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Monthly Archives: February 2016

Searching for the South East trade winds

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Isla Robinson Crusoe; in our wake

Isla Robinson Crusoe; in our wake
Friday 26th February 2016
27:32.00S 089:44.5W - 1000 miles east of Easter Island

There is not a lot to report this week, we are at sea heading in the general direction of Easter Island, Rapa Nui or Isla de Pascua; take you pick of the names. We departed Isla Robinson Crusoe on the 20th February.

The distance over the direct or great circle route to Easter Island from Isla Robinson Crusoe is about 1650 miles but we can’t go that way due to the way the wind blows; our route will ultimately cover about 1800 miles. Read more ›


Isla Robinson Crusoe – not quite what we expected

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Poblado San Juan Bautista

Poblado San Juan Bautista
Saturday 19 February 2016
33:38.40S 078:49.53W - Bahia Cumberland, Isla Robinson Crusoe, Archipelago Juan Fernandez

We sailed into Bahia Cumberland, Isla Robinson Crusoe as the Sun went down on Tuesday 16th February. We were trying to decide where to anchor in the deep and poorly protected waters of the bay when the Juan Fernandez Radio called us on the vhf. They asked the usual questions and directed us to an area reserved for yachts and suggest that we could pick up one of the buoys there. We decided to take the buoy as the riser looked new and in good condition. Everything was hooked up in the final gloaming of the day. It was beer o’clock.
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In search of Man Friday

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Paula tests a flare

Paula tests a flare
Saturday 13 February 2016
37:14.00S 075:30.00W - Pacific Ocean 260NM SE of Isla Juan Fernandez

Off at last. With the engine repaired we did our final provisions shop in Puerto Montt and got everything stowed. Tuesday we paid the marina fees and arranged for the Armada to come and issue our Zarpe (clearance for any voyage in Chile). The Armada came to make an inspection and of course found that our flares were out of date; this is because it is virtually impossible for foreigners to buy flares under Chile’s sales of firearms laws. We explained the situation to the officers, they were aware of the problem, very sympathetic, and made several calls to ever more superior officials. Read more ›


Ready for the off – almost!

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the repaired heat-changer

The repaired heat-exchanger

Sunday 07 February 2016
41:39.14S 073:03.62W - Marina Costa de Huelmo

We eventually got the heat-exchanger back from the shop on Wednesday; not exactly as good as new but I wasn’t going to let them keep it any longer. They had welded up and machined the corroded area but with insufficient weld so the rubber O-rings sealing the ends of the tube stack were not working. I sealed it all up with rubber gasket compound and let is set over-night. Read more ›


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