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P.A.N.A.M.A C.A.N.A.L


The Annual
Ocean to Ocean
Cayuco Race


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*-I -
1."


1954-2006 and still going...


"Lucky Seven's" crew was from left to right John Bates, Pablo Preito, Jim
McFadden and Milton Lidig. The cayuco was sponsored by Pro Bowlers
Shop. and a member of Post Seven, Cunmdu.







Cayucas and piraguas are
native built boats rough
hewed out of the trunk of
a single tree. These
boats have been the
mode of transportation in
Panama for many years,
either paddled, with sail,
or motorized.

V O-l I 1 11 -- G I H ,I ... I
Race rules regarding the
cayuco construction: Cayucos resemble a canoe in the bow and stern.
"The cayuco is constructed A piragua has a more open end to the bow and
from a hollowed out tree stern.


trunk. Each cayuco must be
a minimum of fifteen feet in
length as originally cut from
a locally grown tree. Cayucos
must always maintain the
original hull and length
minimum. Extensions to the
bow and stern made entirely
from locally acquired wood
may be added. The gunwales
of the cayuco may also be
raised with locally acquired
wood. All cayucos may add
non-movable seats, back
rests, bow and stern splash
covers, non-moveable trim
tabs, as well as wooden
keels".


- 1







The racing boats bear little resemblance to the
original hollow log boats purchased from the
native builders. The boats are trued up by
building up the gunwales with layers of wood
strips, and smoothing, painting, and polishing the
hull: adding seats and covering the bow and stern
to keep water from washing over and swamping
the boats. Troop 21 and Post 21 had a successful
program in the 1960's with the "green fleet". For
the 1962 race, Troop 21 made crews their own
paddles and used them in the race.


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The "Slave Galley," a patch boat, was the longest cayuco in the race. A patch boat is
entered for the purpose of winning a patch; it cannot win the trophy. It measured 43
feet, and was manned by 14 boys. It placed first as a patch boat. From left to right,
Jon Borrero, a senior; Wesley Braswell, a senior; Alex Esparsa, a sophomore; Hap Pruit,
a junior; Coleman Anderson, a junior; Stanley Wright, a senior; Paul Vino, a sophomore;
Jim Thompson, a senior; Larry Quinn, a senior; Mike Beattie, a junior; Mike Beattie, a
junior; Fred Webster, a senior; and Pat Donaldson, a senior.
The "Slave Galley" was the longest boat in the races. It is
rumored that it was left near the finish line on Rodman
Naval Base after a race and was destroyed by orders of
the base commander.
1"t- W


"Better Dead Than Red" was manned by David Denny, a junior; Gary Poock, a senior;
Dennis Dorff, a junior; and Harry Stinson, a junior. "Caiche Si Puedes" crew was
Trenton Price, a senior; Louie Husted, a senior; Alfred Creque, a junior; and Jim
Jenner, a senior (not pictured here. Their boat placed fourth.









TOCUMENO



PEDREGAL
CEMENT LIMON
S1 UENA VISTA GHIiX AT GANCILLa DE ,*ALCALDE DOIAZ
bay I ^*BUENOS AIRES Day 3
Crl "s Cristobal Yacht Club S .
( to Gatun Locks 4.8 m o CHILIBRE LAS CUMBRS Gamboa to Pedro
to GatunLocks~4.8m Miguel Locks to
.RANDOLPH "-- Miraflores Locks to
OC0 SOL .Balboa Yacht Club
RAN FIE (later yrs Rodman
z qo R rPiers) 12.75 m
J *FT. GULI K
ARGARITA GAM SUMMIT FT CLAYTON MAM ,
FT HRNSANTA CRUZ LAR WY. ERO MIGUE *CARDENAS




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PA N AMA
DRy 2A.
Channel 18.75 m
.. THATC.ER
GV ep ~" BRID.GE:
e AL SECO


Gatun Locks

Starting Line Cristobal Gatun Lake +85 feet

Atlantic Ocean 4


Gamboa I

i,


Miraflores Lake +55 feet
Pedro M Iel Locks.
P M Miraflores Locks

Finish Line Balboa

Pacific Ocean


/























Cristobal Harbor...the starting line is near the small boats to the right at
the entrance to the old French Canal.


Day 1 ends at the sea level entrance to Gatun Locks. Day 2 begins at the
upper end of the locks. There is no transit of Gatun Locks.


Day 1: Race begins at Cristobal
Yacht Club and ends about 5 miles
later at Gatun Locks. Day 2 begins
on Gatun Lake and ends in Gamboa.























READY-SET-GO-L-nd aPt Gembo arn OCas to Coast Caysuo Rae, nhe amnbol to
the osupoos taking part in the l1th annual Balboa strteth was the final lap of the race.
Gamboa...the end of day 2 beginning of day 3...


...tied up at the Las Cruces Landing awaiting
passage through Pedro Miguel Locks.


Day 3: Passes through the 9 mile Cut...
















- -4.


* I.


...the boats then pass through the locks at Pedro
Miguel, crosses Miraflores Lake, transit Miraflores
Locks, and the sprint to the finish line...


GO110 SOUTH throu firnflorew l.m e W a, Musmallota selvd the same sev-
some a the cayucoa that took part In the e m the largest ocean liner.
amunl canoorS4 AGOompmedlebyan emort





























The earlier races ended at the BYC pier,
later races finished at the Rodman Piers.
The present finish line is the Diablo bock.





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8OY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
1910 960


Scouting


The original Ocean-To-Ocean
Cayuco races were organized
by the Boy Scouts of America.
The modern version of the
cayuco race is organized by
the Balboa Paddle Club


-40 W~^~54
.BAL&*,L






The first
race was
held in May
1954.


7 boats participated in the first Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race in 1954
First Place was Ship 10, Gamboa, composed of Explorers Wm. Campbell, Stephen Herring, Jim
Richardson, and Jim Driscoll. the ship is sponsored by the Gamboa Civic Council. Time was 10
hours and 28 minutes
Second Place was Crew 12 from Gatun, Post 3, American Legion, with Explorers Joe Jannigan,
Jay Cunningham, Jim Thornton, and Danny George. J.A. Cunningham is Scoutmaster. Time was 11
hours and 7 minutes.
Third Place went to Cristobal, Ship 9, sponsored by the Masters, Mates, and Pilots Association
39, with Paul Doyle as Skipper and Paul Lindville as Mate. Crew members included Barry Davison,
Philip Hadaritz, Tom Cookson, and Jerry Dockery. Their time was 12 hours and 7 minutes.





Boy Scout
Balboa Uni


Troop


21


on Church


1961-62


TROOP ZI


5TH Place







GREEN IENI
DARK HORSEiiIi

IIIA[IIERSIIFiI R


IBoat Captains and
Boat Captains and


A cute girl greets some of ihe winners at the American
Legion Club in Balboa. Cu u event wi~th ihe'help of Scouters and U.S. Navy.
The Green Weenie Crew Bruce Douglas, Ken
Philips, Pete Hendrickson, Rich Williams, and
Queen Sue Lessiack celebrate a Third Place
Finish. note: they have the 4th place banner.


Queen


Bill Fall, Sue Lessiack, Doug Feeney, Rick Williams


The first race year for
Explorer Post 21
Balboa Union Church






CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
S1963 CAYUCO RACE


CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
CAYUCO RACE


I ARKHOSE


I ACKESFO


Explorer Post 21
Balboa Union Church


P21-3 THE HACKERS FOUR Bob, Mark, Don, Bill


1963













If you're a science fiction bug, the name that's
sure to ring a bell with ou is Arthur C. Clarke-
just about the hottest I.,ci-and-fancy tale-spinner
going. An expert on space, astronomy, skin div-
ing and oceanography, there's a good chance that
his way-out gu-,c.e ll hatch into reality-may-
be within o'ur htclinie The Sunjammer, his
first BL piece, is all about capsules racing for the
moon-yanked through space b, gi.'intic sun
propelled sails. Artist Robert \lc- ill did the
cover and inside illustrations An equally
frantic race-and much more down to earth-
really took place recently. American Canal Zone
Explorers launched their piraguas and cayucas
and wild-paddled through the Panama Canal.
Page 19 starts the story Do you ever give
a thought to what career might suit you best? If

















Bobby Richardson

American Explorers in cayu-
cas and piraguas race through :-.
the Panama Canal. ",
you haven't now's the time to poke around and
do some career hunting. To help you, BL is
kicking off a career series. First to chat with you
is the world famous psychiatrist, Dr. William C.
Menninger, with some words about Medicine,
My Way of Life Green Bar Bill never runs
dry of Scouting ideas. His latest, and one that
you ought to latch on to, is a patrol flag contest.
Flip on over to Green Bar Bill Says: Make a
Patrol Flag-time's a wastin' Who's the
major leagues' best second baseman? Former
great Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto thinks that
Bob Richardson is Number One at Second
Base Leonard Wibberley's Reckoning at
Fredericksburg-a three part story-has stirred
a lot of interest among our readers. To find out
how Tom and Jem resolve their feud, see page
26, the wrap-up.





















Highlights from the 1963 Race
BOY'S LIFE March 1964


r 1. -

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Nearing the end of their 50-mile three-day race through the Panama Canal, 144 Canal
Zone Council Explorers reach calm stretch on Miraflores locks-a few miles short of
trip's end-at Balboa on the Pacific Ocean.


Furious ,-i.'.l.... caused many boats to swamp, but the safety
crews were on the spot in seconds. Twenty-five escort
boats, provided by the Canal Zone Power Squadron,
stood by for any trouble.


11110
1)1












CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1964 CAYUCO RACE

CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN

1966 CAYUCO RACE
*I CANAL ZONE COUNCIL


OCEAN TO OCEAN
CANA1967 ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1967 CAYUCO RACE


F. -" .. "- -- ..






The rein of El Bejuco begins...


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CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
CAYUCO RACE


1964

















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The first year of El Bejuco 1964. Ken Philips, Ron Caroll, Queen Gail

Bohannon, Phil Stewart, and Rick Williams.


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rn CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1965 CAYUCO RACE



































Scott, Pete, Rick, Don, & Billy model the latest in Isthmian ear wear.


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Second Place in 65 left to right:
Pete Hendrickson, Billy Boughner,
March Adair, Scotty Williams,
Donald Kat. "The Rum Runner"


Post 21 also captured second place with a time
of 6 hours 29 minutes and 7 seconds. The
Rum Runner, manned by Scot Williams, Bill
Boughner, Don Kat, and Pete Hendrickson,
and the first place boat were far ahead of the
third place boat from Margarita's Post 1.









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Winners of cayuco race-Post No. 21, boat No. 1. From left to right: Ken Phillips, Phil Stewart, Ronnie Carroll,
Rick Williams, March Adair, Queen of the Cayuco Race: Mr. Henry J. Williams, adviser; Mr. Richard Williams,
post committee chairman; Admiral Bryan, presenting the award.
































POST 21 OF BALBOA TOPS IN -CAYUCO- E-


The first tw,. plaes in the 12th
annual Oce.an-to-Ocean Cayuco Rate
were t:aen by Post 21 of Balboa.
Both boats broke all previous records.
Each year in April the Eplhirer
Scouts hold the Ocean-to-Ocean
Cayuco Race. In this race Explorer
Scouts in their cayucos paddle from
the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
Ocean over a 3-day period.
The first stretch -if the race is from
Cristobal Yacht Club to the Gatun
Lomk. This stretch is done on Fridy
.titcrir.iiiii and takes just under an
hour.
E.irlk. Saturday morning the boys
start for ;.,unhoa which is some 24
miles away. The first boat arrives in
Gamboa some 3% hours after the
star During this time they never
miss a stroke or stop to eat or drink.
On Suindi.. after church, they
p.,rlic from Gamboa to Pedro
Miguel where they are put through
the locks. After a mile sprint, they
.arrive at Miraflores and are again
locked Ibrouch a set of locks.
The final lap is from Miraflores
Locks to the Rodman Naval Station.


'li- fiit ho. i fr,,i,i, P't,. 21 hi-ttered
the old ret-ird f 6 hiiurs 5b minutes
and 59 seconds with its tune of 6
hours. 20 minutes. and 59 seconds.
Rick Williauns, Phil Stewart, Ron
Carrloo ind Ken Phillips. all seinors
at B.ilb.a Hmh. School., %ere the
crt- nf thl Is ,,|at
P,-t 21 A.l-i captured etirnd place
with .- time of 6 hours 29 inmutes
and 7 itndrl This b-i.t. maiinned
b% it \\'illiiam Bill Bougliier,
Don Kat, and Pi,te h'iilrii kii, and
the first place boat were far ahead
of the third pl:n- I hbat from Mar-
earita's Posit whi. h was manned
by Elmer IHamor, Hihard Hull,
Halih Grioi,. and Robert Will. Their
time was 7 hours, 4 minutes, and .35
seconds.
The fourth place boat, from Post
12 in Gatun, was manned by Louis
Rustin. Larry Staford, Wayne Hotz-
claw, and WalIl Brians and was just
20 seconds behind the third place
boat.
In fifth place was another Post 21
boat with a time of 7 hours 6 minutes
and 26 seconds.


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rn CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1966 CAYUCO RACE


















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AFTER THE FPNSH .--- Crew members of El Bejuco
pause to catch their breath after winning the 1966 Ocean-to-
Ocean Cayuco Race. In the background is El Corredor de


Ron, which took second place. The vessels, both from Ex-
plorer Scout Post 21, duplicated their finishes In the 1965
contest.


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SON.


























Removing the boats from the water and placing them on the trailer.

















CANAL ZONE COUNCIL

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

1966 OCEAN-TO-OCEAN CAYUCO RACE

AWARD CEREMONY

24 APRIL


U.S. NAVAL STATION RODMAN

CANAL ZONE


INVOCATION

Remarks by Sco

Presentation of

Presentation of
Legion Trophy


Receiving TropI
Boy Scouts of Ai


AWARD CEREMONY PROGRAM

Chaplain K.R. Cassady

>ut Executive Mr. Ted G. Kellogg

Race Patches Mr. Wesley Townsend

American Mr. George Vieto
Vice Chairman,
National Foreign
Relations Council,
American Legion

iy for BGen W. K. Skaer, USAF
erica President, C. Z. Council
Boy Scouts of America


Award Presentations
Fourth Place
Third Place
Second Place
First Place

Crowning of Cayuco Queen

Benediction


Chaplain K.R. Cassady


Note: (1) Dinner after ceremony
(2) Victory Dance 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.



















-A- a a'


*l CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1966 CAYUCO RACE








C; ;,a--cfl


Marshall, Pete, Leslie, Bob, Fred, bon, Scott, Robert





,...~.,- -*


SPOILS TO THE VICTORS Streamer for first place in Crew Captain Bob Hughes; crewman Robert Donley; Queen
the 1966 Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race is held by Race Leslie; crewman Fred A.Garcia; crewman Marshall Harris;
Queen Leslie Dugas and members.of the winning boat crew Post Advisor Henry J, Williams; and Post Committee Chair-
from Explorer Scout Post 21. Left to right are: Lt. Govern- man Dick Williams,
or H. R, Parfitt who presented the winners* awards:


AN INDEPENDE


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5 CENTS


NT NMI// DAILY NEWSPAPER



a American


Let the people know the truth and the country is safe Abraham Lincoln
7 PANAMA R. P., WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 1966 -


W IyT'0


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Cayuco Race


Again Won


By Post 21

Explorer Scout Post 21 of
the Balboa Union Church took
both first and second place in
the 1966 Ocean-t o-Ocean
Cayuco Race yesterday.
Richard A. Williams,
adviser to Post 21 statedtoday
that the winning cayuco--
which also won last year --
will not be put into next yearly
race as a competing craft. Ri
will perhaps be used as apace
boat.
Paddling time for the winner
was six hours, 52 minutes and
38 seconds, not quite up to
last year's winning time of
six hours 20 minutes and 59
seconds.


Post 21 automatically re-
tains the trophy by winning it
for the third year.
The crewmen of the winning
craft were:Capt. Robert
Hughes, Marshall Harris,
Fred A. Garcia and Robert
Donnelly.
Members of the second
place crew WereCapt. Robert
Askew, Pete Hendrickson,
Donald Kat and Scott
Williams,
Third place was won by Ex-
plorer Post 7 of Curundu,
Capt. Cat Frank R. Lister
captained the cayuco, assist-
ed by John Bates,Tom Duncan,
and Mark Cobb.
Post 3's cayuco, captained
by Fred Fox tookfourth place.
His crewmen were Wayne Al-
britton, Charles Myers and
Richard Allen. This was
a Balboa boat sponsored by Explorer Post 21
the American Legion.
Awards were presented to
crew members the four boats, Wins Race
Members of the 22boats which
took part were given patches. For Third Time


Unit Also Takes Second
Place; Retires
Race Trophy

Explorer Scout Post 21 won
the annual ocean-to-ocean ca-
yuco race for the third time
Sunday and permanent posses-
sion of the trophy for the event.
Post 21 also copped second
place in the 1966 event.
Richard A. Williams, advisor
to Post 21, announced that the
winning boat -which also was
the victor last year- will not
be entered in the 1967 race as a
trophy contestant, but as a non-
competine patch boat.
The winner's time was 6
Hours, 52 minutes and 38 sec-
!onds.


Crew of the winning boat was
composed of: Robert Hushes.
crew captain: Marshall L. Har-
ris; Fred A. Garcia: and Robert
Donley. Members of the second
place boat crew were Capt. Rob-
ert Askew. Pete Hendrickson,
Donald Kat and Scott Williams.
Third place went to Post 7
and its boat crewed by Capt.
Frank R. Tester. John Bates.
Tom Duncan and Mark Cobb
In fourth place was a Post 3
vessel crewed by Capt. Fred
Fox, Wayne Albrittion. Charles
Myers and Richard Allen.
A wards were presented to
crew members in the first boats
and all participants in the 22
cay u c os that finished were
given race patches.
Canal Zone Acting Governor
H. R. Parfitt presented trophies
to crew members of the winninE
boat. George Vieto. Vice Chair-
man of the National Foreign
Relations Council. American Le-
gion. presented the American
Legion Trophy which was ac-
eppted on behalf of the Boy
Scouts bv Brig General W. K.
Skaer. IrSAF president of the
Canal Zone Council, Boy Scouts
of America.







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rn CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1967 CAYUCO RACE










Ocean-To-Ocean Cayuco Race


Gets


To Start Today)
`TT


The 1967 Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race gets off to splashing start today at
3 p.m. when 31 crews dip their cars into the Canal at the Cristobal Yacht Club.
Explorers of the Canal Zone Council, Boy Scouts of America, are partici-
pating in the race. Capt. Axton T. Jo nes, Transportation and Terminals direc-
tor, is official starter of the race.


Jerry Oetamore, in charge
of the escort craft, has 30
escort boats doing escort
duty for the cayuco race,
with Harold J. Million in the
lead boat ard Stuart L. Reed
as timekeeper. Patsy Deta-
more, manning the Blivit, is
the only woman doing escort
duty.
Last year's winner was
Post 21, sponsored by the
Balboa Union Church, which
made the crossing in 6 hours,
52 minutes and 38 seconds.
The record set in 1965, also
by Post 21, was 6 hours, 20
w .


The race schedule:
Friday, April 7, Crislobal to
Gatun: 11 54 a.,m. Pacific
side explorers board train at
Balboa ['eights.
1:20 p.m. debark 'from
train and report to Cristobal
Yacht Club. Check-in physi-
cai rechecks, boat and crew
inspections etc.
3:00 p.m Race begins.
4 00 p.m. Lead cayuco
should reach Gatun.
Saturday April 8; Gatun to
Gamboa
7:00 a.m. race begins from
Gatun.
11:00 a.m. Lead cayuco


reach Gamboa.
2:00 p.m. Last cayuco should
reach Gamboa.
Sunday, April 9, Gamboa
to Rodman.
7:15 a m Church services.
9:00 a.m. Race begins
from Gamboa.
10:45 a.m First cayuco ar-
rives at Pedro Miguel.
12:00 noon: Enter Locks.
12.15 p.rxt Race restarted
12:30 p.m First cayuco ar-
rives at Miraflores.
1:15 p ra Race restarted.
1:30 p.m. First cayuco ar-
rives at Rodman.
3:00 p.m. Awards cere-
m o n y, Rodman Baseball
Stadium.
m m


3:30 p.mi. Lunch for ex
plorers and Escort boat per.
sonnel.
4:30 p.m. Race officially
closed.
5:04 p.m. Atlantic Side ex-
plorers board train at Balboa
Heights fur return to Cristo-
bal.
The winning crew will be
awarded the American Le-
gion race trophy, first place
banner, and gold .-mcdals.
Second roughh fourth place
--.xews wd. be awarded ban-
ners and medals. All explor-
,rs who complete the race
will be awarded the coveted
1967 cayuco race emblem.
The 1967 Cayuco Queen will
be crowned at the awards
...-remony and all units are
reminded to have their queen
- at Rodmani.







Star &


Utrralb


ESTABLISH-ED IN 1849


mWmber 09 Int-reaneriEran Press AssoclaTion
PANAMA, R. P., FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1967

Displays Cayuco Race Trophy


George Vieto, center, Past Vice.chairman, Nptivnal Foreign Relations Council, American
Legion, holds the American Legion cayuco trophy to be awarded to the winner of the 1967
Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race on Sunday. Fxplorers of the Canal Zone Council, Boy Scouts of
America, are participating in the race April 7, 8 and 9. From left, Explorer Jim Latimer, Vieto,
and Explorer Ed Lee. Plaques on the wall are American Legion School Awards presented an-
nually to Balboa High School's outstanding boy and airl of the senior class.





Ocean- To-Ocean Cay uco Race
Gets Off To Start Today





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EN ROUTE -- Crews of the 1967 Ocean-to-ocean Cayuco
Race held April 7, 8 and 9, take off on the third lap of the
race from the Gamboa Siri Landing. Explorers of the Canal
Zone Council Boy Scouts of America, participated in the an-


nual race, won by El Bejuco, No. 1 cayuco of Post 21, spon-
sored by Balboa Union Church. Time of the ocean-tu-ocearn
crossing was 6 hours, 36 minutes and 40 seconds.


Placegetters Put Up Fight




To Beat Winning CZ Cayuco


















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bay 2: Sue Halley Epperson and a "pooped" Bob bonley at the end of the
second leg of the race in the dredging Division facility at Gamboa.


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EU BRtE W Cap4twv FM"ItW Victor


The gun wa5 fArM lo gpnnl the
1wginning~ )f kthe Ig~67o-. ut
bya !xJt-maide Indian (NbieI, The
M-e's "o~ is 5b, -Ov I 'Y% paddle a

the Pnalama 4::*nat in the hx-nqt timcn,.
Were it Niot for t6e developinent
2mtd stri9JIrl DIT M~LT1E OT 121to tke

m the cvuevUs T4JundM the Rrst few
tLhe Cristuha Yu.~e Cfli:h. w-.vcrl
boats In-d aled turnd ome in tib-
three IFot slv'l od tw he wqpy. Aflo-

RuuiA.Ier~iji. iL thle W.LtLT,. tTid to
5hnike ait their craft ar'd climb back
i-knthis etuni~d ord!y in their
tu iizjjpz il 0%v.~i agM.si.jj~~u this
freqi'ri i~wmpem" wei'e the.
crew. -of tlie, U TMOi, dA'irILir,Lu !c
thyit,-.,t di4) titae.
The 6Lr,-s sperlit tile IJOLvk of Aril
7 at CGlI m itarting Owe rae at
nlri ii : IF ,1. ir., ;y Tki
sgrelcli, [the ofi~ llI:t- rave, wavs
20 mit long, trrnmn(*~g in G4a~-
bmK where thif cmL itdwNi spent

aaf heir TOOmiin [,;ey ,1s
A nii.u *ar icm are ivi on- foun
du~'I thei exhausing~ librcey iiilUoIifL

W win 6... trnphy WM~ the s4acv,


-~


For the fourth consecutive time "El Bejuco" has won the annual ocean-to-ocean
Cayuco Race held April 7,8 and 9. The time was 6 hrs, 36 min, and 40 sec. It was
manned by Wayne Albritton, Robert Donley, Marshall Harris, and Robert Hughes. All
except Wayne paddled to victory last year. "El Ron Corredor," sponsored by the
Balboa Union Church and a member of Post 21, came in second. From left to right,
Pat Fallon, Robert Donley, Wayne Albritton, Ron Farnsworth and Barry Douglas.


It ua.u the Ioflget' c Lve
4`4r(II I3 f".0t andu was man
l~the 1:3YW~ cre~w in tsue mzrR (14
1-1 .D--ri.-. :1 4 It z the jaL-k.Yu!
LtiI-iel eximie~ily Vvel, and Ph.Imcl
7--,-A~gm the pautch boal,
4-b) Su~idAy ake~Xwou, tie LaL~
were 1nw~rz4l thr~xigh the *o a
N-iroj %iL~L,6.'I and Mira&irei, and
thmn $i'd' to the Fli~ih line at the

At thr award oremn~wv; Interr that'
afterioo~a. She~or Nrarin, a keirnir at
uidbcla. *.Iul::l Ch'ures Po~st 21, re-
WAd0c, de Arn'eiicnA LUgon r~cxI
truphv for the icraw of the V Ef p.-'-i
. 0. matked tile uur+3 Lumu,u-ve
victoiy far the pom\cvueo, It W,-:j
Maiid yWiNh. AlirMortis oUK i
11 lcs Al ~exet Albrifttmi Inih pviv
fle:d '0 the first % vienrv' [It r
11',.ilast year.' thL j~.~ ie
G oiiri. 389 unimites alA 40 &-O en,
was 1.5 nfiuLutin and 41 %=Dnaw5 be-
hind the reci'rd ta4 by he cuvuco
in 196L5" hcmevm'r (li dj ;e a
ron by I ~16 4AOj iui itk# "n
MiradforeT to Rdmwe.
'The. ,ceomr pLe ffe 'A'm tbe.
bojiee3r s isster .tihp, V~ Corredor do
1km. lia~io'4 Wiki thiat place for the
CUth -!d Li:ht Yecar. Thmy were award-
edi Wrinen; laid biedals as WVre the
Prew of the A04;efln. Iii(ld pkaec ari
t)hC (;r-E~n 'eeiii, fMxtlL j:A~re AILt

awarded the 196'.7 :..'ii r'e


TILIKS(L.O.- Nlay 11, 1967
,I


Page 7


PARRBAKEET











































I if
4
4.


- *.- i---
- -.--- -~


Rick Williams congratulates the winners at the Finish Line at Rodman Piers.



































6" ** 4 1- I.*. .

THE END The El Bejuco won the 1967 Annual Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race for the fourth straight year Sunda
afternoon at the Rodman Pier. The long green cayuco, sponsored by Post 21 of Balboa Union Church, was manne
by Robert Donley, Wayne Albritton, Marshall Harris and Robert Hughes. There time was 6 hours, 36 minute
and 40 seconds. Placing second for the third straight year was the Rum Runner, sister cayuco to the El Bejuc<
The Rum Runner crew of Mark Pickell, Pat Fallon, Ron Fransworth and Berry Douglas completed the race in
hours, 50 minutes and 55 seconds. The crew of the El Bejuco broke the record for the run from Miraflores to Ro<
man by 16 seconds. The entire race was 47 miles.
























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Bob Donley, Wayne Albritton, Marshall Harris, Bob Hughes













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AWARD CEREMONY PROGRAM


INVOCATION


Remarks by Scout Executive

Presentation of Race
Patches


14th ANNUAL

CANAL ZONE COUNCIL

1967 OCEAN-TO-OCEAN CAYUCO RACE

AWARD CEREMONY

9 APRIL




U. S. NAVAL STATION ROUDMAN

CANAL ZONE


Chaplain (CDR)
G.E. Vanderpool

Mr. Ted G.Kellogg

Commissioner
Wesley Townsend
&
Deputy Commissioner
Pat Beal


AWARDS
Fourth Place
Third Place
Second Place
First Place

Presentations will be made by MGEN James D.
Alger, USA, MGEN R. J. Clizbe, USAF,
RADM Geo. P. Koch, USN, and Mr. Stuart Reed.
Mr. George Vieto, Past Vice Chairman, American
Legion will present the 1st place trophy,
generously provided by the Canal Zone Depart-
ment in continuing support of the American
Youth Program.

Crowning of Queen


Benediction


Chaplain (CDR)
G. E. Vanderpool


Note: (1) Dinner after ceremony
(2) Bus to Railroad for Cristobal
Crews depart at 4:30 P. M.













1!-


U,;
a4~Er t~.,


14


EL BEJUCO DID IT AGAIN It's beginning to be habit
with the 24-foot Darien-built cayuco which won -- for the
fourth consecutive time -- the annual ocean-to-ocean
Cayuco Race held on the Canal April 7, 8 and 9. El Beju-
co, manned by SeaScout explorers Robert Donley,
Wayne Albritton, Marshall Harris and Robert Hughes,
and sponsored by Post 21 of the Balboa Union Church


AiJA


Ed ,


'S
JLh4u~ea*VAIPJ


tir.U..)t. ', -


-~'-*^ a'.e
-*


made the crossing in hours, 36 minutes and 40 seconds,
At the awards ceremonyof the American Legion Cayuc(
R ace Trophy, from left, George Vieto, past vice-chair.
man, National Foreign Relations Council. American Legion
Richard Williams, chairmanof the post committee; Henr:
Williams, post advisor; Sharon Mann 1967 Cayuco Race
QuPen; Donley, Albritton, Harris and Hughes.












2- ,,, KF "--N







A/ V /


* Bob Donley
orginial
paddle
artwork


* draw by
Richard
Allen BHS
"67 .













i:::":H:" : :: .












Queen Sharon Mann accepts
the First Place Trophy.










BALBOA (CONTRIB)-The
1967 winner of the annual
ocean to ocean cayuco race
was the El Bejuco number P-
21-1, with a prize crew com-
posed of Robert Donley, Way-
ne Albritton, Marshall Harris
and Robert Hughes, with a
tima of 6 hours 36 minutes 40
sece
The El Bejuco has now won
the annual race for the fourth
atraigh year. The long green
cayuco is sponsored by Post
21 of the Balboa Union Church
The crew of the El BOuco
did not set an over-all record
but did break the record for
the run from Miraflores to
Rodman by 16 seconds. The
race of 47 miles through the
Panama Canal is broken into
five laps ver a there day
period.
The all-time record was
set in 1965 by the El Bejuco
with a time of 6 hours 20 mi-
nutes and 59 seconds,
Taking second place honors
was P-21-2 the Rum Runner
and sister cayuco to the El Be-
juco. The crew of the Run Run-
ner was Mark Pickell, Pat Fal-
lon, Ron Fransworth and Berry
Douglas. The run runner com-
pleted the race in 6 hours 50
minutes and 55 seconds. This
was the third straight year the
Rum Runner has placed second.


Third place went to the Ra-
ven, a solid black cayuco num-
ber S-9-1 with a crew com-
posed of James Hotsko, Har-
rell Persons, Rudolfo Parsons
and Gary Saltz. The Raven is
sponsored by Ship 9 of the U.S.
Navy Coco Solo,
The Raven pulled the big
upset of the race by beating
the El Bejuco on the first leg
of the race from Cristobal to
Gatun by almost a full minute.
The Raven finished the race
with time of 7 hours, 19 min,
49 see,
Fourth place went to cayuco
P-21-3, the Green Weenie,
with a crew of Preston Trim,
Ted Hinter, Rusty Bowen and
Pat Mulroy.
Weenie had a time of 7 hours
30 minutes and 57 seconds,
Fifth place was won by cayu-
co P-l-1 sponsored by Post one
of the Margarita Elk's Club
with a crew of P. Morland, W.
Graham, P. Baas andP.
ashabaugh with a time of 7
hours 38 minutes and45 se-
conds,
Times for the other cayucos
entered were: S-9-3 time 7:58
:06, P-l-2 time 8:07:19,S-9-5
time 7:55:02, S-10-2 time 8:23
:10, P-l-5 Time 8:44:34,S-8-S
time 8:11:34, P-7-7 time 8:31:
fl g L n php


SECOND -- El Correctorde Ron, Rumlrun-
ner, No. 2 cayuco of Explorer Post 21, spon-
sored by the Balboa Union Church, won sec-
ond place for the third consecutive year in
the annual ocean-to-ocean Cayuco Race held
April 7, 8 and 9. From left, George Vieto,


..\ \ "









THIRD -- The Raven,Ship 9,No. 1 cayuco,
sponsored by Coco Solo Navy, came int third
in the 1967 Cayuco Race Aprll7, Sand 9 from
the Cristobal Yacht Club to Rodaman on the
Pacific side. From left, Dorothy Harper,
tu~ue n ol LhL Rater,, Col. Geuore W. Crass,
.- hsI mwmmmu.Hm dm E.. d ~ ~ .


past vice-chairman, National Foreign Rela-
Ulns Council, Americar. Leil.,n SiharonMarm,
1967 CaOiuci Race Quen-r. Aun. ,Joere P.
Koch. Henry Williams and sea explorers
Mark Pickell, Noel Farnsworth, John Fall. ..
Barry Douglas, crew of 91 Corredur dle H' -n.


Ll- i J
Jft^^ f ^^


Commander USAFSO); Sgt. Raymond Under-
kofler; and sea explorers James Hotsoko;
Gary Sals, RudoLfo Parson and Harold Par-
son, the Raven's crew. The Raven's time-7
hours, 19 minutes and 49 seconds. (Panama
Caanal Ptmow)


|1







Taking.second- place honors was P-21-2 the
Rum Runner and sister cayuco to the El
Bejuco. The crew of the Rum Runner was
Mark Pickell, Pat Fallon, Ron Farnsworth and
Berry Douglas. The Rum Runner-completed
the race in 6 hrs 50 min and 55 sec. This was
the third straight year thd: Rum Runner has
placed second,.



1


I-


Fourth place went to cayuco P-21-3, the
Green Weenie, with. a crew of Preston Trim,-
Ted Hinter, Rusty Bowen and Pat Mulroy.
Weenie had a time of 7hrs 30 min and 57 sec.













Sii




Uk


..: .. .,
5Z- =.)' t
1. .i**;7i -


FOURTH -- Fourth place winner in the
1967 ocean-to-ocean Cayuco Race was the
"Green Wernie," cayuco No. 3 of Post 21,
Balboa Union Church, which made the cross-
ing in 7 hours, 30 minutes and 57 seconds.
From left, (partially hidden) George Vieto,


past vice-chairman, National Foreign Rela-
tions Council, American Legion; Steward
Reed, the race timekeeper; Henry Williams,
post advisor; and explorers Rusty Bowen,
Preston Trim, Edward Mulroy, Ted Henter.
and 1967 Cayuco ,. Ice Queen Sharon Mann.


The Panama American Saturday April 15, 1967 Page 5b'

















*l CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO OCEAN
1968 CAYUCO RACE



































FULL SPEED AHEAD--Members of the "El Bejueo" puton They came in second place. From left to right are Wayne
-dpeed in theflnallapoftheannual coast to coast cayuco race. Albritton, Tom Duncan, Marshall Hains and Robert Hughes.










P -


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3
I.


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4




~ ,~
* .1'


15TH ANNIVERSARY
CANAL ZONE COUNCIL
OCEAN TO O OCEAN
69b CAYUCO RACE


,... .-




plorer Cayuoo Race. From left to right are Admiral Koch, I
Tom Duncan, Wayne AlbIrtton, Miss Carol /dair, sponsor
6f El Bejueo, Marshall Harris and Robert Huhies,


I. *

l~


1
~d. &



.~ k,~j


RUNNERSUP-Poudly displaying the second place banner
received from Rear Admiral George P. Koch, Commandant
of the 15th Naval District, are the members of the tayoo
hE l ^e a the 15th annu.. Ex-


S. :. :,. _-
L T^ .^.-^^''
^* e. *^









HISTORIC DE LA REGATA
CAMPEONES POR CATEGORIA Y CLASE


ANO CAT. NOMBRE
1972 19 Regata
Masculino NIC
Femenino PREDATOR
1971 18 Regata
Masculino NIC
1970 17 Regata
Masculino DESTINY (MARGARITA)
1969 16 Regata
Masculino DESTINY (MARGARITA)
1968 15 Regata
Masculino NIC (ALBROOK)


10 Regata
Masculino COJEME SI PUEDES (GAMBOA)
9 Regata
Masculino HOMER'S FOLLY (GAMBOA)
8 Regata
Masculino P-20-BALBOA
7 Regata
Masculino COJEME SI PUEDES BALBOAA)
6 Regata
Masculino COJEME SI PUEDES BALBOAA)
5 Regata
Masculino S-9-CRISTOBAL
4 Regata
Masculino P-12-GATUN
3 Regata
Masculino P-12-GATUN
2 Regata
Masculino P-12-GATUN
1 Regata
Masculino P-12-GAMBOA


TIEMPO

15:46:41


06:09:57

06:19:58

06:11:13


CLUB

POST 21
POST 1

POST 21

POST 1

POST 1

SQUADRON 15


SHIP 10

SHIP 10

SHIP 20

07:25:46 POST 3

07:29:37 POST 3

SHIP 9

POST 12

POST 12

POST 12

10:30:00 POST 12


1967 14 Regata
Masculino BEJUCO POST 21
1966 13 Regata
Masculino BEJUCO (BALBOA) 06:52:38 POST 21
1965 12 Regata
Masculino BEJUCO (BALBOA) 06:20:59 POST 21
1964 11 Regata
Masculino BEJUCO (BALBOA) 07:46:57 POST 21


1963

1962

1961

1960

1959

1958

1957

1956

1955

1954






Cayuco Race Queen Congratulated


I -. --.


Post 21 Queens

Sue Lessiack

Gail Bohannon

March Adair
Leslie Dugas

Sharon Mann

Carol Adair


Queen for a Day


TO BE OR NOT TO BE? THAT IS THE QUESTION. Sue Lessiack, Balboa
High School Student, was chosen as Queen to represent Explorer Post #21 of the
Balboa Union Church during the coming Cayuco Race. Sue is shown here smiling
upon her crew captains, (left to right) Doug Feeney, Bill Fall, and Rick Williams.
There are many young ladies throughout the Canal Zone who have been chosen to
represent the various Posts, Ships and Squadrons which will compete during the
Annual Cayuco Race to be held May 26th 27th and 28th by the Canal Zone Boy
Scout Council.


-As


Queen Sharon Mann and Queen Carol Adair


i ..ii
Congratulatory handshake by U.S. Ambassador to Panama Charles W.
Adair, Jr., to Leslie Dugas after she was crowned queen of the 1996 Ocean-
to-Ocean Cayuco Race. At left is the 1965 queen March Adair, no relation
to the Ambassador. Extreme right is Bob Hughes, crew captain of the
winning boat from Explorer Scout Post 21.


ft, ., .



























Or-



T.h ... b. an


The race became a co-ed event in 1972.













"BEJUCO'S BACK"



















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Bejucos Back SNAFFU...af ter 30 years.
Left to right: Bob Hughes, Marshall
Harris, Bob Donley, Fred Garcia beat their
1966 time by 2 minutes







- -
-- -5-

~- ~ *
~-. -
-.-~- -
-~ ---~-~--*

-
_-_~~~% -~


Louie Husted our "coach"

1998

Thanks from SNAFU crew


25th out of 49 boats...

6:50:44


I?


I


Op







BEJUCO NIC DESTINY NIC
64-65-66-67 6s 69-70 71-72-73-74



0




*X IavERSARiO 7
19S4-2003
07 ,
iaOL lT
| 0000 e'
C 1Lj'^j'


DUE PROCESS NIC DEAR DICK DUE PROCESS
75 76-77 78 79


p. REMO DE
2000


RAPID TRANSIT DUE PROCESS MISCONCEPTION NIC
95-96-97 M8 o6 00


RAPID TRANSIT ANACARDIUM
01 02





















ACP=3AW, NISSAN Mejdpanand~aaI M Aa rNE1 N A


Balboa Yacht Club Cup
Melia Panama Canal Cup
Train Trip to Galeta Point
Club Announcements
Race Accomodations
Gamboa Resort Cup
Nissan Ocean to Ocean


Who We Are
Mission & Vision
Committee Members
Join us!
Registration Forms
Book of Rules [Reglas]

About the Race
Training and Paddling Tips

ILM ^^^^^^


-Club de Remos de Balboa/Balboa Paddle Club
Home -> Club de Remos de Balboa -> Who We Are


Who We Are

Who We Are

With the closing of the American bases and the consequent exit of the Boy Scouts of America,
a vacancy was created in the leadership and organization of the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race.

The Balboa Paddle Club(CREBA) was founded in 2000 by a group of adults and adolescent
volunteers in order to fill the vacancy and to keep the tradition of 49 years of the Cayuco Race
alive. Together we have more than 100 years of experience in the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco
Race.

We are a non profit Club dedicated to the promotion of the sport of paddling and the
conservation of the water shed of the Canal. We count on the support of the Autoridad del
Canal de Panama (ACP) to carry out the Ocean to Ocean Cavuco Race and we are registered
in the National Institute of Sports (INDE).

Quienes Somos

Con el cierre de las bases Norteamericanas y la consecuente salida de los Boy Scouts de
America, se cre6 un vac[o en la directive y organizaci6n de la Regata de Cayucos Oceano a
Oceano.


http://www.cayucorace.org/


am MIK 111E








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And the Race goes on...leaving Pedro Miguel Locks 2005.
Pablo Preto


& r-


Ii? I)!






Cayuco Race Reunites Former Classmates
by Susan Harp
The Panama Canal Spillway
April 9, 1998

On the first day of the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race for Explorers, Balboa High School students Fred Garcia, Bob
Donley, Bob Hughes and Marshall Harris caused a sensation when they showed up for morning classes wearing home-
dyed green T-s.hirts and gold earrings in their left earlobes. The year was 1966,.and their boat, the Bejuco, was the
defending champion for the second year in a row. At the end of the three-day race, they emerged the winners with a
total time of 6 hours, 52 minutes, and earned the honor of being the first crew to retire the race trophy because of
their-three year run.
Reminiscing abQut the old days might take place while sitting in lounge chairs on the patio for some, but. the foursome
decided to do some more active reminiscing when they picked up their paddles last week for the 45th annual race. They
challenged themselves and the competition once again after a 32 year break. The Bejuco no longer in existence, they
commandeered the Snafu to compete in the patch boat category, the only class open to paddlers over 21 years of age.
"It was a lot less formal in the 60s." said Donley as he enjoyed a tropical evening in Cardenas two days before the
race. The group had been attending pre-race meetings,' learning about the safety rules and observing the head-to-toe
color coordinated outfits of the seriously competitive crews in the trophy categories reserved for youths ages 15 to
21. Hughes added, "It was-a kid's race then, with no sponsors and not much parental involvement except through the
Boy Scout organization."
What possessed the four former classmates, now spread out across Texas, Arkansas, Virginia and Florida, to return'to
the Isthmus and subject their not-sa-young anymore bodies to the grueling race? "It started as a way to have some
fun," says Hughes. "Since then, we have renewed so many friendships. People made paddles and T-shirts and found the
boat, trailer and sponsors. It's making more memories than we ever thought."
It all started two years ago when Fred Garcia, whose brother, Tony, works in the Panama Canal Commission Marketing
Division, paddled in a cayuco for fun during a visit to Panama. Enthused about reliving the good old days, Fred used the
Internet sites set up by former Canal Zone residents who live off-Isthmus to find his three former team-mates. They
had not seen each other for at least 20 years. As casual talk turned to serious plans, they were lucky to receive local
support from Diablo resident Jan Weade, who provided the. Snafu, arranged most of the logistics in Panama and even
designed T-shirts advertising the foursome as "Real (old) Men."
A week before the race, they began practicing paddling the Snafu, and Fred Garcia claimed, "For people who hadn't
been together for 30 years, it seemed like it was yesterday." Weade, whose daughter competed twice in the Snafu in
the last few years, said that because of parental involvement with the kids and the commitment involved, "The race has
really helped hold the community together."
No matter the outcome of the three days of- competition, it seems- the race has also reached far beyond the community
to bring four friends together again.








Cayuco Race Reunites Former Classmates
Bob -onley

Now fast forward to November 1997 and the miracles of email and the Internet. All of the crew of the 1966 El
Bejuco have found each other and have agreed to attempt the race some 32 years later. The training begins in
spite of now having families and work responsibilities. -Fred now works for Social Security service-in Arkansas, Bob
Donley in the engineering department of GMDC in Houston, Marshall is a Federal Marshall in Key West, Florida,
and,Bob Hughes works for Defense Mapping Agency, in Virginia.

With the very-generous help of many friends and sponsors it all came together. .On April 3rd,1998 I found myself
in our replacement cayuco "SNAFU" on the starting line on the Atlantic side. We arrived a week before the race
to acclimatized to the heat and find our old paddling stroke. Our first awaking came on the launch ramp the first
day of practice. We over heard some of the young kids who wee also launching there ask each other "what are the
fathers doing launching their kids boat"? This was just the inspiration we need. The crew came to together as if
we had never been apart but the heat was vicious. As a result of El Nino Panama was suffering the m6st sever
drought in 84 years. The lake level is at a critically low stage and the race was in question. A compromise was
found to continue the race but not lock the boats down saving the 26 million gallons of water required.

This time were in the Patch Boat class with more ,n an idea of finishing against cayuco which how allowed to have
steerable rudders and multiple paddlers. The SNAFU was at is its "maximum summer load line" with all of our
young bodies on board. The boat was extremely tippy at this loading which resulted in many critical moments in
the rough water and when crossing the ships wakes. But on we paddled. The length of the second day across the
lake was the most exhausting. As.we passed between the.Tiger Islands a glanced at my watch to confirm how
many hours had passed; 15 minutes it was going to be a long day. But to distance passed and the next we knew it
was the third day and we were passing the Cut. We portaged around the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks to
complete. The extreme heat and the low waters had also brought out-the Crocodiles and the native Cayman. 10
footer was spotted in the area where we launched for the-last stretch but no one seemed concerned.

We reached the finish in a time of 06:50:44 or some 2 minutes faster then we had completed the race 32 years
earlier. Of the 49 boats entered we finished 25th, not bad for a bunch of old guys. We were not the oldest crew
in the race. Some of our friends who still live in the Zone also paddled and with several months of practice
finished in the top ten.







Over 45 Crews Participated In This Year's Cayuco Race
The Panama Canal Spillway
April 9, 1998
More than 45 cayucos raced through the Panama Canal fast weekend during the 45th Annual Ocean to Ocean race for
Explorer Scouts. Thirty-two of the dugout canoes, which traditionally hold four, were paddled by youths ages 15 to 20,
competing for trophies in three categories: male, female, and co-ed. Seventeen other boats participated in the three-
day race just fo'r the "fun" of paddling in the hot sun for hours on end to receive 6nly a cloth patch as a"reward.
This year, the Rapid Transit was in the spotlight as it attempted to defend its three-year record of winning the race,
but seven other boats beat its overall time. Due Process, paddled by Tom Herring, Bob Huerbsch, Ruben Prieto and,
Mike Commeau came out on top with a time of 5 hours 26 minutes 27 seconds.
Only one boat can win in each category, but somehow the starting line is packed year after year with kids and adults '
answering the call of the addiction called "doing cayuco." John Williford, six-year veteran and currently a cayuco coach
said about the addiction, "At school, you're left out if you're not doing it. After the race, you always say you'll never do
it again, but next year you're back."
This year, some-of the patch boats' participants were also. answering the call of past races, with the crew of the Bejuco
returning after a 32 year absence. An all-women's team also returned after about 30 years to race for their very first
time. ,(Females were not included in the competition until some time in the 1970s.) Connie Zemer Bumgarner, Judy
Walton Davis, Laurel Walton Thrasher and Malena-Bremer Merriam flew in from the United States to paddle in the-
Tsunami Davis said, "We were always jealous that the boys .got to race, so we came back to fulfill the dream."
Another participant, Ted Henter, also returned after a long absence from Panama to paddle in the Slave Gall//ey. Henter
holds the world title in water-skiing championships for the blind. His blindness resulted from a traffic accident that
occurred after he had completed in the cayuco race for two years as a youngster. By returning to the event this year,
Henter became the first blind person to participate in the race, and the fourth-place position of the Slave Galley in the
"patch boat" category attests to the success of his entire crew. Not one to be held by the lack of sight, Henter adapts
computer software for use by the blind.
Whatever the attraction, interest in the race remains high. Participants in this year's race were about 50 percent
Panama Canal Commission employees or dependents, 25 percent military and 25 percent Panama residents or others this
year, according to race coordinator Hugh Thomas, who works in the Department of Maritime Operations: Thomas
further added that the Canal Agency and U.S. military provided invaluable logistical and safety support, publicity and
escort boat services, with local businesses sponsoring individual crews. Officials from the race committee and the Boy
Scouts of America expressed their appreciation to the Commission and the other groups that contributed to the
success of the event.






FINAL OCEAN TO OCEAN
CAYUCO RACE
(As We Know and Love It)
by Louis Husted
THE RACE

1. Day One: The race begins on Friday March 26 at 3:00 p.m. It starts at the Cristobal Yacht Club and ends at
the North End of Gatun Locks. The first boat will take around 4-7-48 minutes depending on the
conditions.
2.Day Two: The boats leave the South End of.,Gatun Locks at about,7:30 a.m. The first boat will reach Gamboa,
around three hours after the start. This segment is about 21miles long.
3.Day Three,:This is broken up into three legs. The first leg begins at the old -Gamboa Airstrip at around 7:30 a.m.
-and goes about a mile to the Gamboa Dredging Division. This leg replaces the Miraflores Lake stretch
which was eliminated last year as a result of the low level of the lake. We were not able to
use the locks because of it. The second leg takes the boats through the Gaillard (or Culebra)
Cut. This is the part of the construction of the Canal which caused the greatest difficulty
due to the huge slides such as the Cucaracha Slide. This segment leaves the Gamboa Dredging Division
at around 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts and the first boat will arrive at the Pedro Miguel Landing about one
hour and fourteen minutes later.'From there the boats are trailered to the South End of Miraflores
Locks where they are started to end the race. They arrive at the Diablo Landing about 15 minutes
'later. That puts us af around 2:00 p.m. or thereabouts.

Now the timers have the demanding task before them to verify the times and ascertain the accuracy of three days
and five legs of compiled times. If things go without a hitch, we are ready to present the overall results at the
Curundu.Middle School Cafetorium Awards Assembly that evening at 7:00 p.m. .
This is the overall view of the race.

LOGISTICS
Paddlers and friends make arrangements through the Commission for transient quarters for the first day at
Cristobal. Saturday night will be spent at whatever hotel one chooses upon first arriving in Panama on the Pacific
Side. Transportation from Panama to Gamboa on Sunday morning for the start of the race is no problem since
Gamboa is a short 20 minutes from the city. On Friday.night the Gatun Yacht Club holds a huge spaghetti dinner
for all the paddlers and race observers. Here the trophy for the winners of the first leg is awarded.








HUMAN INTEREST INFORMATION


An interesting aspect of the race is that the winner of each leg receives a'wooden bead. Each leg is represented by'a different colored
bead. Leg one is.a yellow bead representing the Gold (Atlantic) Coast; leg two is a blue bead representing the blue waters of Gatun Lake; leg three
is a white bead representing the Miraflores Lake; leg four is the red bead representing the blood shed by the workers who died in the
construction of the Cut; and leg five is the green bead representing the deep waters of the Pacific. When a paddler has won all the five
different colors, he is honored with the title of MASTER PADDLER. A paddler does not have to obtain all of the beads in the same year. He can
accumulate them over several years of racing. The Master Paddler is therr inducted through a private ceremony in which he is given a secret Choco
Indian word which is only known to the fraternity of Master Paddlers.

The race is replete with boats whichR have a rich and varied history, and indeed each boat has its own unique origin.'Some of the more interesting:

NIC- First raced in 1968, this boat virtually rewrote the race. It was thelfirst boat of 28 feet in length while the rest were between 19 23.'
feet. As a result, it blew the others out of the water. From then on boats became longer. "NIC" is Latin for "NON ILEGITIMUS
CARBORUNDUM, EST" or "DON'T LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN". It is the all-time winner with 10 victories, the most of any other boat
in race history.

EL BETJUCO- Prior to. the debut of the "NIC"., ".EL BEJUCO" was the winningest boat with 4 wins in the Male category and 4 wins in the Female
category, the latter record being held along with the "BRUISED REED".

THE MOST, THE ALMOST, THEVUTMOST, THE MISTER-MOST, THE DADDY MOST, THE MOMMY MOST, THE ULTIMATE MOST-
Although all these boats were originally built by the Egger family from Margarita, they have been modified and rebuilt for the most part by those
who have bought or paddled them throughout their history.

THE DEAR DICK- Named in honor of Mr. tick Williams, past post advisor of Post 21 who spent much of his time and effort in working with this
race. His son, Rick Williams is now the advisor for Post 21 in his second year. This is one of the oldest boats in the race.

THE BRUISED REED- Built in 1985 by Jay.Gibson, Post 10 advisor from Gamboa, the name is from the 42nd chapter of the book of Isaiah found
in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is a prophesy of the coming of Christ which indicates that EVERYONE is a "bruised reed", but there is One
who does not break them but rather makes them whole. "THE BRUISED", along with the BEJUCO, has the most wins in the female category with
four.

THE RAPID, TRANSIT- Built by Mr. Norm Watkins, this boat is six years.old, has the overall record in the history of this race, and is the only,
boat to ever cross Gatun Lake in an official time of 2:47. It has won 15 straight legs in three consecutive years.

THE DUE PROCESS- Built by Mr. Mark Broussard, it has the second most wins
of any boat in the history of the race. This boat, when it raced in the PATCH category once, became the only patch boat to win the overall time
of the race. It is now in the States where it will be placed in the Canal Zone Museum in Florida.

As you can well imagine, there are numerous other boats which also have a unique origin or story behind them. In addition to the unique history of
the boats, this race also provides ample occasions which illustrate the human spirit at its, best in the face of adversity and insurmountable odds.









Scott Williams ,


My first year in the race was in '63 in the Dark Horse with Billy (Rod) Boughner, Robin Lane
and I think Don Kat. We got 4Th.place.That may have been the Bejuco's first race and first
place. Phil, we built our boats and not "Farmer Fred", but under his direction at your place on
Amador Road. Troop 21 became Post 21 because the race officials decided that a Troop of Boy
Scouts could not receive the award that the Green Weenie justly earned. Most of our boats
were painted with DUPONT DELUXE "INTERLUX," Atlantic Green marine paint (from Balboa
Yacht Club store) in honor of the "Weenie". Our T-shirts and sailor's caps were dyed "Kelly
Green" and the Green Machine was let out of the bag to kick some serious ass. A dynasty was
born. My 2Nd. year in the race, in the Dark Horse, we were disqualified when Bill B. cramped
up and boarded an escort boat opposite Dump Inspector's. We told him to just sit tight and
we would paddle him in as we were in serious contention. He wouldn't listen. The next
year,65',we had the Rum Runner with me, Bill B., Don Kat and Pete H. as captain. That was the
year we had our left ears pierced and wore big ear rings and they tried to suspend us from ,
school they backed down. The Rum Runner, as far as I know, was the only cayuco to run ass-
backwards. A cayuco's bow.is a little wider at the- bow than stern-but Pete's butt would not .
fit easily .in the normal stern-so we reversed it. It makes it a little harder to steer. That was
the year I designed our distinctive "V" shaped wave breaker which worked great to deflect
water over the bow to the sides rather than inside. Here comes the rub. The Bejuco's crew
was Rick, Ronrie C. ,Kenny P. & Phil. Leaving Gatun, andjust short of the Banana.Channel, they
lost their bailer so we slowed down and passed them our backup bailer. Then it was a full-on
race across the lake, trading places all the way. No other boats were in sight. Between Dump
Inspectors and Bohio Point, Billy B. crapped out again. So we had only 3 crew paddling from
Gamboa Reach to Dredging Div. point and ended up only about 2 min. behind the Bejuco. There
were only the timers and a few of the crew support families there at the time. We loaded our
own boats on the trailer and were eating our sandwiches and drinking sodas-before we saw the
first paddle flashes off Bohio Point. I think the 4th. & 5th.place boats on that stretch were
ours, but the boat that Mac Landrum was in was penalized 2 min. because they barely cut to
the inside of a buoy.









Scott Williams (cont'd.)


As for the Rum Runner beating the Bejuco across Miraflores lake-you didn't
swamp-we.just beat you there. Payback for us to slow down and give you our.
backup bailing bucket for the long run to Gamboa. Anyway, we cut the record
time across Gatun Lake, and the race as a whole, by some 26 min. or so. I don't
care. It was Bejuco lst.,Rum Runner 2nd.that year and the next. The crews
changed but I was more interested in surfing by then. But Post 21 continued to
dominate the race for years later: The Non Illigitmus Carborundum (Don't Let
The Bastards Wear You Down), ( NIC), was not a serious problem in our years

I do remember getting into a "paddle battle" ,while rounding the pier after the
start from the CYC.I don't remember what the other boat was ,but they were
deliberately messing with us. That was always a mess rounding the pier. I
smacked one of theirs up side the head and pushed down hard on their gunwale
and they went under. One of them hung onto our stern line until Pete Whacked
him on the hand with his paddle. bonr't mess with the "Boyz in Green"! Ilwas
bowman (stroke) in the "Runner" and remember going through the cut one year.
We were close to the bank and so was a "log". Well, that was no log, but a Crock
that was nearly as long as us! I increased the stroke cadence.

In the photo of 64,arriving at Rodman, we had put "Bones" in the bow and me
2nd.. Out of all the Explorer Posts, Ships & Squadrons in the race, I'll bet it
was Post 21 that won more medals than anyone. Note that the NIC was manned
by Post 21 crews in '71 & '72










Rob Kilpatrick


Regarding the cayuco race, I remember the first year (1962) I was in the race the two of
us were in a paragua(sp?) oir really long flat boat, which Skip captained." I don't remember
how many of us there were on that boat, I think it was a "patch boat" as it was long
and I think there were more'than four or us. Anyhow, as I remember, after we pulled
out of the shelter of the big pier at Cristobal, into Limon Bay, there was a nasty chop
and we couldn't keep that thing from swamping, and finally we had to give up! You
went on into another boat, and for some reason I just went home that nite! The next
year I remember we had 3 boats in the race, the Green Weenie, the Dark Horse; and
the Hackers Four. I think you were the captain of the latter and that was the boat
I was in. I remember the Weenie came close to winning an award, and we finished
the race but were nowhere-near winning, but don't remember anything about the
Dark Horse. I think all 3 boats were.painted dark green. I-still remember training
for the race in that small single-person boat that we named El Solo Mio, on that
lake next to Miraf lores Lake. It was a great way to train in paddling and in boat
control.




The Balboa Union Church
sponsored Troop 21 and
Post 21.












Bill Fall


The first year for me was 1962. Like Rob says, we rounded the first bend in the race in
Crisfobal Harbor and it was all over for us. We kept swamping and they took us out of the
race. I got in a boat from Curundu, I think, replacing a crew member who took sick.
I finished the race with them.
The next year was the Hackers Four and we were an Explorer Post. Rob Kilpatrick, Donald
Willingham, Mark Saunders, and myself. We started the race kind of slow, but finished the
race in good shape. I believe we beat the Green Weenie or finished right behind them in
the last stretch from Miraflores to the Balboa Yacht Club.-
We had fun making our. own paddles out of native wood and we used them in the race that
year .and the next. We used a hatchet and a spoke-shave to shape the.blanks cut out of a
native cedar plank.
The sun was brutal and I remember getting a chill when we-were lowered out of the sun into
the bottom of the lock chambers. I got a bad sunburn the first year. Trying to sleep in the
Gatun Line handlers Shack was not an easy thing to do, as someone was throwing a wet mop
head around. Bo Cook could be heard bellowing across the Isthmus when it hit him in the
face. The second year we slept under the Holtzclaw's (our former scout master) house in
Gatun and got some sleep. The second night we all slept at home and returned to Gamboa for
the last day's race.


WILLIAM B FALL
IS REGlStW WITH -TH.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERIC4
axp..fmt Po0_ NO. S 4.
21 BALBOA CANAL ZONE
TO THE LAST DAY OF
FEBRUARY 1964


a "Plank Owner" for
Post 21.


still have the paddle after all these years...









Phil Stewart

My first race was in 1962. I was a Sea Scout then, Ship 8 I1 think. I was the captain, crew
was Paul Robinson, Jack Powers (Jack had two different colored eyes) and Matt Manning. We
practiced very little, finished 14th out of about 40. Lucky to have done so well. We swamped
under the Bridge of the Americas. Had a hell-of a time getting Matt's big butt back in. Finish
that year was the Balboa Yacht club.
Next year (1963)1 was hospitalized with pneumonia and didn't compete. Rick was right, Bruce
bouglas-took my'place and they finished third in the Weanie. I raced in Bejuco,( which my bad'
built, along with a couple others, such as Rum Runner and one more, maybe Dear Dick) in 1964
and 1965
When we told my bad name was to be Bejuco he said you might have well called it Chicken
Shit". We all thought that was pretty funny at the time.
Rick didn't mention it but 64 and 65 Bejuco crew was Rick, me, Kenny and Ronnie Carroll. For
some reason Pete Hendrickson went to another crew in Post 21 and was replaced by Ronnie
Carroll. Don't know if I spelled Ronnie's last name right.

Small detail, we won all stretches of both races
except in '65 we came in second behind one of our
own boats in the Miraf lores lake. Race organizers
put us in middle of boats coming out of locks and
we ran into other boats, took on about 30 gallons
of water. We paddled like hell, Ronnie bailed like
hell aid we passed about a dozen boats but
couldn't quite catch our own boat (Scott Williams
was in it I think) and came in second.







Rick Williams

I first raced in 1961 for Troop 21 with Jim Rambo, Skip Kilpatrick and someone else (Dr.
Alzheimer) in the Green Weenie. We became Post 21 in 1962 because Boy Scouts were not
allowed to compete from 1962 on. ( We just missed beating the Cojeme si puedes for 4th
place in 1961)
1963 we were still in the Green Weenie. Bruce Douglas replaced Phil Stewart who got sick at
the last minute. Kenny Phillips, Pete Hendrickson and I were in the crew. There is a shot
from the Boy's Life Magazine (Marchl 1964) article of our 1963 crew.
In 1964 Gail Bohannon was our Queen. It was the first year for El Bejuco to race and we won
1st place. We also won 1st place in 1965 with the same crew. March Adair was our Queen in
1965. Actually, El Bejuco won 1st place from 1964 thru 1967. The only other boat to
accomplish that feat was the NON ILLIGITIMUS CARBURUNDUM (NIC).
I did race in 5 races. I have framed my race patches and the first one is 1961 and the
last is 1965. Skip Kilpatrick was the coxswain of the Green. Weenie in 1961.
In 1965 Scott's boat was the Rum Runner Scott, Pete Hendrickson, Billy Boughner and Don
Kat. We swamped in Pedro Miguel locks and were almost the last boat out. We passed
everyone except the Rum Runner across the lake. They beat us by a boat length as I
recall. What a heartbreaker for us.


It has been my honor and pleasure to be one of the founding members of Post 21 in 1962. The transformation from
Troop 21 to Post 21 took place specifically so we could compete in the Annual Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race. My dad,
Dick Williams, was instrumental in the formation of Post 21 which soon became a top competitor with such boats
as; Green Weenie, El Bejuco, Rum Runner, Dark Horse, Hackers Four, Green Machine, and Dear Dick. Post 21
evolved into the entity which represented all the cayucos with the exception of a few boats from Post 10,
Gomboo. In 1997 I1 was honored to be asked by retiring Advisors Kari and Ed McIllvaine to become the last Post 21
Advisor. It was a special treat to "give back" to the cayuco race and work with all the truely dedicated and
wonderful people and organizations which made the Annual Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race such a unique and rewarding
experience.


0CUAMI M- ONUK








Bob Donley
In early 1966 I. was approached by a group of Explorer Scouts and asked if I would like to be
part of a cayuco race team. These fellows had paddled the previous year and need a crew for
the "El Bejuco". They explained the boat had won the pervious year but the crew was now over
the age limit to compete as a trophy boat. Four crewmembers are required so several of my
high school mates were selected.' Not knowing exactly what was required I accepted with
reservations. Little did I know what an experience it would be.
My fist actual paddling experience was with the crew of the "El Corredor de Ron", the
RumRunner. I was placed in the middle of the boat for what was to be a short practice. I began
stroking with my arm in an upright position. In less than fifteen minutes-my arms were
completely exhausted. It was then they demonstrated the Indian style of paddling utilizing your
much stronger back muscles. I had some doubts about being able to sustain such a powerful
stroke for the 21 miles across Gatun Lake. The next drill was the "swamp" test. Because of
their low gunwales these cayucos are. quite tippy and can swamp reasonably easily, So over we
went to learn how to bail the boat and reenter from the water. I was told a competitive boat
should be able to do this in less than two minutes.
Once all of our crew had experience paddling and were proficient in righting a swamped boat we
were given the "El Bejuco", the Stick, which was sponsored'by Balboa Union Church. It seemed a
slick craft, some 24 feet long and weighing some 350 pounds. The hull had been shaved and
sanded by previous crews to an average thickness of about 5/8-inch. A canvas slash guard had
been added to both ends plus a wave deflector forward to keep the breaking waves out. The
cayuco was sparse on the inside with.the exception of wooden back braces for each of the four
positions. I remembered we were always going "to adjust the backrests to fit our specific leg
lengths, but this never happened".
The cayuco are divided into two classes of the race, trophy and patch. -The trophy class is
currently limited to registered Explorer Scout of America Post/Ship or q registered
International Scout between the ages of 14 and having completed the 8th grade and 21 years old
inclusively. I remember when I first paddled in 1966 the race was limited to high school aged
Scouts. The Patch Boat category includes all other paddlers, with each adult paddler required to
be a Scouting Advisor. All paddlers must complete a competency qualification test
demonstrating cayuco skills; boarding, paddling strokes, exchange positions, making landings,
righting a capsized cayuco and re-entering from the water, plus swimming ability test. This race
is conducted in close proximity to the commercial shipping channels and in the lock chambers:


1145 r' WINUIM.
.- W 4z~ .








Bob Donley (cont'd.)


Our crew in 1966 consisted of Fred Garcia, our bowman, myself in the second seat, Marshall
Harris, our powerful third seat, and Bob Hughes our sternman. Fred was the oldest and being
the only one with a driver's license pulled the trailer. We began practicing every couple days
after school. A normal practice was to paddle down the channel markers on the Pacific side
out to the old mine dock pier and back. It was a distance of some eight miles, but the fact
was open ocean was a key factor in our learning stability. The more we'practiced the more we.
found we really enjoyed the boat and each other as a crew. We estimate we practiced some
250 miles before the race that first year.

The race is broken down into three consecutive days paddling the weekend before Good
Friday, see Canal diagram for details. On Friday the race is 9 miles ending at the Gatun
locks. This-is a tactical portion because of the seasonal North winds and the waves they
generate. The first year we came close to swamping and paddled a long way while bailing.to
stay afloat. The second day begins on the lakeside of the Gatun locks and is the acid test of.
twenty-one miles across Gatun Lake. The turbulence generated filling the lock has always
prevented locking the cayucos up. Gatun Lake provides the fresh water source for the Canal
locks. The course cuts between Tiger Islands and follows the old Banana Channel-used by
ships of lighter draft. It skirts Barro Colorodo Island and meets back up with the shipping
channel. The distance and tropical heat take its toll on this three to four hours of continuous
paddling. The third day begins in Gamboa broken into several shorter distances and locks
down to the Pacific.

The paddle through the Galllard Cut is spectacular but confined by the'narrow width and the
lack of breeze. It is here the Canal crosses the Continental Divide with an original elevation
of 312'feet above sea level. 'This section of the channel is eight miles long through

In 1966 our practicing paid off with a win on all of the 5 race sections with an overall time of
06:52:38. Our win this year represented the first time the race had been won in 3
consecutive by-the same boat. This win retired the rotating trophy. Fred graduated so in
1967 we were forced to find a replacement Bowman. Again we practiced as before and we
rewarded with first place finishes on all race sections.









Marshall Harris


We had a blast doing the 1999 race. We managed to
knock off 5 minutes of our 1968 time. I guess it was
that fifth person we were caring. We figured it out
that our combined weights in 1999 equaled another
person, compared to our 1968 weights. We had a great
time. The 1999 crew was the original 1965 Bejuco
crew, Fred Garcia, Bob Donely, myself, & Bob Huges


RM5 R


['_ANAL ZONE CGUNCIL GSA













PANAMA CANAL INFORMATION OFFICE









a.asjc Intormauon on tne

Panama Canal






The Panama Canal
Junnel lor World Commerce










In 1524, Charles V of Spain ordered the first survey
of a proposed canal route through the Isthmus of
Panama. More than three centuries passed before the
first construction was started. The French labored for
20 years, beginning in 1880, but disease and financial
problems defeated them.

In 1903, Panama successfully revolted from Colom-
bia. Shortly thereafter, Panama and the United States
signed a treaty in which the United States guaranteed
Panama's independence and paid her $10 million. On
May 4, 1904, the United States purchased the French
Canal Company rights and properties for $40 million
and began construction. The huge project was com-
pleted in 10 years at a cost of about $380 million.

The SS Ancon made the first official ocean-to-ocean
transit on August 15, 1914. In the fiscal year 1967
there were 14,070 transits, of which 13,385 were ocean-
going vessels of more than 300 Panama Canal net
tons. The total of ships carried 92,997,958 long tons
of cargo and paid $82,296,638 in tolls and tolls cred-
its. The pre-World War II year's traffic peak was 7,479
vessels in 1939. Transits in fiscal year 1967 set the all
time record.

The largest toll to the Panama Canal was $31,740.30
paid by the Liberian flag bulk carrier Mythic, a
39,617 gross ton ship, for transit November 10, 1967.
Highest passenger ship toll was $23,603.40, paid by
the British flag liner Canberra on her first transit June
11, 1962. She has passed through the Canal several
times since but still holds the record as a passenger
ship tolls payer. Smallest toll was 45 cents paid by
Albert H. Oshiver for swimming between Gatun Locks
and Gamboa in December 1962.

The longest passenger vessel to transit the Canal
was the German flag Bremen on February 15, 1939.
She was a 51,731 gross-ton vessel with an overall
length of 898.7 feet. The widest beamed commercial
ships to transit are the oil-ore carriers, San Juan
Pioneer and San Juan Prospector, both 106.4 feet.
Record cargo carried through the Canal up to Feb-
rumary 28, 1968, was aboard the bulk carrier Mythic
which had a load of coal weighing 57,789 long tons.
Deepest draft authorized through the Canal is 40 feet.

Tolls are levied on a net tonnage basis, Panama
Canal measurement. They amount to 90 cents a ton
for laden ships and 72 cents unladen. A ship which
would otherwise have to sail around "The Horn" can
easily save 10 times the amount of her toll by using
the Canal. The average toll is $6,315.

The Canal cost the United States $380 million to
build. Of the gross investment of $1,600 million in


the Canal enterprise over the years, the United States
has recovered $1,100 million. The Canal operation is
self-sustaining. It covers the cost of its operations,
pays the U.S. Treasury interest on the investment
and is financing the Canal's current $90 million
improvement program.

The Canal is approximately 50 miles long, deep
water to deep water, and follows a northwesterly to
southeasterly direction. The Canal Zone occupies a
strip of land 10 miles wide, measured 5 miles on each
side from the center of the waterway. This comprises
less than 1% of Panama's land area. The Atlantic
entrance is approximately 27 miles west of the Pacific
entrance. A ship entering the Canal from the Atlantic
goes from Cristobal Harbor to Gatun Locks, a distance
of 7 miles, at sea level. It is lifted 85 feet to Gatun
Lake in three lockages or "steps." From Gatun it sails,
85 feet above sea level, to Pedro Miguel, a distance
of 31 miles. A single lockage at Pedro Miguel lowers
the ship 31 feet to Miraflores Lake. A mile further
south the vessel enters Miraflores Locks and, in two
lockages, is lowered 54 feet to the Pacific Ocean level.
A ship then sails 4 miles to the Balboa port area before
entering the outer harbor.

The average time for a ship in Canal waters is
between 14 and 16 hours. The average transit for the
Canal proper takes 8 hours. The fastest transit was
4 hours and 38 minutes by the destroyer USS Manley.

There are two signal stations along the Canal banks,
from which traffic is controlled by means of a system
of balls and cones hoisted upon a mast visible to the
pilots of transiting ships. The large diamond-shaped
signs along the banks are called "range markers" and
are used by the pilots in keeping transiting ships in
the channel.

The deepest excavations for the Canal were made
through the section called Gaillard Cut (formerly
Culebra), where the waterway passes through the
Continental Divide between banks exceeding 300 feet
in height in some areas. The "Cut" extends from Pedro
Miguel Locks north to Gamboa and the edge of Gatun
Lake. It is about 9 miles long and from this section
alone excavations totaled more than 230 million cubic
yards, a volume equivalent to a 12 foot square shaft
cut through the center of the earth.

The usable width of Gaillard Cut, originally 300
feet, is presently being widened to 500 feet. This
involves the removal of 50 million cubic yards of
rocks and earth. This project, now 85 percent com-
plete, involves enough volume to account for an addi-
tional shaft, 11 feet square, through the center of
the moon.










It was in Gaillard Cut that the massive slides
occurred which delayed the original Canal project
and later closed the waterway 5 times. The greatest
of these, the East and West Culebra Slides, resulted
in the removal of 35 million cubic yards of material.
In 1915 the channel in this area was completely
blocked by earth masses from either side which piled
mud and rock debris to a height of 65 feet above
water level across the Canal. It took 7 months to
clear the waterway.

In Gaillard Cut is found the spectacular view often
seen in classic photographs of the Panama Canal. Gold
Hill, on the east side, rises to an elevation of 662 feet
above sea level or 577 feet above Canal water, while
Contractor's Hill, on the opposite side, stands at 350
feet above sea level.

The saddle which originally connected these two
hills, although selected for the Canal location as the
lowest point on the Continental Divide, rose to the
formidable elevation of 312 feet above sea level. From
this height excavation was carried down to the present
channel bottom of 40 feet above the sea.

In 1954 a crack appeared in the massive igneous
rock forming Contractor's Hill and widened to threat-
ening proportions. To safeguard the Canal against
serious rockfall, 2.5 million cubic yards of rock was
blasted and removed. This reduced the hill from its
original elevation of 415.5 feet above sea level to its
present elevation of 350 feet and eliminated the
unstable rock mass adjacent to the Canal.

Gaillard Cut is named after Col. David Gaillard
who was in charge of this part of the Canal excavation
until his death in 1913. In 1928 the impressive bronze
plaque, now seen high on the rock face of Contrac-
tor's Hill, was erected in Colonel Gaillard's honor.
This plaque measures 10 by 8 feet and weighs
1,200 pounds.

The engineers who made the original studies for a
Canal through the Isthmus of Panama at first favored
a sea level Canal, but the tremendous amount of
excavation required to dig Gaillard Cut through the
Continental Divide, and the problems posed by such


unprecedented depths of excavation, were largely
responsible for their eventual decision to build a
lock Canal instead. However, the possibility of build-
ing a sea level waterway, either in Panama or in
other favorable sites in Central America, is still being
explored.

The town of Gamboa is located at the junction of
the Chagres River with the Canal and is the head-
quarters of the Dredging Division. All types of floating
equipment are operated and maintained for channel
maintenance and improvement work. The large float-
ing crane Hercules also moored at Gamboa, is capable
of lifting 250 long tons. It was built in Germany under
contract prior to World War I and was towed across
the Atlantic Ocean during World War I.

The locks chambers are 110 feet wide and 1,000 feet
long. As of this printing, there were more than 400
ships in the world too big to enter the locks and some
50 under construction not able to use the locks. In
addition, there were 925 ships afloat unable to go
through the locks fully laden.

Water enters the locks through a system of main
culverts which are the same size as the Hudson Tubes
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. From these main cul-
verts, 10 sets of lateral culverts extend under the lock
chambers from the side walls and 10 sets from the
center wall. Each lateral culvert has a set of 5 holes,
each measuring 4% feet in diameter. As the water is
released into the main culverts, it is diverted into the
20 lateral culverts and distributed through 100 holes
in the floor of the chamber. Each time a ship is put
through Miraflores Locks or Gatun Locks, some
103,000 tons of water are used. This amount is spilled
in 7 to 8 minutes. For each ship transiting the Canal,
about 52 million gallons of fresh water is used-fed
by a gravity flow system through the locks and spilled
into the ocean.

Gatun Dam was the largest earth dam in the world
until the construction of Fort Peck Dam. It is now
among the large earth dams of the world. Until Lake
Mead was formed by the construction of Hoover
Dam, Gatun Lake was the largest artificial body of
water in the world.






Much of this material came from a CD that Bob
Donley made and gave to Rick Williams. Many of the
black & white pictures came from Rick Williams. Bob
Donley also contributed pictures and remembrances
from his race years. Some of this material was
posted on the CZBrats website. Materials include
stories and pictures from the Parakeet, the Balboa
High School newspaper and the Panama Canal
Company newsletter, The Spillway. This presentation
was created for members of Troop 21 and Post 21,
Balboa, Canal Zone as a remembrance of the impact
that the cayuco race had on our lives.
Bill Fall


Feb 2006








This CED is dedicated to our Scout leaders and
members of the community who's tireless efforts
made the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco. race possible. .
Many parents and other volunteers helped turn the
rough hewn native boats into sleek racing boats.
Others provided transportation to and from the-
practices. Race coordinators and volunteers from the
Panama Canal Company, the Balboa Yacht Club, the
Cristobal Yacht Club, and the Canal Zone Power
Squadron. Many other civic and military
organizations donated their time and equipment to
insure that the three day event was a safe and
smooth operation.


Mr. R.A. Williams Post 21
Advisor and Committee
Chairman .
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