19/1/08 14:00

The sea has suddenly turned bright green, a seriously welcome change from the grey we’ve been looking at. 50 miles out we pick up the Falklands BBC and actually hear some news and lots of Football updates.  I am very relieved to learn that in Port Stanley

“Simple sail repairs are undertaken by Matthew Jackson, the local baker who is also an upholsterer.”

15:30

The sea returns to the familiar grey.  A delegation of dolphins greets us 40 miles out.  The BBC World Service blares away in the cockpit.  New information suggests Port Stanley is currently GMT – 3 hours not -2 hours.  So we’re really not sure what time it is not that it matters. I think I’m writing this at 14:30.  We’ll find out when we get there.

20:30

Arrived Port Stanley at 7PM. Gabriele was on hand to take our lines as we anchored Stern-to  partially alongside a public jetty with barely enough water to float at low tide.  It may be too small for us to stay here, and the cruise ships use it for ferrying their passengers back and forth. Customs and immigration came to check us is and Monday I have to go their office to pay the £60 landing 0fee. We’re planning to stay here 5 or 6 days but when we leave will be determined by the weather.  There are strong prevailing westerlies and I would hope to find a window so we don’t get too beat up during the 450 mile run to Ushuaia. And it is GMT -3hours.

20/1/0812:00

Very strong NW wind this morning and the weight of SPINDRIFT was skewing the little dock badly as the wind was on the beam.  The Anchor windlass repeated a previous fault in that it only wanted to let chain out and not bring it up.  Steve reversed the motor connections so we could power in up.  Gabriele arrived just in time with his suitcases and we moved off in 30 plus knots of wind.  We moved out of town to a commercial dock next to Skip Novak’s original PELAGIC a boat famed for its Antarctic adventures.  The couple on board are leaving for South Georgia tomorrow. 

Coming along side in over 30 knots of wind on the beam blowing us off was extremely difficult, fortunately there were two men ashore  including the skipper of  PELAGIC to take our lines when we eventually got close enough to throw them.  Ultimately we had to winch our way along side.