After a month straight of empty channels, empty anchorages, and feeling like the only people on earth, we’ve arrived at the entrance to the Strait of Magellan. With a forecast of several incoming weather systems with strong winds, we pulled into the small anchorage of Caleta Teokita to wait for better conditions to cross the strait.
After we wound our way through the impossibly narrow entrance to the caleta, we looked up with surprise to see a mast outlined against the trees. Another boat in the same anchorage? It’s hard to believe.
Even harder to believe is that the boat is sailed by an American couple. Brian and Debbie are from the southeast of the US, and they seemed just as excited to have neighbors as we were. After getting anchored and pulled in towards the trees, we got together for a nice evening of dinner, drinks, and a swap of stories and experiences while the 30 knot wind gusts rattled the rigging.
Aboard their 35’ (11m) sailboat Dawn Treader, they’ve sailed down the east side of South America. After spending a year in Uruguay, a year in the Falklands, and then a year around Puerto Williams near Cape Horn in Chile, they’re now headed north to Mexico.
By any measure, it’s a long trip by sailboat. In Brian and Debbie’s case, the trip might take longer than otherwise because they removed their diesel engine from the boat before they left the US 5 years ago. With only a small outboard used for pulling into and out of harbors without wind, they are fully committed sailors!
After enjoying dinners together in the evening and coffee together in the morning, we’ve gone our different ways – Dawn Treader to the north and Madrone to the south. It’s always hard to leave like-minded people that become quick friends, but it’s never good-bye – it’s always see you later…
