We have an anchor set and four lines ashore to hold us steady while the raches and chubascos (gusts and showers) it is broadside at 20 and sometimes 30+ knots. These are not williwaws, These are rachas with no vertical component in the wind. Williwaws are large gusts that hit you on the top of the head as they spill off a steep hillside. This is the first opportunity to write since we departed the Straits of Magellan. Getting out of The Straits and into the channels headed north is a big hurdle done. The weather is usually bad and contrary there. We waited and found a window that was just contrary and made a very long 95 miles, 19 hour trip from Isla Carlos III to Canal Smyth. The first place we could pull into, Bahia Profundo had a canal cargo ship anchored in it but close by was the long, narrow, very dark Caleta Teokita. That day and that entrance is a two scotch story that will get told at a more appropriate time and after I have gotten over it. No damage done. We hope to get to Puerto Natales on Thursday 21st. We must fuel up and resupply the cookies. Still have plenty of butter but we will buy some more anyway. Right now the rain has paused and the wind is 10 knots from the west, our starboard side. Now 7, now 8.....but in a moment I will hear it coming down the valley. And here it comes, I hear it. Unnerving sort of. Hopefully it will build slowly before it smashes us. In the time it took to write this the cycle is complete....now12, 14.....oops! it has faked me out. The wind missed us this time. down to 7, 5, 6.... Oh well, I thought I might do a good live commentary. Not to be. But it will be back before I can clean this up and get to my bunk. Here we go..........