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Panama Canal Transit (Pt2) - A Gruesome History, and into the Atlantic Ocean!

March 14, 2026 · 20 min · 277K views · Panama Canal

Sailing vessel Tally Ho powers through Culebra Cut headwind

What this video covers

Leo Goolden and the crew of the 65-ft wooden boat Tally Ho completed their transit of the Panama Canal, moving from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean in a single day.18:25 The vessel navigated the three sets of locks—Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, and Gatun—by motoring in tandem with a larger commercial ship to meet canal scheduling requirements. To maintain the necessary seven-knot speed against a 20-knot headwind in the Culebra Cut, the crew ran the diesel engine at high output.3:21 While the ascent on the Pacific side presented challenges with current and boat control, the descent on the Atlantic side proved more manageable when moored against the lock wall.16:48 The transit cost approximately $4,000 in fees.2:04 The crew noted that while freshwater exposure can help kill marine borers like shipworms in wooden hulls, the primary concern for Tally Ho remained maintaining anti-fouling integrity.10:56 The boat exited the final lock into Limon Bay near Colón, marking its first entry into the Atlantic since the 1960s.19:45

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