The Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race began in 1954 as a community adventure that linked the Atlantic and Pacific through the Panama Canal. Frank Townsend of the Panama Canal Company invited a group of Boy Scout Explorers to visit an indigenous community on the Chagres River. The Scouts learned river skills, the rhythm of paddling, and respect for the cayuco, a dugout canoe that has long been the main way to travel those waters. Friendly challenges turned into timed runs. The timed runs turned into a formal race. A tradition was born and generations have carried it forward.

TraderBrock’s story is tied to that tradition. Our roots are in Panama. We celebrate the knowledge of river people and the craftsmanship of the region. The race taught us endurance, teamwork, and humility. Those lessons still guide how we work with artisans and how we tell the stories behind the objects featured on our site.

What is a Cayuco

A cayuco begins as a single tree. Skilled makers carve, burn, and scrape until the hull is balanced and true. Seats are simple. Weight is everything. You learn quickly that a good stroke is quiet and efficient. The blade enters clean, pulls straight, and exits without a splash. Over long hours that efficiency is the difference between finishing strong and limping home.

The Course at a Glance

The race crosses the Canal from the Caribbean to the Pacific. Exact formats have changed over time, but the spirit stays the same.

• Start on the Atlantic side near Colón.

• Paddle to the Gatun Locks and portage the boats.

• Cross Gatun Lake, the broad interior of the Canal.

• Pass Gamboa, home to the Dredging Division.

• Enter the Gaillard Cut, the narrow section carved through the Continental Divide.

• Reach Pedro Miguel, portage to Miraflores, and line up for the final sprint to the finish near Diablo on the Pacific.

You share the water with massive ships. Their wakes roll toward you like moving hills. You learn to read the canal pilots, the wind lines on the lake, and the tugboats that can kick up a 

Two Starts, Two Finishes

I raced twice, in 1991 and in 1999. The event has two main categories. The Trophy group is for serious young paddlers who train hard for placement. The Patch group is for anyone who dreams of finishing and wants to test heart, grit, and teamwork. I raced in the Patch group both times.

1991: The Slave Galley

In 1991 I paddled a larger than usual cayuco called the Slave Galley. We had eight paddlers, four men and four women. The start on the Caribbean side was a shock to the system. The first day is a dash to the Gatun Locks. You feel fresh for about ten minutes. Then the burn arrives. We carried the boat above the locks and secured it for the night. Lodging came from the Canal administration. Some teammates still had energy to celebrate and plot strategy. I found the nearest bed and wondered if my arms would still work in the morning. I fell asleep to the slow throb of lactic acid and the clink of paddles being stacked for the next day.

Day two is the test. The long pull across Gatun Lake teaches patience. The lake can be windy. If you fight the chop, you waste strength. If you time the stroke, you surf just enough to keep morale high. We passed Gamboa and entered the Gaillard Cut. The banks rise close on both sides and you feel history pressing in. This is where the digging was hardest. Water funnels here and the current can play tricks. When the Pedro Miguel Locks came into view, we knew we were close.

We portaged to Miraflores and put in again. The final chamber filled and then dropped. The gates opened and boats tried to line up in the moving water. A signal sounded. The sprint began. That last mile to Diablo is the heartbeat of the race. You go all out beside whoever is near and you give everything you have left. We crossed the line spent and smiling.

1999: The Tsunami

In 1999 I joined a four person cayuco named Tsunami. It was built for speed and we tried to honor that design. Our nearest rivals were four strong Panamanian youths. They pulled, we answered, and the lead bounced back and forth all day. The finish was nose to nose. They congratulated us at the line, which lets me imagine we edged them by a whisper. Whether we did or did not, the respect was real and the effort felt pure.

Training, Teamwork, and River Sense

People notice the sprint and the celebration. The quiet work is what makes the sprint possible.

• Conditioning begins long before race day. Short intervals build power. Long paddles build rhythm and trust.

• The best stroke is steady and silent. Splashing looks strong and wastes energy.

• Calls matter. A short “hut” or “switch” keeps the crew in sync when hands and minds get tired.

• Nutrition is simple. Water, electrolytes, and light snacks. Eat too much and the boat knows it.

• Crews learn to read ships and wind. You plan crossings and avoid wakes that can stall a boat or flip it.

These are not lessons you learn once. You learn them, forget them, relearn them, and then teach them to the next paddler.

The People Around the Race

The race is community. Families wait at ramps with food and dry shirts. Canal workers coax lines and help at the portages. Volunteers keep the timing and safety boats where they need to be. Visitors gather at bridges to cheer. On the Chagres and along the lake, river families share knowledge that makes the race possible in the first place. Everyone who touches the event adds a piece to the tradition.

Respect for Origins

The cayuco is not a modern toy. It is a working boat with deep roots in indigenous river life. Makers learned hull balance from elders. Paddlers learned the river by watching it for years. When we talk about the race, we try to honor those origins. That respect lines up with what we do at TraderBrock. We listen first. We learn the story of a craft or a textile before we describe it. We work to credit makers by name when possible and to explain designs in context.

What The Race Taught Us

The race is a classroom without walls.

• Endurance. Long miles teach you to pace yourself and to save a little for the end.

• Teamwork. The boat moves best when the crew moves as one.

• Humility. Nature sets the terms. Ships and wind do not care about your plans.

• Curiosity. Every bend in the canal invites a question. Who built this. What happened here. Why does the water move this way.

Those lessons guide how we run TraderBrock. We aim for steady work. We value partners who share goals and values. We admit what we do not know and we keep learning from the people who do.

If You Want to Watch or Participate

• Check race schedules early and plan for heat, sun, and sudden rain.

• Respect working areas at the locks and follow instructions from officials.

• If you paddle, train with someone who has raced before. Local knowledge is priceless.

• Learn basic phrases if you are visiting from abroad. A few words open doors and smiles.

• Support local communities that support the race. Buy food from family stands. Thank volunteers.

A Few Favorite Moments

• Dawn on Gatun Lake when the mist lies low and the only sounds are paddles and birds.

• The first time a cargo ship passes and the crew stays calm through the wake.

• The echo inside the Gaillard Cut where every call sounds bigger than it is.

• The final lineup at Miraflores when the gates open and everyone tries to hold position.

• The sprint to Diablo when fatigue disappears and the crowd pulls you home.

How This Connects to TraderBrock

Our work at TraderBrock is about story, skill, and place. The cayuco race shaped the way we see Panama. It reminded us that craft begins with respect for materials and for teachers. It reminded us that culture is not a museum piece. It is something people practice every day. When we share art from Latin America, we try to carry that same respect forward. We document what we can, credit who we can, and keep listening. We might share race memorabilia or river life stories in the future. If we do, we will present them with context and care.

Watch historic clips

We also found several YouTube videos that show starts, lake crossings, and the final sprint from past years. The clips capture crew calls, lock procedures, and the rush of the finish.

Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race highlights. If the player does not load, watch the video on YouTube.

Gratitude

To the canal teams who keep the route safe, to the volunteers who make the logistics work, and to the river communities who shared the cayuco with new generations, thank you. Your generosity helped shape a lifelong respect for Panama’s cultures. That respect lives inside TraderBrock and inside every story we tell.