Travel with Indigo

We spent a comfortable calm night in a cozy cove just north of Cape Horn on Wollaston Island and woke up to frigid rain, gusty winds, an overcast sky and cold temperatures.  But this is a beautiful anchorage in Caletta (little bay) Lientur which is protected by land on all sides.  We had a long discussion aboout what to do and whether to head to Antarctica.  To get there, we must cross the Drake Passage, which will take a couple of days.  Weather reports indicate that seas in the Drake Passage are running 9 to 12 feet but by tomorrow will reach up to 15 feet with winds out of the southwest at 45 knots gusting to 60 and getting stronger.  That situation will last for a couple of days and then behind that low pressure center lurks an even stronger one due to hit here by the 11th.  Sadly, but prudently, we elected to not go to Antarctica.  There is no point in starting a trip we won’t be able to finish safely.  We’ll just have to do Antarctica another time.  We’re all a little sad but relieved not to be crossing the Drake Passage in the existing weather

There is no problem with where we are now.  Williwaws are regularly coming over the mountains.  Phil told me they are formed when blasts of air come down the lee side of the mountain (where we are) after the pressure builds up on the windward side.  They are pretty neat to see and hear but I wouldn’t want to be in one.  We left this wonderful place about 2PM and we will head toward Puerto Williams, Chile, which is the true southernmost town on the continent.  The wind was blowing about 40 knots and we had following seas of about 8-10 feet so just think what the Drake Passage must be like.

About 7PM, we entered the Beagle Channel and things became a bit calmer.  As we got closer to Puerto Williams, we saw a partially submerged ship that had been a missionary ship loaded with library books.  We then anchored off Puerto Williams which is a small and lightly inhabited town on Isla Navarino.  It took forever to clear Chilean customs but it was finally done and we all looked forward to a nice rest.