Venture transits the Panama Canal

In the autumn of 2007, a Fleming 65 named Venture started south from the Pacific Northwest on a voyage that would ultimately take her and her crew down the west coast of north and central America, out to the Galapagos Islands, through the Panama Canal and up the east coast of the USA into the Great Lakes and down the St Lawrence Seaway to Nova Scotia. In Part 3 Venture transits the amazing Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Caribbean.

[@stevef4010]

Your choice of music for your videos is always spot on and appropriate. Never distracting or out of character. Subtle and seamless without over-staging the visuals and narration.

[@Filmgen1]

Glad you enjoy the videos. There will be more coming. Venture handles rough weather very well. Better than her crew! We took Venture II to Iceland and encountered some nasty stuff on the way.

[@Dan_C604]

What an amazing video of the crossing. As always, Fleming yachts are stunning and sea worthy! I enjoy your videos Mr. Fleming, even when they are few years old 😊

[@francayub]

I love your videos always

[@MaoRuiqi]

Well video tapped, short, concise, and certainly shows off the Fleming.

[@tacodias]

Watching the sports fisher crewman on the bow without rails, or floatation device is nerve racking

[@theswearjar5514]

Beautiful shots!! I love your channel!

[@radbcc]

Excellent video.....

[@thebigdoghimself]

Great video, Thank you.

[@SparksMagoo]

Nice.

[@algval061]

My dream Fleming yacht (even the 45 will do) quando quando quando tell me when

[@jedslather]

That is pretty good, I really enjoy your videos thanks. (how is she in hard weather?)

[@blackpearlfromqc]

Very nice video

[@jedslather]

That is a very low fuel burn!!! 7 kt?

[@Filmgen1]

We averaged 8.6 kts for the 900 mile crossing.

[@stevef4010]

As someone who's only really been on boats in lakes, it must be a bit uneasy/terrifying to be out in the open ocean for days, even on a boat Venture's size. How is it for someone as seasoned as yourself? It must be euphoric and a sense of relief to see land after 5 days. Even with today's technology.

[@timetodopatriotstuff2315]

If I may ask how much did they charge for the lot buoys, 4 handler's, and passage.

[@FlemingYachts]

It was way back in 2008 and i don't recall. I believe we paid about US$2,000 for the transit which is pretty cheap when you consider that you have crossed the Continental divide from one ocean to another.

[@christopherbuckley94]

@@FlemingYachts A few years ago, I took a Princess cruise between Los Angeles (San Pedro) and Ft Lauderdale which still used the old locks. The lecturer claimed that the passage for that vessel was $400,000 US and I think the extra "port charges" were around $350 per passenger, which sounds about right. Considering the time and fuel to go around the tip of South America, it is quite the bargain!

[@lastrick08]

So...how did you get those shots from up above as you exited the canal? And what about the ones from the "dock" as you went through?

[@FlemingYachts]

I had two cameras. (You have to have more than one on a trip like this as a back up). I hired a guy to use my second camera and take shots from the shore while I remained on the boat. His shots were much better than mine.

[@lastrick08]

Ahhh....so THAT's the secret. Good response. Thank you....and we are enthralled with your videos.

[@nerblebun]

Fleming Yachts: Sir, what's the cost of passage through the Panama Canal for a 65ft yacht?

[@FlemingYachts]

I regret to say that I really don't remember. I know it was pretty reasonable considering what is achieved by going from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans. A figure of around $2,000 is in my mind plus you need to hire fenders, long lines and line handlers. Plus you must carry a pilot. It's certainly a lot cheaper than going all around the tip of South America!

[@nerblebun]

Fleming Yachts: Thank you sir.

[@jamesbaxter2812]

How much fuel can you carry, How far can you go

[@seikibrian8641]

The Fleming 65 carries 1700 US gals (6435 Liters) of diesel in four tanks. The range depends on the speed, and could vary from less than 500 miles at 18 knots to more than 4,000 miles at 6 knots. (One would never run continuously at either full throttle or idle, but that shows the extremes. Voyaging under power is a matter of finding the best balance of speed and range for a given passage.)

[@francayub]

Are you the same person who made the trans -African trip in 1959?

[@FlemingYachts]

I am the same guy making the videos and building the boats who was on the trans-African trip in 1959

[@michaelteeple8704]

Ive seen plenty of ugly boats. In my mind they usually have more than one hull. Ive never thought of most fishing boats as ugly like one comment states. I do see a problem that i never thought of. That Carolina flair creates a problem when rafting. Looks to be why the bows are left kinda slack. As ive said before, always enjoy your vids. Thanks.