Location 54° 58S, 69° 00W
Tuesday 12.04.2007

At noon on December 4th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 54° 58S, 069° 00W, just passing Isla del Diablo in the Beagle Straits. The wind continues to be 10-35 knots directly behind us, whistling down the channel, bringing rain, sleet and snow with it.

We have come 1199 NM from Puerto Montt and have 48 NM to go to Puerto Williams and 84 NM to go to the Horn. We should be tied up at Micalvi Yacht Club in Puerto Williams by dinner time tonight. The Yacht Club is run by the Armada and consists of a former ammunition ship, half sunk on purpose to be a base. We expect it to be full of characters.

We are setting plans to do all our tasks tomorrow: refuel diesel and propane, restock food, mail letters, do laundry, refresh our Zarpa with the Armada, and clear Customs and Immigration.

The weather just might let us go on the 6th. That day is supposed to be pretty good. Light winds — only 15-20 knots. Maybe even clear. The problem is the 7th, when the next front is due, with winds of 30-40 knots. Our choices are three: wait in Puerto Williams for the prospect of two good days together; leave on the 6th and either A) keep going after the Horn (if we leave at 6 AM, would be around at @ 1700), or B) tuck in one of the two safe nearby anchorages after passing the Horn and wait out the blow. We’ll see.

All is well.

Addendum to Posting for Monday 12.03.2007

As the crew of the Maggie B we often are not privileged to proofread the daily updates prior to their posting. As such we are often as surprised as anyone else to learn what happened in the past 24 hours, or at least what the Captain seems to remember happening. Though I am happy to report that everything in updates for December 3rd appears to have happened in reality, it calls for an addendum. The ‘we had trouble’ with the anchor falls woefully short in describing what the crew lists as in the top ten dumbest ideas of all time.

The anchoring process did begin well with the crew working as a well oiled machine; lowering the Reep, setting up and dropping the anchor, playing out the shore lines, and looking ever so good doing it. It was not until Alden and Curtis were fighting a stiff breeze in the Reep to get a shore line set up that the anchor began dragging (’The Italians,’ authors of our cruising guide, gave the spot a ‘fair’ rating, one needs to realize that ‘fair’ falls well below ‘good’ ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’) Returning to the Maggie B, new options were discussed with us settling on rowing the anchor ashore to the rocky peninsula as a bow line. (Alden’s note: I am loath to admit myself an early proponent of this plan, but I would soon pay for this folly.) Positioning Reep under the anchor while trying not to get dragged under the bow, as the Maggie B needed to keep some forward momentum into the wind, we were only able to lower it between the two forward seats and not in the stern (bad idea number 2). To call rowing the Reep into the wind, laden with an anchor, and dragging heavy chain a challenge would be a small understatement, especially as the anchor’s position meant that the chain continuously wrapped itself around Curtis’ oar. With the help of good sailorly cursing and muscle tearing strokes we got close enough to shore to begin shipping oars only to have a gust push away the Maggie B, pulling the chain, pop out Curtis’ oar, and spin the Reep. Starting over Alden and Curtis again made for the shore, pretending not to hear the Captain’s gentle suggesting that the anchor be brought back. Again within striking distance, and refusing to fall off again, Alden hopped out into water putting the future of his progeny in doubt. Throwing out their backs, the (incredibly handsome and strong) shore party dragged the anchor as far as possible before wedging the tip under the biggest bolder and covering the rest with all the nearby stones. Too tired or modest to cheer they returned to the now safely secured Maggie B, grudgingly allowing themselves to be replaced for the next two (easy) shorelines.

So yes, ‘we had trouble’ with anchoring that night.