Bye bye Stanley

Caramor - sailing around the world
Franco Ferrero / Kath Mcnulty
Mon 28 Mar 2016 12:31
51:41.2S 57:53.4W

It was blowing 40 knots as we sailed bare-poled down Stanley Harbour. Our friends must have thought we were mad as they looked out their windows facing the Narrows (most houses look over the Narrows). "Weather window? What weather window?" we could hear them thinking.

We had arrived in Stanley in 40 knots and we left in 40 knots, a fetching accolade to one of the windiest cities in the world! An escort of dusky dolphins accompanied us down the coast and a large whale blew nearby.

There is reason in our madness; the weather system over the Falkland Islands and Southern Chile is the same, if a high pressure builds over the continent as it has this week, then Stanley, at the edge of the system will suffer strong winds. The critical section for us on this crossing will be Strait Le Maire, where strong tidal streams funnel between Staten Island and Tierra del Fuego. Flat calm would suit us nicely and this is what the forecast is promising. Touch wood!