The first stage began late in the evening. We entered the locks at night, which immediately gave the crossing a very particular atmosphere.
To add a little excitement, a monohull was tied alongside One Cat. The manoeuvres required precision and coordination, especially in the dark.
After a night on a buoy on Lake Gatún, surrounded by jungle, we set off again on 4 March to cover the remaining 32 miles and pass through the final three locks.
Then came the moment every sailor waits for: the last lock opened and the Pacific lay ahead. It was a powerful mixture of excitement and emotion — from there, turning back was no longer really an option.
The family then returned ashore and the yacht welcomed its long-term crew again. With Charlie and Morgane, four of us were now aboard, ready to finish preparing for the next major stage: the passage to Polynesia.
A new adventure was beginning, this time due west.
