Villvind in Caribia !

Hello everyone !

At the time we left Cape Town medio January the internet was down. At St.Helena or at Ascension no net was available either. However we arrived at Tobago close to 2 months after leaving Cape Town.  It has been a pleasant sail. Apart from a couple of pumpy days out from Cape Town the sailing has been a comfortable one all the 5500nm to Grenada with the wind from behind. The doldrums appeared with squalls, thunderstorms an no wind at all for a couple of days. Well through the doldrums Villvind averaged 150-160 nm  every day for almost 3 weeks.  The all lady performed well.

From now on untill the beginning of mail we will cruise slowly north to Antigua from were we will leave for the Azores. And do some minor maintenance tasks. Medio July we will be back in Norway !

All the best from the crew on Villvind !

Per Oscar, Richard and Terje
   

South Africa - Cape Town !

Villvind safe and sound  in RCYC ( Royal Cape Yacht Club)

Since we left the Falklands in the end of January we have been sailing for 6 weeks in the famous screaming  50-ies and the roaring 40-ies. In low temperatures,  gales and full storms we have sailed among icebergs, in mist and thick fog.  It has been a rough but  a  memorable journey where our visit on South Georgia with its nature, atmosphere, history  and spectacular wildlife topped it all.

The last night before arriving in South Georgia we were hit by a full storm,-  50 to 60 knots of wind. This should be the first of  more to come and we developed a  strategy  for  sailing is those  conditions which was to, take down the main, reduce  the genoa to 2-4 sqm ‘s and set the windvane for a plain downwind course. This way the boat managed well at all times without broaching with an average speed of 3-4 knots even if we sometimes surfed  in 15-20 knots.  In Cumberland Bay at South Georgia a Japanese survey ship messured  85 knots of wind that night.  An area definitely not for novices. 

 
We arrived in Cape Town , 27 days out from South Georgia . The last week in moderate conditions , sometimes sunny and in  a continuous rising temperature as we got north. Here in RCYC we were allocated a berth for  2 weeks with all the facilities you need. The last weekend in Mars,  Berit and I will sail  55 nm north to Saldanha Bay where  Villvind will be put on the hard for 10 month  before the journey  continue next January .

Until then,  have a funny  and prosperous  2016 !

All the best from Dag, Svein and Terje !

Stanley - The Falkland Islands

The windswept harbour !

We left Puerto Williams  the 18th of January  and arrived in the Falklands 3 days later. We had a fast passage through the Maire Strait, with the wind and current from behind Villvind averaged between 9 and 11 knots for 4-5 hours. The passage was a very comfortable one with smooth seas and light winds. The last day in sunshine and flat calm.   The Patagonian mountains, channels and glaciers  was a spectacular sight.

 

Villvind will, -while on passage to South Georgia deploy 5 bottle-messages in the sea to chart the ocean currents. This is a mission given us by another Terje in Oslo.  One is already  deployed south west of the Falklands.   



In the Falklands we will stay approx a week before leaving for South Georgia.  In Stanley there are hardly any facilities for yachts appart from the small private marina  owned by Carl and his wife.  They  arrived here 36 years ago from Tasmania in their own boat and have since then remained here.  They have “digged a hole”  in the shoreline and   given space for 4 to 5 boats. You can enter on 1 hour, each side of highwater only.  Once inside you are completely sheltered and secured from all winds.

Old Lady Elisabeth is a wellknown landmark in Stanly Harbour and witness of sometimes rough conditions !
 

Stay tuned !

Svein, Dag and Terje in Villvind.

 

Chile - Puerto Williams

Chile – Puerto Williams. 

The  Beagel  Canal forms the border between Argentina and Chile. Two countries that  do not succeed in creating  an especially  good neighborhood.   Formalities and paperwork is unbelievable. 

Villvind has now moved across the Beagel  Canal , 25 nm eastwards to Puerto Williams on the Chilean side of the Canal.  After  visiting - and have filled in documents at the Yacht Club, Capetaneria de Puerto, Imigration, Costums and Agriculture before going  back to the Capetaneria to show them that everything is done and stamps and signatures are  OK ,-  the clearance procedure is completed.   

Our plan now is to return westwards into the clacier area before returning to Puerto Williams and clear out for Cape Town in South Africa  around the 20.January.

We stay now at Micalvi Yacht Club. The marina/ pier is created from  an old armada ship (Micalvi) that is run aground  (on purpose ) and  forms  a very sheltered and good harbour. The club is run by the Armada  and the atmosphere in this cruising hub is very interesting. The first person we met and who  took our lines was Skip Novak in his Pelagic. 

Dag and Svein is now well installed on board and they both are working properly !

 

 

Stay uned.

Dag, Svein and Terje in Villvind !

 

Ushuaia - the worlds southernmost town !

Christmas in Ushuaia !

The last leg south, from Puerto Deseado to Ushuaia in the Canal Beagle was a comfortable one.  Light  winds and many hours motoring.  However we arrived safe and sound without accidents but short on diesel.

In Deseado we had the pleasure of meeting Gustavo and his family. They helped us with local knowledge and practicalities and even took us sightseeing on the pampas.   They contributed to a very nice stay.

Arriving in the Beagle Canal  was impressing. The Canal itself, more than 100 nm long and  enclosed with high alpine summits partly covered with snow. 

It has been a long sail down from Norway,- 8500 nm since we left our homeport the 25.July. Without any accidents or problems we arrived 3 days before schedule the 19.December.  After 5 month on the go,   I now  look forward to a comfortable  3 week stay , well moored along a solid pier. 

Medio  January,- Villvind will depart for Cape Town in South Africa after a short visit in Chilean waters.    

 

Once more; -Merry Christmas to all of you !

All the best from the crew on Villvind !

Eivind / Per Even / Terje

Puerto Deseado - a short pitstop !

The Argentinia and Patagonian wilderness do not give an inch for free , neither westwards or southwards. The sailing is demanding with changing weather every 12 hour,- with an average of 20 to 30 knots gusting 40 now and then. There are few sheltered anchorages along the way so one have to be prepared. We depart on the last leg tomorrow with a resonable good forecast. 600 nm to go to Ushuaia. From the Strait of Magelan the coast turn south and even south east and the sail will be more comfortable along the coast.

Two typical anchorages along the route. Enjoy.

A merry christmas to all followers and friends,-this year we will spend it in Ushuaia. Per Even and Eivind will take their leave from here while Dag and Svein will join the vessel the 7. january.

 
Stay tuned !

The crew onboard Villvind !  Eivind, Per Even and Terje !

Argentina - Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata !

We are still heading south and will continue so for another 1000 nm to Ushuaia on the very southern tip of South America.  The sail from Rio in Brasil brought us out of the tropics into a climate we are more used to. Chilly nights and comfortable 20 + through the days.  The sailing here from Rio took us 9 days and varied  from  days with comfortable reaching, tailwinds to  beating into 30 knots of headwinds .  4 hours after arrival in Mar del Plata  a southerly gale arrived.   Formalities went fast, with friendly and efficient officials  the first afternoon. We could enjoy our first Argentinian beef! 

We will stay here for a week  before setting off south.  There are some minor adjustment   to be done on the boat. Tighten the rigging and setting up long lines for anchoring in Patagonia is two of them !

 

 

We are getting closer to the westerlies now and follow up  the weathercharts and GRIB-files become mandatory and part of the daily routines !

Stay tune !   Eivind, Per Even and Terje !