Photo - LONE STAR moored at the Yacht Club Argentino, Mar Del Plata, Argentina. February 2009


We really enjoyed our stay in Mar Del Plata, moored at the Yacht Club Argentino, where we found good food, a safe berth, and wonderful people. The staff was very helpful and cared to our various needs.

Doc flew back home after nearly a month on board. Our gratitude to him for taking so much time away from his practice and family to help us get this girl north. We were joined by Jorge, a Captain from Buenos Aires, who will guide us through the narrow, shallow, wreck infested channels toward Buenos Aires. Nice man, and we have enjoyed hearing his stories from sailing around the world.

Yesterday Matt and I had a busy day making preparations for our departure. We repaired the bow and steaming lights, changed oil in both the generator and engine, replaced the alternator belts, tried to repair the electric bilge pump, and other related tasks for getting a boat ready to go back to sea.

Our fuel arrived at 1300 today and we used the clubs launch to ferry it back and forth using our spare fuel containers. At first we were going to try to move the boat closer to the main bulkhead, however, there was not enough of a tide today to allow. Again, the staff at the yacht club was very helpful in helping us transfer 150 gallons of fuel.

We waited until later this afternoon to catch the high tide to exit the yacht club basin. After an easy visit to clear with the Prefectura, or Argentino Coast Guard, we waited for a few hours. It is very tight maneuvering in the basin, and we had a 20 knot beam wind to contend with. One of the senior staff stood by in a 20 foot, high power inflatable, in case we needed assistance. Once we backed out of our side-to slip, he helped push the bow into the wind while we pivoted two boat lengths of free space, and lined up for the narrow exit. Of course, once we cleared the narrow and shallow basin exit, which also has a pedestrian bridge across it, we found the fleet of dinghies returning from the days racing. There were about 75 dinghies in our path and we were forced to dodge and wind our way through. One of these days these kids are going to learn the hard way about getting in front of 30 tons of LONE STAR! In addition, there was some poor bastard on a windsurfer who was trying, unsuccessfully, to raise his mast and get out of the entrance. We missed him by 20 feet. It reminded me of the scene in Caddy Shack with boats everywhere and us right in the middle.

Now we are rolling along with a 20 knot tailwind and just enough swell to increase our speed to eight knots. A perfect day for our final leg to Buenos Aires, 260 miles up the river delta. Weather forecast is perfect, moderate south winds that should die off tonight and stay light for the next few days. BA here we come!