[password] rachel25
[position] 45 58.202s 074 59.505w
[status] Anchored in Seno Pico-Paico (or Fondeadero Skyring). Well the wind has certainly decreased, a little further than we would have liked. Shame about the Pacific swell which remains - Muy Gruesa (Very Rough) said the forecast and it was correct. We left Caleta Millabu at crack of dawn having had a very difficult time getting the crew on her feet. Lovely dawn, beautiful light on the islands in Bajia Anna Pink. Initially the sea was flat and the light wind pushed us along steadily. However the wind became fitful, the waves became gruesome, and we struggled to make progress, resorting to the Volvo for long periods. At about 1300 the electronics started alarming and then died completely. This was more disconcerting than a problem but the one thing we would need going into any anchorage was a depth sounder. I didn't fancy using the lead line (we do have one) in more than about 5 metres. Luckily Beduin was to hand so we followed him into this gorgeous completely enclosed lagoon and we are now both anchored in 20 metres with our sterns some 5 metres from the thickly forested shore, a stream running conveniently close by, and birds twittering in the forest.
I traced the electronics fault to flooding of the instrument pod on the binnacle, annoying as we bought it new not 2 years ago in NZ. One piece of electronics kit (the Raymarine RF Base Station for those who know about such things)had spent some time siting in the puddle and chose today to finally burn itself up, blowing the overall instrument fuse at the same time. Luckily we can manage without this piece of electrickery and we now have instruments working again.
Just enjoyed freshly baked Pizza, some Chilean Carmenere and the company of Aleko of Beduin, for dinner.
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