New Horizons

So it come to the time, when as always are split in thought. Sad to see someone go, and excited about the time ahead. Will I continue alone or will there come any other crew soon? Well... During the pandemic, this is not as easy as it might sound...

Another, old, horizon we passed some time back...

Anton have decided to go back home. He spent over a year on this boat and struggling, hand by hand all through the toughest of sailing. From full butterfly, flying in 10 knots with wind speed of about 45 knots through the Le Maire strait before pushing forward to Cape Horn. He endured a cold winter in a super cold boat. Never complained, just put on a third layer of clothes. Anton has been through the rainiest parts of Patagonia, never hesitating from putting those glorious, beautiful yellow rain clothes on, rowing in hard wind and placing the safety in form of shore lines on hard to get to places, trees and boulders. We've been through the end of the world together (Literally speaking!) and it is sad to see him go. But when it is time, it is time.

Anton thinking about how to cross waters not possible to sail...

Some places are easier to cross than others... above, example #234

So once again, I'm finding myself all alone. Not that this was without consideration. I mean, I did depart from Oslo all alone. Sooner or later these moments always tend to catch up! So what now? Where to? how? The questions are many, I understand if you have some, even I do. Well... To be honest. After a long winter and some overstay on VISA and mind, Chile seem to have shown it's best sides and I am ready to leave. Leave for that Polynesian waters, warmth and relaxing atmosphere. But it is a mere 4000 nm to get there. Alone this is a long passage. I have an approval to arrive. So arrival should be no problem what so ever. It would most likely just be like normal. There are some other boats leaving "at the same time" as well, or more or less, so I will most likely STILL be all alone out there. No matter when you start, or how close you start. You loose each other out there fairly quickly, if you not really aiming to stay together... The world is seriously round. Done! End of discussion. But even as I'm writing it, the feeling of just going back down south still taste good in the mind. Not sure why... Nah, need to shake those thoughts! Polynesia. POLYNESIA! soon! Just a month in solitude and alone on the biggest ocean possible to sail on...

These guys have a lot of saying these days, The Armada de Chile, and even just leaving the country seem to be a mess... Two boats trying to leave but still haven't departed.. Wonder what the hold up is, I might go and check...

With that said, boat have been lifted, prepared and got ready under the water line for this big passage. I've got a new spray hood and "bimini" (or as we call it in Swedish; "Drinking tent" - "supstuga!"). The boat has got a good clean inside and out. Old stuff no longer needed (installed for the channels in Patagonia) is removed and got a splendid new surface on the boat to finally move around as freely as possible. I've got that ridiculous electrical drive for the furler to work... Without having to get the new one. Guess we have one spare now? Just some hard work of disassembly it all and fix the wrong stuff, then do everything in reverse (without taking apart the things I fixed!). I've got the AIS back up and running after some screwing, tinkering, multi-metering, unscrewing some more and then soldered some shitty stuff back together that was burnt out. Sweet. People can see us now in the ocean. But so can the Armada.. darn! I've got the gas alarm back and running as well. Haven't really worked for the during of me owning the boat. It was an easier fix. Just reconnect the wires that must have fallen out during some time ago. Super electrician you think, thank you I say!

And there is of course a small load of small issues that have been prepared, arranged, fixed and done stuff with. I hope everything now starts looking ready for the grand voyage!

Starting to look good, this old one!

The boat has been looking like a bomb dropped inside for so long it feels good finally feeling like a home again.

And this time, this home is, after all consideration and thoughts, aimed "straight" for Polynesia... (weeeell... Straight and straight... We'll start north then when the trade winds start turning we start turning...). Just a mere little 30-40 days sail! If we were able to go straight, we might have been able to push it down towards 25-30 days. But less wind and not as stable winds. So we go the long way and hope for quicker results. One can never know for sure anyways... Interesting times ahead!

Anyways, Figured I stop with all the "short stories" in the start of these entries. People seem to get too confused leading to a lot of weirdness and phone calls where no one speaks about the same thing. From now on, I'll make sure to inform well in advance when they come.

What will tomorrow bring?

Cool, not that much more to say at the moment. Not sure, Don't really know and are not really stressing about it either. The Marina has a shower after all. Quite nice. Once a week I really enjoy that luxury!

Cheerio and talk soon!

Ludvig