Captain’s Log - DISPATCH 006 – cNAMMs Expedition, R/V Robert Gray

Panama Canal Transit

7 March 2025
Colón, Panama

Lat/Long: 9°22'13" N / 79°51'36" W
Conditions: Few clouds, wind 5–7 mph
Low: 73°F     High: 91°F     Humidity: 76%

The Voyagers CLUB UPDATE

Following a well-deserved pause in Panama City, R/V Robert Gray and the c-NAMMs crew began their transit through the Caribbean and on toward the next microbe survey site. The crew bid farewell to colleagues who joined us in Costa Rica and for the Canal crossing—a leg marked by Carnival festivities, rich history, and engineering marvels.

Current Status & Next Steps

Collection 004 was completed prior to entering Panama City (PC), and the team checked in with customs amid a scene of anchored vessels, tugs, and local watercraft buzzing in all directions. From Colón’s busy waters to the tranquil anchorage off Isla Otoque, the contrast of PC’s skyline against maritime activity was a remarkable sight.

News arrived from our Canal agent: we would begin our crossing on February 28 at 1700 ET. The voyage through the locks, guided by expert Panamanian pilots and line handlers, took 9 hours total. Swirling eddies, turbulent lock entries, and a surprise near-miss with another vessel made for an unforgettable night passage. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, R/V Robert Gray steamed under starlit skies with jungle and city sliding by.

Wildlife encounters were plenty—boobies, frigate birds, dolphins, and rays made appearances along the way. Our crew also managed a deep clean, a sushi night, and a well-earned beach stop in Coronado.

The Panama Canal, over 100 years old, remains a marvel of global engineering. Its creation cost over 25,000 lives, and its locks move over 1 million gallons of water per minute. Transiting it firsthand offered the crew an unmatched perspective on global trade, history, and the scale of human ambition.

We are proud to carry expedition flags from The Explorers Club, The Adventurers Club of Los Angeles, the GAC, and Voyagers Club as we continue northward.

Follow our journey @thevoyagersclubllc and stay tuned for more as R/V Robert Gray pushes on through the Caribbean.

Forward Together.

For more info, check out The Gentlemens Adventure Club cNAMMs Dispatch here.