Photo 1: 13:10:44 hours

On the far right bottom corner of the photograph a very small corner of the left chamber of the lock is just visible. Because of the webcam viewing angle it is not possible to see whether anything is happening at all in the left chamber

Sailboat (Ketch-rigged) of about 48 feet is in the right lock chamber. It is pointing to the left on this photo and unless one is familiar with the layout of the Miraflores Locks, it is not clear whether the vessel is locking-up or locking down. Two people can be seen on the bow; probably, assisting the line handlers of which there should be four. It is not clear whether one of the line handlers can be seen on the other side of the lock chamber.

No visible activity in the left lock chamber.

Water level in lock has lowered indicating that the vessel is locking down, That is, it is traveling towards the Pacific Ocean. On the far upper right corner can be seen one of the locomotives that haul the large ocean-going vessels through the locks.

This new camera angle shows for the first time the level of activity in the left lock chamber. It's a most unexpected sight. Six comparatively small trawlers or power boats are tied up to the right wall. In addition between 40 and 50, of what look like canoes, are in the left chamber. They are kept in place by lines that can clearly be seen at water level across the lock chamber.

The webcam has turned counter-clockwise by more than 90 degrees. The sailboat has moved forward and is now very close to the lock gates that are about to open to let the vessel out. From this angle it cannot be seen if there is any vessel following the sailboat.

The left lock gates have opened fully by now and the rafts of "canoes" appear to be separating to position themselves to leave the lock chamber.

The lock gates have opened and the sailboat has just about left the lock. It looks as if the locomotive that can now been seen, either has worked as a linehandler for the sailboat or, alternatively, whether it is hauling another vessel through the locks.

The power boats and the "canoes" while still further separating have not moved as yet, probably because they are waiting for the container carrier that is leaving the right lock to be well out of the way to avoid the turbulence that this will be creating in the canal outside the locks.

Here is is! A huge container carrier is following the sailboat out of the lock.

The small vessels in the left chamber are still waiting, although the lead power boat appears to be getting in position for departure.

Just as well that the sailboat was in front of the container carrier otherwise it would surely have been in trouble because of the thrust of the carrier's propellers that set up a lot of turbulence in the lock chamber.

About 10 minutes later the first five power boats have disappeared from view. So has the vast majority of the "canoes". It appears, however, that they are motorized because all are disappearing at a great pace.

The right lock gates have closed again after the container carrier has left the lock.

The last four small vessels are now clearing the lock.
(The mystery of the canoes has been solved. See the special box below.)

The locomotive has disappeared, probably to the other end of the lock chamber to receive the next vessel that is to be guided through the locks.

45 minutes from the start the left lock is also emptied from vessels. The lock gate has not as yet closed. This could indicate that another vessel is approaching from the Pacific side for it to be up-locked to Gatun Lake for the journey to the Atlantic side.

It appears that the right lock is filling up again. In total 45 minutes have elapsed since the sailboat and, presumably the container carrier entered and cleared the right lock chamber.

This might be it! Another container ship has just passed underneath the new Centennial Bridge. It is understood that this bridge is upstream of the Miraflores Locks (The Bridge of the Americas is downstream.) and therefore the carrier appears to be on its way to the Miraflores Locks.

Mystery of Canoes in the Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks has been solved

PANORAMA ,the official magazine of COPA Airlines of Panama, reports: "Panama Canal: Canoe Regatta. The Ocean to Ocean Canoe Regatta in Panama is one of the oldest sporting competitions in Latin America; it has been held for 52 years. This year it has been scheduled to take place during three days, between March 18th and March 20th; the race starts at the Caribbean terminus of the Panama Canal and ends at the Amador Causeway, on the Pacific side, Nissan and Banco Continental de Panama are the sponsors of the 2005 regatta. Over 75 teams will participate in the event. balboapaddleclub@hotmail.com tel. (507) 317 9915. The mystery within the mystery was that one abandoned canoe was found by a German circumnavigator when approaching the anchorage for yachts at Colon at the Caribbean end of the Canal. There were no reports of any mishaps or lost canoes or crews.