith6700]

Awesome. Watched the whole thing. Well done...

[@paulvaneck5688]

Hi Holly ,thanks for that video , i think it was one of your coolest , it's so nice to see it from that perspective.

[@sharonlabrecque6084]

Please be safe on your journey.

[@bayanicustodio3998]

Interesting to see the Sea Tramp crew. 👍🙂

[@Mr7valentine7]

Thank you for sharing your experince of transitting the Canal! Great, informative vid! Fair winds and light waves, Holly!

[@gpdewitt]

It's fun to watch you make your way through the canal. We have transited twice, but on large cruise ships. I would love to do it on a sailboat, and a circumnavigation. Maybe next lifetime!

[@rosslevitates]

Thanks Holly that was a great video. Well done on being such a good sailor too!!

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

Great video. Great friends! 😊👍

[@Pippinstravels]

Great stuff Holly. Good luck.

[@HenryHeymusic]

This was really great. I know that you are stuck and waiting around until things open up, but for those of us stuck at home - this is such a breath of fresh air!

[@fjtalleyauthor2242]

Yep. Definitely worth watching the whole video: very informative. I've never seen a boat or ship go through the canal before. This was cool to see.

[@terrysteward6765]

Very cool. Just thinking...did you ever think about getting a Ham radio license? You would really need both the Technician and General licenses. The General would let you operate in HF, which is what you would use to talk long distance without repeaters. You would make a ton of friends on the radio because we like talking to people in unusual places. The easiest way to study is to do it online with the something like Ham Test Online. The real benefit would be learning a little about all the topics Ham radio covers. Very relevant for solar power, wiring, electricity, radio propagation, etc.

[@MagicOcean]

I love your videos, Holly! Great work hustling up those tires and lines to get through the canal. I hope you get to cross the Pacific soon too. Keep us all posted, we are rooting for you.

[@markayers5397]

Amazing job Holly!

[@tbertw]

We are going to be vacationing in Panama in the next year or so. We want to volunteer for a passage thru the canal. I have seen several canal passages on you tube. Yours is the most entertaining and informative. THANKS and be safe.

[@bocaboy69]

You are living life, very brave. Stay safe and keep enjoying your travels. Love watching your videos.

[@Yodie208]

Oh Wow.That is the old Ft. Sherman barracks in the background. I stayed in the second one from the end back in the seventy's while in the military. They had vending machines that dispensed Papst Blue Ribbon beer cans for .25 cents each. we would sit on the beach and watch the ships entering the canal. Panama is a beautiful country

[@svglorious]

With Holly, anything is possible. You are so right, you did one of the best jobs ever in making your Panama Passage happen. Great job in de-mystifying going thru the Panama Canel👍👍

[@danmccollister4840]

I spent many months on the pacific, the flying fish are amazing! Whales are very cool.

[@Sharpiesailor31]

Well done Holly! You have an indomitable spirit! Wish you the best in your voyaging. Cheers

[@fijimarns]

Grateful for your friends for their assistance 🌹🌹

[@ottoskorzeny4]

Good evening. A very significant transition from ocean to ocean. Cool.

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Great episode, thanks

[@ericbergdahl6971]

You are doing a great job. Thank you for sharing this with us and the cost of the travel through the canal. Be safe and good sailing.

[@kevinwilkinson1510]

Another great video, thanks. And thanks to Tish.

[@Gilespargiter]

Thankyou for the video Holly, it was very entertaining and informative. There is a way round most things if one tries. I hope you have many happy adventures in the Pacific.

[@terryknutson3202]

You were fortunate to have so much "Good" help girl. Good job.

[@kranzonguam]

Welcome to the Pacific!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Take good care!

[@tbob8212]

Nice score on the tires, lol. My 1st thought was are those stolen tires a thief wrapped in plastic at that stash house? Some thief wondering what happened?!! XD

[@ralphjansen9205]

Great video. Where there is a will there is a way. Well done.

[@stevev707]

I am glad to see you living your dream before you settled down with a family.

[@SailingMalie]

Great video Holly. Ive watched a few others go through the canal on larger boats, but it was great to see your perspective from a smaller boat and keeping to a lower budget.

[@km33adv]

Great video on the crossing through the canal. Happy sailing on your way around the world. ❤️🤙

[@ericson26savannah86]

Holy that was fantastic, it gives me hope for making it through the canal on my small boat. Good luck safe travels as soon as the lockdown eases up.

[@edwardsbarbara25]

Do you ever, ever doubt your ability to do what you set your mind to? Never lose that ability

[@danielpierce4541]

So inspiring. Thanks for taking us with you on your transit. Be well.

[@Peteamareet]

Way to go Holly ! Thanks for a fun video, my doubts are quelled !

[@carlitobollas1798]

im enjoying to watch your vlog on your tour at sea im from Philippines.

[@myfunart]

I just found your videos a couple weeks or so ago and have I've watched all of them up to this point and loving the adventure you're on. Anyway, I wanted to let you know I went through the Panama Canal in 1966 aboard the Navy ship on was stationed on. We went from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and went through the same locks you did. Your voyage is a heck of a lot more of an adventure then mine was, lol. You are the real deal. Best of luck on the rest of you adventure and I'll be watching (from the safety of my chair here at home, lol)

[@theplayingglayo]

So cool to see how the canal works. So different than just sail thru "normal"locks. Im almost catched up with all your videos allready. Hope you having a great time on the pacific. Or maybe you allready crossed. I dont know yet 😅

[@ellenorbovay5226]

Congratulations for going through the canal!

[@SailingTaranto]

Wow! Cheers Holly, what a cool experience, nothing but joy do I feel.

[@hiersche49]

You are pretty damn awesome Holley, but then you come from some pretty awesome stock. You go Viking, don't stop until you conquer the world

[@roncanizares9966]

You are not cheap. You are frugal. There is a big difference!

[@scottpetrich1346]

You are so huggable.....I watch em all....Landlocked here in Wyoming, I would love to see some of those places....Not to say Wyoming is devoid of scenery, quite the opposite......But warm seas and palm trees are highly appealing....Be safe, and keep me dreaming about sailing

[@risasb]

Once you go under that bridge, you have half the planet at your feet. I remember Barry on White Shadow actually a bit weepy when he came to this point. I certainly would be. It's a big deal, and I'm happy for every single hander that does it.

[@aphrodite3216]

Hi Holly, At some point would you go over all the costs? Even the ones you avoided and how to avoid them.. Thanks and safe travels!

[@cornishhh]

Thanks for another excellent and very informative video Holly, and I'm so happy to learn that everything went smoothly for you. I hope the crossing to the Marquesas goes the same way. What a trip. I've read about Shane Acton's transit in "Shrimpy" His 18ft boat was for some years the smallest boat to complete a circumnavigation. Shrimpy had no engine and was towed through by another yacht. This was in 1973. I'm guessing that being towed is no longer an option? Best wishes for the future.

[@YakMiani]

Holly, you're just the best!

[@edwardsbarbara25]

Such an uplifting experience

[@contentforcoaches]

Yay Holly and Team Holly! Hope all are well!

[@grahammewburn]

You are so enterprising! Good onya mate. Cheers Gray The ol codger Downunder

[@TheWaterbouy88]

Awesome job sharing and explaining how you did Canal passage. Very encouraging to all in the future.

[@hooligan6a]

I enjoy watching you. I made a circumnavigation in a 29 foot boat and getting ready to do it for a second time.

[@willshaw3561]

I'm getting ready as well..

[@willshaw3561]

Hughes 29

[@hlquad]

Why not just put it on a trailer and skip the canal? Way is cheaper I would assume.

[@toneringer]

Love this video and wish you well. Let's write your book!

[@dougsrepair1060]

That looks like a great experience. Good video.

[@moriver3857]

Thanks for the video. It's giving me a better picture of what I could be going through in the next few years as I will try to cross the canal on my 35 ft sailboat, which can certainly do the minimum speed under power and sail, with the right winds. Your boat did looked crowded. I've been on both Colon and Miraflores locks by car and I hope my day will come soon enough. Fair winds and be safe!

[@ProspectingMonkey]

I never seen this process before so thank you so much for showing the whole process!

[@skulijakobsson5116]

Luck follows the Good! Well done!

[@BelenfromLB]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing such a cool experience.

[@nealbirch9462]

How did you get the borrowed lines back? And what happened to the tires?

[@WindHippieSailing]

My friend commutes across Panama to get to work so I gave everything to him to return to the other side