We continue to share news from Daniel, Jean-Marc and their crew as they continue their journey through the Patagonian canals aboard the JPK 45 FC No. 3 (2017). A big thank you to them for sharing their experiences and for these images that inspire us to dream...
The story
As expected, entering the Strait of Magellan from the Strait of Smith is a challenging experience, under the watchful eye of Chilean lighthouse keepers: 25 to 30 knots upwind with gusts of up to 35 knots in squalls. We sailed with two reefs and the staysail, before switching to just the foresail for the rest of the way, as the route was fully downwind. We were caught out once with the mainsail hoisted, fortunately reduced to the second reef... It happened suddenly, the sea suddenly started to smoke and the wind picked up to over 45 knots!
We then reached the northwestern branch of the Beagle Channel, with its magnificent glaciers and our “Top One” anchorage: Caleta Beaulieu. We arrived in Puerto Williams in splendid weather and moored Belharra against the Micalvi to celebrate New Year's Eve [the Milcavi is an old Chilean ship that has been decommissioned and beached, serving as both a mooring pontoon and a bar, and which has the peculiarity of leaning slightly to starboard... which gets forgotten after a few drinks]! The atmosphere was fantastic, and we met some incredible sailing adventurers.
We were then exceptionally lucky with the weather, which allowed us to sail to Cape Horn... and, above all, to go ashore! It was a very emotional moment for us. Three of us even went swimming! We met the lighthouse keeper and his family, who had been stationed there for three years. They were really nice people who showed us around! Along with the French vessel Shazam, we were the first sailboats to land there that day during the southern summer. And if we had been there just one day earlier, we could have congratulated Sodebo via VHF as it passed Cape Horn...
We then headed back up to Puerto Williams to leave Chile, spending a farewell evening at the Micalvi with all our sailing friends. The trip up the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia was done close-hauled with 25 to 30 knots on a flat sea and under sunny skies, with one reef and staysail... a real treat!
Belharra is now moored at the Afasyn Marina in Ushuaia, and we have entered Argentina. Michel and Guilhem are returning to France, and Christian is on his way: so there will be four of us sailing up to Uruguay, where we will leave the boat (for this kind of long crossing, we have always preferred not to have more than four people on board). It will be our reunion with the open sea!
— Daniel
Photos
If you have not read the first story, click here.
More photos from Belharra's journey below:
Learn more about the JPK 45 FC
JPK 45 FC
The JPK 45 FC is an ocean cruising yacht designed to sail far, fast, long and safely. It combines a well-balanced hull, reinforced structure and light fittings to adapt to all latitudes.
JPK 45 FC
The JPK 45 FC is an ocean cruising yacht designed to sail far, fast, long and safely. It combines a well-balanced hull, reinforced structure and light fittings to adapt to all latitudes.
