[password] rachel25
[position] 54 46.863s 064 24.358w
[status] Anchored in Puerto Hoppner, Isla de los Estados
A significant day. We finally left the South American continent, which has given us so many wonderful experiences, and sailed full pelt across the Estrecho de le Maire to Estados (also know as the Staten Islands). With the wind behind us, and helped by the north going tide, Ithaka averaged 9 knots.
I'd been disappointed not to have done the Cape Horn rounding, but come to realise while staying in Puerto Williams and Ushuaia, that every man and his dog can do that these days in fast speed catamarans and cruise liners. Today it was more important for me seeing the most south eastern end of the continent, in the company of albatross, whales and penguins, and not another boat in sight, well, apart from Beduin. Beduin had a slightly slower crossing, sailing with just her jib, having blown out her mainsail in the strong, gusty winds yesterday. The sewing machine will be in use tomorrow.
So Ithaka and Beduin lie at anchor, in yet another amazing caleta. We are surrounded by many tall mountains. Puerto Hoppner consists of a wider, outer bay, and a smaller inner basin at its head. The entrance channel to the basin is very narrow and shallow, so we had to wait for high tide to enter it. Inside the basin are a number of wooded islets, perfectly enclosed.
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