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Inside the Panama Canal: I Lost Total Control over the Boat
22 February 2026 · 25 min · 37K views · Agua Clara Locks, Panama Canal
What this video covers
A sailboat transits the Panama Canal, navigating the Agua Clara, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores locks while managing strong currents and turbulent water from lock filling and prop wash. During the first lock transit, the captain loses control of the vessel, causing it to drift sideways towards the lock wall before the canal advisor intervenes.▶ 4:52 Professional line handlers on board use fenders to prevent hull damage during the incident.▶ 5:20 The transit involves rafting to a powerboat and securing lines thrown by canal staff.▶ 1:06 The vessel anchors in Gatun Lake overnight before completing the final locks into the Pacific Ocean.▶ 8:40 The captain notes that using a canal agent costs approximately $4,000, while self-organising the transit can save roughly $700 by reducing line handler requirements and agent fees.▶ 24:33 The canal transit requires precise speed control, often idling engines to maintain position behind larger commercial ships.
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