We sneaked away from Puerto Montt nearly a week earlier than projected. The waterline is down, full of fuel, water, and stores which will hopefully last us 60 plus days until our next real shopping stop at Puerto Williams, the most southern village in the world, AKA the Chilean Antarctic territorial capital. Before leaving civilization, we shared a great Italian dinner with our friends Elaine and Rich from SV Windarra. Who would have thought that so from from Italy (or Connecticut?) there would have been a Sicilian making sauce and homemade pasta that rivals any we have had. What a treat!

We have been out for five days and all systems are a go for the most part. Our fingers remain crossed. We have rendezvoused with our Aussie friends on Storm Bay of Hobart whom we haven't seen in over a year. It seems a long time since Chris tumbled off of the back of Frannie B (on land) and broke his collar bone and some ribs. He is healed now after two surgeries. We are thankful and all much more cautious on ladders. Margy and I were able to take a long walk and shared many beloved dog stories. Today Frannie B is off to the southernmost anchorage on Chiloe, fabled island of spirits, brujas, and Isabel Allende. Weather permitting, we will cross Boca de Guafo with the tide tomorrow. Get out your atlases!

The stern of Frannie B in the photo shows our boat laden with coils and baskets of floating line. These will be used to tie to the shore, often from all corners of the boat. As we head south we may encounter "rachas" strong gusts of wind from all directions. These gusts come down the step mountainsides often unpredictable and will nilly. By securing the boat in this way we can get very close to shore and be safe from the rachas. We have experimented and practiced with this method of anchoring and although it is time consuming we have had many good night's sleep when using it.