Panama Canal Transit on Briet

Yacht Briet (34', or is she 32'?), owned & skippered by Duco Pulle, was a great substitute for Serengeti (75') to transit the Panama Canal from the Caribbean to the Pacific. The story of this trip is dedicated to the memory of Phyllis Macay, one of our crew members, who was tragically killed by Somali pirates on 22-Feb-2011. Phyllis, a fun-loving and extrovert American lady, died while still pursuing her dreams.

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Duco moors up in the Pacific having passed under the Bridge of the Americas in the foreground. Phyllis Macay, with her back to camera on the right, had just celebrated passing under the bridge which represented one completed circumnavigation of the world for her.
A year later Phyllis was still on her round-the-world trip when she was killed by Somali pirates while crewing on another yacht, the Quest. Tragically her fellow crew member Bob Riggle and the yacht's captain Scott Adams and his wife Jean also died.

Ian writes: RIP Phyllis, you were a wonderful fun-loving lady who prevented me lying down overnight when you fell asleep on my 'bed' (which was the starboard seat in the open cockpit) in the middle of the Panama Canal. A little bit too much vodka out of your 'wine' box perhaps?