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Salt and Blood Pressure - Second Opinions, UK

It is believed that fish oils exert their ... on salt on hypertension rated sea salt ... K Heine M. Effects of chronic excess salt feeding: Enhanced hypertensogenic effect of sea ...

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Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

... fought a tarpon, large or small, knows they exert a ... However, all this excessive drinking of salt water increases the amount ... diluted in the esophagus or throat of the fish. Salt ...

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Panama Canal Transit by Sailboat

The dinghy pool at the PYC(Panama Yacht Club) contains a variety of underwater obstacles to snag the unwary approaching tender. Most of them are sharp and laying at exactly the right angle to slice through or hook into and tear the millimetres thick rubber of the bottom or sponsons. On their second trip, one such of these catches our not so vigilant crew off guard - fortunately only metres from the dock - a quick glance over the side shows an ever increasing stream of air bubbles under pressure, racing to the surface(quite fascinating in other circumstances!) and a hasty retreat with paddles foaming the still water follows, taking the Avon back to the dock - fastest she had ever moved under manpower!

Hauled out, upended and inspected, it is found not to be a life threatening rent and can be patched. Naturally, the repair kit is still with our little ship, moored 1.5 kilometres away, and completely innocent of events. So, our intrepid crew begin the usual search by knocking on the few boats that are actually in the marina berths and, naturally again, some tender hearted sailor comes to our rescue - sibling crew is usually called up for this kind of incident, with expectations realised. With thorough drying, scuffing and gluing, our crew are able to effect a suitable repair, and retire to the bar whilst curing - there is always an upside to any catastrophe!

Many a steamy night follows with our crew frequently sleeping in the cockpit under the stars, only to be driven below when the next deluge passes through. A tropical rain shower is very different in terms of intensity than what they were used to and once below, conversation can be very nearly drowned out with the drumming on her coach roof. She enjoys the coolness of it and is pleased that it washes the salt out of her sails, off the rigging and topsides - she will have to remind them tomorrow to sluice down the teak decks with salt water from the canvas bucket - this keeps them nice and tight by keeping the teak strips slightly swollen and tight up against the black sikaflex caulking.

Next morning she is rudely awakened with a not too delicate bump on her starboard side - this announces the arrival of the Admeasurer, which in number comprises four swarthy Panamanians with very black moustaches and big boots, clumping around her decks and below measuring everything they can lay a tape alongside or around. Because the majority of their work is large merchant vessels, cruising yachts just don't fit into their matrix. A cruising yacht not having a funnel, but, the box on their form requiring an entry, they measure a starboard dorade vent - necessity is the mother of invention! Many curious questions follow until, finally, with a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label changing hands they depart, instructing our crew to be ready for when a Pilot will be delivered for the transit.

Documentation progress is slow, and when the final stamp with payment required is to be at the Panama Canal Commission, a $50 taxi ride takes them to the PCC office. This office is positioned mid way along the canal and most inconvenient - but considering ships travel both ways through the canal, there is a certain logic to it being at the Gatun Locks. With document stamped and USD495 paid(transit fee which has increased currently to USD600 plus a USD850 buffer fee - refundable if not used) our crew hasten back aboard to await the arrival of the Pilot.

Pilot on board by 5.45am next day and informs the captain that 6.5knots have to be maintained for the 21 nautical mile journey. Now, she thinks to herself, that means she should be there on the other side and therefore in the Pacific by lunch time. What she doesn't understand is that in between times she has to negotiate the three locks along the way - up and into Gatun Lock, down to Pedro Miguel locks and finally, Miraflores Locks - this all takes time and will probably use up most of the day. The captain is a little concerned that running the engine so hard for so long may cause problems. She knows that the motor is good enough, but lets her captain fret anyway. Running into the locks, rafting up with other yachts, handling the monkey lines as they are hurled down onto her decks from above and bouncing around in the turbulent waters of the locks all goes well and she is rather pleased with herself and her crew.

They had all heard some awful stories of major damage to small vessels in transit and were somewhat fearful of this leg of their journey. She felt somewhat intimidated in the Gatun Locks by a merchant vessel whose bow some 15 metres up, loomed forward over her own bow and she thought that it could have given her just a little more sea room.

The turbulence in the locks as the water rose and then lowered was quite dramatic, and she had the crew dancing around her deck constantly watching and adjusting her fenders - she was very protective of her unsullied flanks and did not want them tarnished by some unfeeling merchantman, whose only concern was to get out the other end to continue its pecuniary voyage. She also knew that if she got on the wrong end of a small bump from one of them, her hull would pop open like an egg. The captain having to sign an indemnity to the PCC, was also acutely aware of this.
The captain, perched on the stern rail in the Gatun Locks suddenly spots two large porpoising fish astern and close to the lock gates. They are a pair of very big Tarpon and apparently these fish regularly use the canal system to traverse into the Pacific and vice versa - fee free of course!

Cruising between Pedro Miguel Locks and Miraflores she passes the Pedro Miguel Boat Club to port and smugly notes all the yachts out on 'the hard'. They were in various states of repair and many of them looked like they had been there for quite some time - this club was famous for voyagers returning home for respite before venturing into the Pacific, with many of them never coming back to continue. Obviously, she muses, folks from the Atlantic side - but to her crew, the Pacific was their home and held no such fears.

Finally, into Miraflores Lock and the last batch of 'bump and grind', her nose pointing west, the huge, massively steel strapped and dripping gates crack open to reveal a sliver of ever widening blue which is her first view of the mighty Pacific Ocean. She feels a jet of excitement pass through her and realises that at last, this is the beginning of a great voyage - the crew also seem to be somewhat stimulated and prattle on about how smart they are to get thus far unscathed! Indignantly, she would like to remind them, if it wasn't for her, they wouldn't be here at all! She remonstrates by heading for one of the pylons of the great 'Bridge of the Americas', until Anglo crew noticing, brings her smartly back on course, and on a heading for the Balbao Yacht Club. She claps onto a mooring, shuts down and releases them ashore and the club bar, to find the first gullible bunch of sailors who will listen to their pathetic babbling! This is the first time using the repaired dinghy in anger again and it holds up well.

Extract from my ebook 'Voyage of the Little Ship 'Tere Moana'

Vincent Bossley is a publisher and sailor and lives on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. He has is own website http://www.sailboat2adventure.com for cruising sailors, sailors planning their lifetime adventure, armchair sailors, virtual sailors and in fact anyone who has ever dreamed of sailing the oceans of this beautiful planet of ours. You can find him on http://www.sailboat2adventure.com

NAVIGATION

High School Musical 3 - Senior Year Review

Salt Water Fish Tank: Ease of Keeping Salt Water Fish at Home

Underwater Photography and the Different Kinds of Underwater Cameras; A Detailed Review

Traditional Northern Vietnam Cooking Recipes In Hanoi's High-end Restaurant

Helping Your Molting Hermit Crab

Why Foot Care Treatments Need Not Stop During the Wintertime

Fishing Binoculars - Buying a New Pair of Fishing Binoculars?

Scuba Wet Suits and How They Help a Diver Beat the Chill While Diving

What to Do With Canned Salmon

The State of the Steak in Las Vegas

How Few Tips Can Save Your Gums

Natural Beauty on a Budget Part 2 - Dry Skin Brushing & Detox Baths For a Beautiful Body

7 Sneaky Fat Loss Tips You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Cleaning Canvas Tops on Boats

Cheap Boat Cover - How to Protect Your Investment

Risotto With Scallops

Cruise Lines Exclusive Private Islands

Inspire Yourself With a Sample Detox Diet

Deep Sea Fishing on Your California Vacation

Choosing Aquarium Lights - Part 1 - Your Fish and the Color of the Light

How to Prevent Hair Loss - 9 Easy Steps to Save Your Hair

A Complete Guide to Marine Fish Keeping

Raw Food Diet on the Road - How to Stay Raw and Healthy While Traveling

How to Make Raw Flax Seed Crackers - Free Raw Recipe

Best Marinara Sauce

The Importance of Fruit

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Crewed Yacht Charter - Cruise the Islands of Southern New England

Delightful Low Calorie And Vegetarian Recipes For Dinner

Prime Rib Rubs - Try These Ideas at Your Next Barbecue

How to Use Bamboo Salt

An Overview of Costa Blanca Cities and Sights

The Start of Queen Songs

Firecracker Lobster Cooked on the Grill

Sea Fishing in the Oban Area

Recipes For Slow Cooker - Lentil Taco Stew

Simply Salads

How To Smoke a Pork Shoulder

Omega 3 Salmon is Hard to Beat - Ocean Friendly, Nutritious, and Delicious

Wild Mustangs Of Corolla

Lifted, Created

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Make Homemade Carp Baits For Yourself and Improve Your Fishing Success!

Great Deep Sea Fishing Tips

The Missing Ingredient

The Guide to Tenerife Holidays Destinations

African Safari Gear Packing List - What To Take Along

Ingredients of the Master Cleanse Recipe - What Goes Into It?

Stainless Steel Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

Model Ships, A Brief History

A Complete Guide to Marine Fish Keeping

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part II - Snorkeling Techniques

All Natural Cure For Eczema

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Not The Salt Of The Earth

Underwater Photography and the Different Kinds of Underwater Cameras; A Detailed Review

Bedroom Decorating - 7 Easy Tips For Creating a Yellow Submarine Underwater Adventure Bedroom Theme

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Why a Luxury Yacht?

How Can You Care For a Slow Healing Open Wound?

Above Ground Lap Pools - What You Need to Know

Tomatoes - Gems of the Garden

The Importance of Fruit

Italian Food

How to Make Raw Flax Seed Crackers - Free Raw Recipe

Eliminate Yeast Infection Symptoms

Science Fair Projects For Middle School

Surf Fishing The Outer Banks of North Carolina

How to Make Japchae

How to Roast Peppers

Salt Cavern Storage in Northern Ireland

Panama Canal Transit by Sailboat

The History And Benefits Of Himalayan Salts

Aquarium Ornaments

Can I Grow Successfully in Hard Clay Or in Worn-Out Soils?

Secrets on How to Make the Healthiest Pasta on the Planet

The Lemonade Cleansing Diet Has an Easy to Follow Recipe

Planning a Beautiful Connecticut Wedding

Dangerous Australian Wildlife - How To Avoid Getting In Trouble

Easy Grilled Shrimp With Dark Rum and Brown Sugar Marinade Recipe

Recipe For Raw Chocolate Bars

New South Wales Luxury Holidays

How Few Tips Can Save Your Gums

Have Fun Outdoors - Overcome Weather Hitches

GOT ICE? Global Warming and the Calorie Buffer

Alternative Eczema Treatments - Do They Really Work?

I Love French Wine and Food - A Rhone Valley Rose

How To Fish Without Rod and Reel

Urban Survival - Food Storage and Preparation

Discover Kitcharee Soup - A Delicious and Nourishing Recipe From the Ayurvedic Tradition

Carp and Barbel Bait-Making Made Simple Plus Recipes For Success!

Dietary Salt - How the Origin of Salt Can Lower Sodium Content and Still Enhance Flavor

Owning Crabs - The Details of Caring For Your Hermit Crab

Titanium Jewelry Facts

Reef Aquarium

Keep Your Summer Skin Fresh This Fall

Mood Boosting Raw Foods!

Bass Fishing Gear - Don't Get Caught Short When You Land That Fish

Enjoy the Energy of Fall

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