Location 43° 10S, 73° 05W
Tuesday 11.20.2007

At noon on November 20th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 43° 10S, 073° 05W. We were powering at 6.8 knots, headed south. The wind is from the south at 18 knots. We are crossing the Golfo Corcovado, en route to the Canal Moraleda. We plan to spend tonight at anchor in the Bahia Anihue, main anchor out and a line to a tree on shore.

We have come 105 miles since leaving Puerto Montt at 1715 yesterday, and have 796 NM (as the condor flies) to the Horn.

The Chonos Archipelago protects this area from the ocean. Hundreds and hundreds of islands run from about 44S to 46S. Canal Moraleda is a deep channel separating the Chonos from the mainland. Our general plan is to explore and play in this area until Sunday morning (November 25th), when we will emerge “outside,” hopefully into a nice NW’erly, which will blow us south efficiently. Between now and Sunday, the wind is forecast to be from the South, at speeds up to 40 knots. A good time to hunker down.

Tonight we hope to visit with the Szydlowski family in Bahia Anihue. The family is Chilean/American and are great supporters of the yachting fraternity. They have extensive holdings in the area where we will be anchoring ( 43° 52.3S, 73° 02.4W). We hope to show anyone interested around the Maggie B and hopefully get a visit ashore.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) we plan to deviate (by necessity?) from our Zarpa a bit to east to the Canal Puyaguapi, to visit a five star hotel and hot springs called Bahia Dorada or Dorita. Thursday? We’ll see what we learn.

Today is lovely and clear, even with the unfavorable wind. The excitement after lunch was a new and not nice sound from the rear of the engine compartment. On inspection, it turned out that the stuffing box had lost its lubrication and was almost ready to ignite. We stopped the engine, tightened bolts, blew out the water supply line (it is a “dripless” system), and, after a while to cool, all is well.

East of us is a series of National Parks. There is just one stunning snow-capped mountain after another. This morning the perfectly-shaped pyramid of Mt. Nevado in Parque Nacional Corcovado emerged first out of the low morning fog like a Japanese dream of Mt. Fuji. It looks as if tonight we will be anchored under Mt. Melimoyo.

All is well.