PK's sailing posts: January on Drina...

Seems my trusty mail list server is not so trusty and some of you have complained of missing out on recent posts. So, with apologies to those that know all this and for the benefit of those that missed out, I'll recap a little.

Drina tied up safely in Puerto Montt at the Oxiana Marina at precisely 1600hrs local time Wednesday 05-01-2011.

I got a lot of estimates from the group on the ETA and no one got close, except Alex and I'm not sure but she may have an inside run...

Here is a link to a a recent photo stream of pictures of the port. Gives a rather nice flavour of the place and worth spending a few minutes flicking through.

The first contact proved a little fraught as not much English is spoken and Spanish is not one of Michael's special skills. The food was just what was needed and very very reasonably priced. The first mail I got post arrival went something like... "Arrived yesterday 1600hrs, visited by lots of people in uniform, Still trying to work out if we're cleared in or there is more to come. So walked to town and had a fantastic feed of crabs and mussels. There is an ex Tassie fisherman here in a steel yacht trying to help us.... wealth of information regarding seamanship, unfortunately no Spanish. We need a to see an Amarda to get a cruising visa... No one being much help with that. Alex speaks Spanish like a Mexican, not many Mexicans here apparently..."

A few days later "Scenery so far unbelievable... Snow capped mountains on every side.

Then nothing until the 11th Jan "Still no cruise permit, empty LPG bottles prove difficult to get refilled, long walk out of town and a very expensive taxi ride back in. Reported that Jeanne Sorcerer on SV Nereida had rolled just north of cape horn and suffered a lot of damage, Chilean Navy standing by to tow her to nearest port.

The food continues to impress as does the cost. may have to go to capital to sort out permit/visa.

then on the following day, more news on food, this time it was Salmon and a great red wine for $3US... I can just imagine. An update on Jeanne now safely in Puerto Williams but with lots of damage below. So that ends her second attempt to circumnavigate single handed and non stop.

Then no news until the 22nd. "Have left Puerto Montt and now down channel about 100 miles at a place called Castro,

passed some seal colonies and the scenery was even more snow capped mountains." The caps were beginning to look more like hooded cloaks as by now the heaters are going full blast and it's still mid summer! " Back on sailmail again so very short mails.

Then on the 29th. "A week since we left Puerto Montt and yesterday we visited Rafael Glacier. Braved the bergs and floating ice to get close and watch it calving. Anchored in a small anchorage in company with an Aussie yacht called Volo going the other way. Waiting for the wind to moderate so we can go north again to refuel and finish our visa formalities.

All the anchorages to date have been no problem, sailing is a lot more problematic. We either motor as there is zero wind or shelter in anchorages as there is far, far too much... And more snow capped mountains with very large caps.

Got a big rope round the prop today. Water is just above freezing so wasn't looking forward to having to clear it. Local fishing boat offered to dive and clear it for $120US... It was probably his rope... Heater going full blast, hope it's reliable but can't help wondering what will happen if it stops..."

So far this month no more mails, though from the reporting site I see he is still on the move. HF propagation is probably very difficult behind all those mountains.

Here is a picture (Courtesy Google Pictures) of the planned destination by the 8th March to meet up with Gouldie's expedition to round the Horn.

And here is another picture of the port, courtesy of one of the adventure companies that operate tours from there (http://www.victory-cruises.com/pwilliams.html)

All the best PK

Strewth - Bathurst Harbour