Having recovered and stretched our legs in Antofagasta, it was time to move south and explore some more. We left Friday morning after some fun with the local policies of needing a Zarpe (clearance) to move from port to port just like in the Galapagos. International vessels have a slightly different process than the local boater we befriended and helped us through the process. But alas we were free to move about the country so long as its only where are Zarpe says we can go, thus the next port and only the next port.
Forecast: Nothing much, no wind 5 knots, barely any waves of course what waves and wind there is was on the nose as we head south.
Arturo of the marina came over and helped us untie from the moorings and lead us out of the harbor and wished us a safe journey. The way in and out of the harbor is to line up the street directly to the right of the pier as you high range marker. Keeps you between the jetties and shoals on both sides outside of the break water. Super nice folks at the “Club De Yates” (Yacht club) Its their summer so kids were learning to sail/kayak/swim most of the time we were there.
With only 5 knots of wind and glassy seas, we didn’t even raise the main and just used the engines and waited till the water cleaned up and made water topping up the tanks. Few ships on the AIS screen, mostly much farther away from shore than we are. Beautiful mountains even if they are part of the desert create the coast line we were cruising down. We are heading for a place called “Caldera” supposed to be another ‘tranquil’ bay with some decent protection from the waves when they come. It looked good from the window on the airplane ride to Santiago.
Saturday was just more of the same, beautiful sunny day, glassy ocean, hardly any wind or boats just birds and sea lions and dolphins playing. Thought I saw a whale in the distance but only spotted it once so can’t confirm it.
As we don’t want to arrive at dark we slowed way down, stopped one engine and pulled the other way back just cruising along to arrive at day break. Made all the water we can use, washed the boat with fresh water and made more fresh water after that. Made some pre-cooked meals for later passages, tried some new soups we picked up in the Chilean grocery store and consumed a lot of fruits.
Back in the states I vaguely remember the packaging saying “product of Chile” – and yes, this is where those fresh fruits come from. Lots of grapes, nectarines, dried grapes (raisins), Melons, tangerines and avocados. We found the local produce market in Antofagasta so we stocked up. The bananas come from Ecuador tho.
All good here, just puttering along at 3-4 knots waiting to arrive ‘Caldera’ in the morning and go see what this town has to offer. As Antofagasta was the ‘perl of the north’ and second largest city in Chile our next stops will be in much smaller ports/cities.
Off to explore in the morning, after we check in with the authorities and let them know we are where we should be. 🙂
At 1/27/2019 @ 1:08 AM Our position: 26°35.61’S, 070°51.26’W Traveling 3.3 heading 199T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-26.59350,-70.85433

New Years or bust.
In the home stretch, coming up on 100 miles to go. And wouldn’t you know it, the wind dies. We had been having a banner day, cruising along at 8knots and bashing into the random wave and then darkness settled in. We left the canvas up to continue the ride, at dark the wind shifted just enough that the wave bashing subsided. However the shift had us pointing a bit away from our mark, only about 45 degrees away. We let it ride, only to find about an hour into it, “poof” the wind disappeared, down to 3knots. On come the motors and we are pushing along at 6knots trying to make the port in “daylight” hours, tho it doesn’t look promising at this point.
We have contacted the authorities and warned them of our arrival as well as the marina manager and requested a mooring as there isn’t really a ‘marina’ there.
With the time zone changes, we might be arriving after new years. 🙁
All good on board, just everyone is tired. Dreading the first foot on solid ground. Pretty sure we might fall over after moving for 2 1/2 weeks. We have had a little of everything on this trip. Sun, rain, waves, winds – tho nothing very strong, no winds, birds, fish, sun, moon, stars and of course clouds and squalls. Its not over yet, but its getting closer. The boat is a salty mess, probably going to go through a few tanks of fresh water to rinse off the layers and restore order to our chaos.
ps. when I sent the notification to the officials I had neglected to tell them what time zone my estimates were in, so the 5pm estimate (which we won’t make) was Galapagos time, which is 8pm Chilean time. Details .. details. We will have to send an update in the morning when we get closer.
For now, Happy New Year
Started with 1765 miles till the destination, 122 miles to go and now we are a crow, with the motors pushing a straight line.
At 12/31/2018 @ 8:54 AM Our position: 22°35.05’S, 072°25.59’W Traveling 6.0 heading 122T
Google says we are here www.google.com/maps/place/-22.58417,-72.42650

Under 300 miles to go, it’s going to be close if we arrive in time to celebrate New Years in the harbor/marina (it will probably be too late to clear customs) or will we have to float around till daylight to find the marina.
Need just a little more wind from a favorable direction to arrive in the daylight.
All onboard are doing well. Shift changes still on Galapagos time, by time we reach land there will be a 3 hr time difference and much longer days, I think sunset is 9pm local time with sun rise at 6:30am. I foresee a few long sleeps in our future to adjust
Happy New Years from the Southern Hemisphere. Bringing the new year in a new place. Cheers.