On January 7, the dominant NW winds weakened, allowing us to enter the famous Strait of Magellan. This passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific was discovered in 1520 by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, supported by King Charles of Spain. We crossed the Tortuoso Passage with its strong currents, accompanied by many whales, and took advantage of the calm to sail overnight, reaching Caleta Teotika in Smyth Channel by midday the next day. For once in almost a month, it didn’t rain all day, and the sun warmed Libertaire’s deck! Nina and Diane have renamed Chilean Patagonia the "Land of Rain"!
We stayed a week in this very sheltered and bucolic caleta. Strong N or NW winds prevented us from continuing; gray skies and rain returned. Only the beautiful Coicopihue flowers reminded us it’s midsummer here, adding a splash of color. The girls seem to adapt well to this slower sailing rhythm, and daily walks in these deserted but often densely vegetated landscapes have become familiar. On Tuesday, January 15, the long-awaited SW wind allowed us to advance 80 miles north with a short stop for the night at Caleta Columbine. We then parted ways with the crew of Petrouchka, with whom we’d sailed for nearly a month, as they headed to Puerto Natales. We’re currently anchored at Caleta Moonlight Shadow on the west coast of Sarmiento Channel. We hope to reach the small village of Puerto Eden, 150 miles north, by the end of the month.