Staying Put

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 1 May 2010 21:23

Position: 53 56.81 S 071 41.16 W
At anchor Caleta Murray
Wind: Northwest, gusty
Weather: Overcast, drizzle and rain, cold.

Last night I looked at the weather prognosis for today and it did not look good, a very intense low was predicted to form to the southwest and there was very little white showing between the black isobars. The barometer was low and falling.  My guide tells me that the bay we are anchored in is not the best in strong north-westerlies as violent gusts can be expected. I lay awake in my bunk for much of the night listening to the wind. We experienced quite a few gusts but nothing too violent thankfully. This morning I checked the weather fax which confirmed last night’s prognosis, it seemed to be a good idea to stay put for the day, so I went back to my bunk, pulled the covers over my head, and BC’s, and slept for a couple more hours.

After a late breakfast I put the dinghy in the water, rowed ashore, filled up some water containers and went for a short hike among the hilly waterlogged terrain. The wind wasn’t too bad at this stage and I wondered whether we should have sailed after all. Hiking up to a high point I could see the Magellan Strait in the distance, it didn’t look too bad either, but neither did it look that good with numerous white caps upon its dark roughened surface.  I figure it is definitely better to be safe than sorry out here on my lonesome.

The days are getting short so to get anywhere I really need to be underway shortly after sunrise. Now the sun has set and the wind has picked up, Sylph heels to the increasingly frequent gusts, and short rain squalls pass over with hints of snow and ice.

Time to put the heater on.   We will see what the morrow brings.

All is well.

Bob Cat:

A quiet day, apart from the noisy wind. Hurry up with the heater skipper. I need a warm …. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.