Image - Horse racing in Buenos Aires, Argentina.


Winter seems to be easing away as we find temperatures in the sixties during the day. In my opinion, it has been a very mild winter, with very little rain and only a few days below forty degrees.

Work continues at an Argentine pace on the main engine. I was hoping to have it wrapped up earlier in the week; however, the problem has been getting guys to show up. The injection pump is in place with the new injectors installed, but we are still waiting for the transmission with its replaced rear seal to be reinstalled. I have heard every excuse from "Swine Flu" to "Pedro has not showed up for work this week." I was once again reminded that nothing happens fast down here, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Our new awnings are under construction and looking good. We decided to go with a slight brown color fabric, rather than the white we have used in the past. This should add a nice classic look, and be easier to keep clean. Awnings are difficult to build and fit. We are fortunate to have existing awnings that fit well, and I am optimistic that they can copy them exactly without too many alterations.

The sail maker has promised me we will start working on sails next week, including building a new staysail. The repairs are minimal except for the mainsail, which will require alteration of the reef points and improvement of the battens and adjustment cars.

I met with a Customs Officer last week, and was assured we would be able to get an extension on our Admision Temporal which expires in early October. This is good news, and will save us having to leave the country, and return to renew. We were also granted permission to stay here at the Yacht Club Argentino - San Fernando, as long as they have space available. Another bit of great news. This is a private club, and not normally open to non member's boats. Sure we are paying to keep the boat here, however, they reserve the option to "invite us to leave" at any moment. LONE STAR purchased two new wooden picnic tables with chairs, and gave them to the boatyard BBQ area as a token of our appreciation.

We are on the waiting list to haul out, paint the bottom, and conduct a survey. It may well be another month before this can happen, due to the yard being full. My plan is to stay here and see these projects completed before I return home. It is slow enough with me here pushing, without me here, nothing would get done.

After talking to local sailors, both cruisers and racers, the suggestions have been to not try to head north during the Austral Summer (October - April) due to strong north winds that build during that time of year. May is looking like our departure month, which should time nicely once we get further up the coast of Brazil to catch the Southeast Trade winds to head west for the first time since we sailed to the Galapagos Islands after transiting the Panama Canal in January 2008. Should be downwind too, something I rarely promise.

I have continued with my twice weekly Spanish lessons and my ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend Spanish has really improved. I now find myself not having to pause and process what I hear, or what I want to say as often. I still sometimes get lost, but not as much as before. The past few weeks have been tough learning all the various forms of verbs and how to conjugate them. I was feeling overwhelmed, and feeling like I was not advancing, just stuck in verb forms. However, now I think I have figured it out and am moving ahead. Rosana, my teacher, gave me a fifteen page review to complete for Monday. It is supposed to rain this weekend, so I know what I will be doing.

I went to the horse races last night here in Buenos Aires with Juan and Jorge, and had a great time at the beautiful Hipodromo de San Isidro. This track was built in 1939 in the affluent residential area of San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, not far from the yacht club. The track is natural turf and the grandstands, paddock, and clubhouse all speak to the rich heritage of this sport. I only won one race, but it paid ten to one. After my win my friends asked me, in Spanish of course, "How did I know?" I said." It was easy, it says so right here" while holding up the program and pointing to the name of the horse. The name of the horse was "Always Winner."