[password] rachel25
[position] 50 39.160s 074 33.000w
[status] Anchored in Caleta Paroquet, Isla Chatham, East coast of Canal Inocentes
Dawn. Not raining. Northerly wind. Yes!
Untied, up-anchored, up-sailed in glorious anticipation.
It started slowly, then filled in from the North West. Full sail squared away, Yankee poled out and off we went. As easy as that. By lunchtime we had left Canal Concepcion and entered Canal Inocentes. Auto pilot on. Sitting in the cockpit in the warm sun. Beduin half a mile away bowling along. This is what sailing is all about. Arrived here, 40 miles later, in this very sheltered and beautiful caleta at 1730. We were met by Steamer Ducks who fly on the water, faster than swimming but not as fast as flying. Dosn't look too elegant either. Joshua Slocum was met by them too in 1895. "The steamboat duck, so called because it propels itself over the sea with its wings, and resembles a miniature side-wheel steamer in its motion, was sometimes seen scurrying out of danger. It never flies, but, hitting the water instead of the air with its wings, it moves faster than a rowboat or canoe."
[END]