Katherine Ann Westabout

An eventful few days to say the least. I had hoped to have a Cessna come down from Ushuia in Argentina to take a snap of Katherine Ann with Cape Horn lighthouse in the background and planned to be there around noon on Monday 21st March 2016. Luckily the wind changed at the right time and was able to change tack on Sunday evening. The wind was quite strong from the SW and was overpowering the reefed jib so proceeded at a leisurely 4 knots to arrive a mile off the lighthouse a little before the proposed rendezvous under double reefed main. The conditions lived up to general expectations with the wind occasionally dropping to 20 knots in bursts of brilliant sunshine and literally moments later a fierce snow shower and wind gusting to 35 knots and obliterating the view of Isla Hornos and the other spectacular surrounding islands. I thought it would look a bit wimpish without a jib so set up the reefed jib in the lee of the lighthouse again with the expected but nevertheless unwelcome drenching and accompanying numb thumbs. Back in contact with my daughter Katherine who was liaising with the photographer received the not entirely unexpected news that the pilot considered the conditions unsuitable and called off the shoot. To this I was entirely in accord and did not ask for a try later or suggest a widow might open later in the day. As it was I sailed away from The Horn in the evening in light clear conditions but the whole of the Beagle Canal islands were completely socked in. The next day saw me hove to under triple reefed main in winds of 35 knots gusting 45 knots and rain and sleet to the deck. All in all a very sound decision by all concerned.
A nice hot cup of coffee was called for and gurgle gurgle empty main tank and only the 20 litres emergency supply left so out with the manual desalinator. Worked reasonably well but for a pronounced leak in the pressure recovery side of the system but still managed to get the day's supply plus a another 8 litres. Strongly considering doing a partial dismantle as the leak appears to be on the face on which the piston seal sits and not the rod seal, which would not be fixable. Anyhow later that night, Tuesday, the wind eased and set course on the wind which resulted in 235T - straight towards Diego Ramirez only 20 miles distant. The wind veered favourably and so settled in for a well earned sleep.