The Navy, known locally as the Armada, plays a dual role in Chile. In addition to defending the country against sea-born aggressors, the Armada is also the equivalent of the US Coast Guard. They patrol both the offshore and inland waters, perform safety inspections, and provide rescue services when needed.
Most boaters in Chile know of the Armada through the process of obtaining a zarpe, the permit that gives both local and foreign pleasure boats permission to travel on Chilean waters. Unlike in most other countries, in Chile it’s not legal to just hop in your boat to sail somewhere. Instead, the Armada needs to give permission to do so.
Obtaining a zarpe is not difficult, but it is important. We’ve been called on the radio multiple times by local Armada offices – they’re checking in on where we’re coming from, where we’re going, and whether we have a zarpe.
When talking with the Armada, we’ve found is that it’s best to have Angie on the radio. With Mike, we get a lot of questions – “How many crew on board?”, “What’s your ETA?”. With Angie, the friendly Armada officer on the radio typically just says “Buen viaje” – Have a good trip!
