Cape Horn to Starboard

After an early to bed evening at anchor off Lennox Island, we arose early to grey skies and a little wind in the rigging this morning. After a final check of the weather forecasts, we weighed anchor and started South toward the Antarctic peninsula. It quickly became a calm, sunny day and we left Cape Horn to starboard, as we motor sailed into the Drake Passage. Given the fierce reputation of these waters, we'll accept burning some fuel instead of getting beat up. Hoping we might get to see some of the trailing Vendee Globe competitors sail across our path. So far, it's been dolphins, albatrosses, giant petrels, skuas, terns and seals.

We've been slowly preparing for this voyage to Antarctica for about 6 months, but we really didn't think it was going to happen until a few last things fell into place suddenly in December including an extraordinary permission to travel to Santiago and back despite community quarantines in order to renew an expiring passport for our youngest son. That whirlwind trip, and then the last minute preparations to get the boat ready and equipped with an extra 400+ liters of fuel in a borrowed bladder and borrowed containers wouldn't have been possible without the help of the many friends we have made in Chile.

Since we returned from the Beagle Channel Glacier tour at the end of November, we've updated our charting tablets, installed a watermaker, loaded over 3 months worth of provisions, made minor rigging and sail repairs, loaded 700+ liters of fuel (68 liters at a time), and completed a myriad of other minor repairs. It's been busy with the holidays, a quarantine, and the trip to Santiago for two of us all thrown in for good measure. We also took time to say goodbye to several friends who decided to sail north through the Chilean canals hoping to eventually be able to cruise in the Pacific, and to meet a fellow American who had to stop in Puerto Williams due to damages after having sailed single-handed all the way from San Francisco and around Cape Horn on a non-stop circumnavigation attempt.

We remain in awe of many of the sailors we have met since we've started cruising. We've been privileged to meet, learn from, and be assisted by so many fellow sailors. They've helped us through some of our lows and encouraged us to keep expanding our horizons throughout our adventures. That they have been so humble and generous has been a simple reminder of how we all should live, and has been a great illustration of the kinds of people we want our children to become.

We wish all a healthy and happy 2021. We hope you will realize your dreams, and continue to follow and share in the adventures that result from our chasing our own.

Cheers, Jon & Crew