This morning as it grew lighter outside Estrecho Collingwood looked quite benign, certainly a lot more inviting then it had done yesterday when it was completely covered with lots of whitecaps. So we got the anchor in and sailed from anchor.  Once clear of Caleta Columbina we got off to a good start. A fresh nor’ westerly was blowing which soon had us down to a reefed mainsail and partially furled jib but because the waters are relatively sheltered the seas remained small and we made good speed upwind.

Two hours later we were drifting on glass. Reluctantly I started the engine but the batteries needed charging so did not feel so bad about motoring. We motored for less than half an hour through a small strait between two islands then as we entered the much more open Paso Sarmiento we picked up some wind again and continued sailing. The wind was up and down a bit but never required more than one reef in the mainsail, the waters grew marginally choppier but not enough to hinder our progress significantly. The channel on average about a mile wide required a lot of tacking, I count 19 entered in the log for the day. Nonetheless in between tacks I managed to cook some pancakes for lunch, cooking a couple, then tacking, cooking a few more and so on until they were all done, and enjoyed all the more for the small challenge in the preparation.

At 3.30 pm we were approaching the day’s destination, Abra Lecky’s Retreat, 15 minutes later the anchor was down in 5 meters of water in a beautiful small cove, and an hour later we have two shorelines rigged to provide for a secure night.

All is well.

Bob Cat:

Once more my abode is leaning this way and that, this way and that, meowargh! I let my dissatisfaction be known and the skipper shoved me in the settee berth under the sea rug where I still am. It actually isn’t too bad in here, warm, dark, quite cosy, a nice secure place for a … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.