Ushuaia to Mar del Plata recap

Yacht Club Argentino

This morning we got the lancha into the YCA. They were very helpful and had the paperwork for the Prefactura plus carbon paper. We filled out the 4 necessary copies, got a map and headed out. Two local sailors were also going to the same place so we walked with them and got some of the local scoop. Today and tomorrow are holidays so many things are closed except for places catering to tourists so we will have to put off laundry until Wednesday. After checking in, Rich and I treated ourselves to coffee and wifi and waited until lunch time to try one of the local restaurants. It was a slow walk back after so much food at one time.

The tide has risen sufficiently to allow us to enter the yacht club and tie up to the dock and plug it.

I have to say that it was nice last night to sleep in our bed, enjoy calm waters and not have to worry about watches.

So, the nitty gritty of the trip:

10 days, 9 1/2 hours from dock to buoy.
1315 nautical miles
Averaging 126.5 nautical miles a day, maximum for one day was 172nm, minimum was 92nm.
Winds - max 45 knots,
min 0 knots - note least winds were in the Beagle Channel.
Seas - max 3 meter, short period with 3-5 feet of wind waves on top
min flat - also in the Beagle channel
Sailing - we sailed 8 of the 10 plus days. We tacked twice, spent most of the time either on a broad reach or into the wind on port tack.

Damage report
Main sail split from leech almost to luff below the top batten. Some of the leech line tore below and above the split
Lazy jack line for main sail on starboard side chaffed and need to repair. May need new line.
Staysail has a tear near the luff and should be sewn or patched.
We are looking to have sails repaired in Buenos Aires and we will be able to go to get there without the main sail, just maybe not as fast.
One of the alternator belts broke and the remaining is stretched and not tight enough. The two spares on board are not tight enough either so need to buy more belts, install and adjust. Universal spare that we had in storage deteriorated and had to be tossed.
Watermaker was working fine then stopped producing water. Suspect water temperature was too cold. Need to verify operation
Toilet switch for aft head is not working properly. Sensor indicates holding tank is full but output is not to holding tank. Cover of switch has torn, needs replacement.
Water in exhaust system of Webasto heater. Suspect one of the many waves we took on the stern caused it even though there is a loop to prevent this. Need to suck out the water and clean system to get heater back operational.

Tomorrow we will continue cleaning and putting the boat back in shape. Oh, and also getting our internet fixes.

One other change. During the trip we were wearing long underwear, fleece and foul weather gear. Now we are in shorts and t-shirts. Glad to be farther north!

We would also like to thank everyone for their words of encouragement!

Sent from SV Windarra iPad