Day 1 PATAGONIA Channel Southern Chile Heading South
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Sat 8 May 2010 14:27
It's 9 am in the morning with a 12 knot following wind and sea, we have just
crossed over the Golf of Coratado at the southern end of Chileo Island, we
now enter a narrow set of passages of the southern part of the northern
Patagonia. Tonight we will head around the gulf out to sea for 12 hours.
Last night was calm, and beds good, the family slept well and the boys loved
the bunk beds and Tracy the heating in the cabins.
We are moving at about 12 knots and it is drizzling outside, we have some
Germans on board but generally the ferry has about 15 passages the main
reason is that it is a cargo delivery down the coast we will stop in a some
ports, as this is the main way to get cars, cattle and stores north and
South.
It is strange to be on a big vessel and only get slight movement, admittedly
it would be good sailing except for the cold outside. But not many people do
these waters, it is cold, but beautiful, with deep rocky anchorages. I had
Sean out on the bow upper deck looking at windless a little bit bigger than
Gijima's, and we will go to the bridge latter this morning, we have sessions
on the history and nature as we go down the coast.
The boys are enjoying exploring Alex is having trouble comprehending the
size of the ship, as he has only been on Gijima so this is a big ship, they
can run around and for them it is basically not moving.
The channels should narrow today as we pass through the many islands and
pick out the channels.
The cabin works well with 4 bunk beds and a private shower and head, and
external port out to sea and very good storage, it is very comfortable, we
have a big mess area for eating, and then a lounge / pub area for relaxing
and movies. The aft deck is big, we can play life sized chess, and run
about, looking back on the stern down on the trucks and cars.
Sean and I will take on Tracy and Alex at chess where the pieces are bigger
than Alex and same size as Sean, only when the sun comes out.
Leaving port last night was lovely with the smell of the heating fires
drifting over the water, and nearly still air which made it warm enough to
be outside, and under a clear sky of stars, and the water peeling off the
bow, as we left the lights and headed out into darkness with odd settlements
on each side as we had Chileo on the starboard side and main land on the
port.
Stay Tuned.