Monday, January 11, 2016

Checking out of Argentina

Today we were all prepared in the morning to check out of Argentina and head for Montevideo, Uruguay early in the morning. We went to the office and Fernando helped us with the forms, making copies and then calling a remis to take us on the various stops - Immigration, Customs and Prefectura or Coast Guard. At the first stop they explained that since we were leaving in the morning we could not check out now at 11:00 am but we had to come back at 5:00 pm. Okay, no problem, the remis took us to the Shell station for oil and then to the bank for a few more pesos and then back to the yacht club.
 
Rich and I did a few chores, like changing the oil in the engine, filling the water tanks, fixing the reefing lines and adding shock cords to the lazy jacks to help keep them away from the battens. This last bit involved Elaine going part way up the mast which she has not done in a long time. A bit of an adrenaline rush.
 
 At 4:30 pm, Fernando called another remis and off we went back to immigration. No problem and our passports and some forms are stamped for us to leave Argentina. Next stop customs which is conveniently in the next office in the El Tigre area. Customs fills out a zarpe form and stamps it but we need to have the Prefectura stamp and sign some forms and bring them back to Customs. Ok, back in the remis and off to the Prefectura. We show them the forms, plus they want a copy of our boat document, our passports and the form we filled out in Mar del Plata stating we would not go to the Malvinas (Falklands). More stamping and signing of forms, some discussion of where we entered Argentina and were we going straight to Montevideo. Back in the remis and back to Customs and we hand in 3 forms and next a stop at the grocery store. Rich pays the remis and sends him off as the Carrefours is within walking distance to the YCA. I recharge our phones and we buy a few groceries and walk back to the yacht club.
 
The office is close so we go to get the lancha to take us to the boat. The lancha driver explains that the Prefectura called and want us to call them back. Ok, now what. It turns out they want to stop by the boat before we leave at 7:30 am. Okay, so we will see what happens in the morning. The last time we had someone visit the boat was in Iquique, Chile over 2 years ago.
 
So, if all goes well tomorrow we will leave Yacht Club Argentino San Fernando, pick up fuel at the fuel dock nearby and head out Canal Honda and Canal Mitre and hopefully not run aground. It is about 150 nautical miles to Montevideo and to the Uruguayan Yacht Club at Buceo just outside of Montevideo. If all goes well we will arrive sometime on Wednesday.
 
The adventure continues.... 

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