Talcahuano Conception

Hollinsclough - Is the World Round?
Sun 25 Oct 2009 15:12

Mid October in the hands of the Chilean Armada Navy,

Two star light evenings of spectacular sunset for fast down wind sailing into a thick fog on mainland Chile. Steerage on radar and plotter west of Quiriquina Island, visibility close to zero to find the orange buoy and then pole down rigging away to motor into the Marina Manzano.

36.41.20 S  73.06.15W

The whole zone is naval base Talcahuano. Sunrise to pelicans and sea lions. A VIP tour of the historic eighteen hundreds iron gun boat RH Huascar. A prize from the Peruvian wars.

Former HMS Sheffield now Chilean FF19 the Admiral Williams berthed on the concrete. Bow like a razor, decks adorned with technology and missile. Beyond in retirement lay a Leander frigate chained to a destroyer. Square rigged training ship Esmeralda four towering wooden masts beyond.

The City of Conception was half an hour up the road. Modern Malls, Riply, Johnsons & Paris, Lider and Sodimac.

Saturday was yacht club regatta day. Fifteen multi class yachts rigged for action amongst the warships. Quiriquina Island is the Chilean Armada training school and the regatta was set for a lap of honour to finish on the school quay EG.

With the start gun fired an Armada Navy rib rushed us out to the Navy Pilot boat for a VIP tour of the sailing fleet, modern Kevlar sails and spinnakers alongside classic wooden sloops. Travellers from England, twelve thousand nautical miles, a grand welcome. Escuela De Grumetes ‘EG’ gold pins on our lapels, welcom fit for heros of the ocean, a tremendous reception in the hands of the Chilean Navy.