Puerto Williams Update

The new radar arrived at 10pm last night and we left Ushuaia at midnight
for the five hour trip to Puerto Williams. This was a training exercise
and we were organised into 90 minute watches with a chance to learn the
ropes. Various briefings about epirbs, strobes, survival suits and life
rafts, jackets and tethers whilst we were sitting around the table in
the saloon accompanied by Ross' socks hanging by the burner.

Jane and Mary took first watch – dark and a bit rainy when we set off
but it soon got lighter. Peggy and Frances were next out, followed by
Ross and Chris and then Steve and Joy. We'll all soon be on the case
with the lingo of cardinals, flashers and other nautical terms. Also
the etiquette of providing teas and coffees for the replacements!

This morning we have been installing the radar and catching up on sleep
while we wait to be cleared by Chilean customs.

Sitting here and now it's 10.46am … still waiting for the uniforms to
come down the path with the relevant documents to allow us to be signed
in and out simultaneously. This will enable us to enter Chile and also
to visit anywhere else. Without it we get the patrol boat and wouldn't
get much further!

We're using the time while it's quiet to make proper coffee and laminate
maps and such like. Ben's in the wombat hole which is his cabin and
Darrel's busy being a sparky …

Hang on, the first guy's on the way and then we need another permission
called a zarpe ('zarpay' … no acute accents from THIS blogger!). We're
optimistic it will be a short time then we'll be off.
Written by Jane and others
PS we are now anchored at Calita Marsheil near Cape Horn waiting for a
break in the weather. A new blog is being written.