We left Mar del Plata on Wednesday, February 22nd, with a full tank
of diesel in anticipation of dropping temperatures during our
coming weeks in Patagonia and the stove that will soon be purring...
The sail to Puerto Madryn, accompanied by our new crew member
Stéphanie, was quite peaceful—running downwind at 20 knots for two days, then
beating upwind at 20 knots for just under 24 hours, and finally
about ten hours under engine in Golfo Nuevo. Here we are
now in the Roaring Forties, marked by the company of our first albatrosses and the opening of
our second surprise box—thanks, Friends! It always brings us so much
joy, and we can't wait to reach the Fifties to open the next one.
Arriving at the entrance of Golfo Nuevo late Saturday night, we
took advantage of the 3-knot tidal current at the mouth to reach Puerto
Madryn. We anchored Sunday morning, escorted by dolphins under
lightning flashes in front of Centro Nautico Atlantico Sud. As the gateway to the Valdes
Peninsula, the town is primarily known for its abundant
wildlife. Southern right whales take center stage here from June to December...
Not quite the right time for us since these
mammals are currently in Antarctica, so we'll see them
next year! Stéphanie left us at this stop, and
Mathilde, a friend from Rennes, joined us for a few days.
The temperatures are exceptionally mild for
this late summer, and we enjoyed the beach like many Argentinians
since it was a two-day holiday for Carnival.
We met Fernando and Nelsis, who invited us for
a hearty afternoon tea at their lovely home. Connected through a mutual
Breton friend, their welcome was very warm! Fernando, a geographer, studied partly in Brest and speaks excellent
French. It was fascinating to discuss Patagonia and
Argentina with well-informed locals. Plus, the girls were thrilled
to play in the garden and especially to enjoy the delicious cakes prepared
by Nelsis. The weather is starting to get trickier with a front passing through
bringing strong SW winds every 4-5 days, and we'll need to time our
southward journey carefully. There might be a window on Friday to head south—we'll
keep a close eye on it!
On deck in Golfo Nuevo
Reflection, Stéphanie and Nina
Cooking at sea with family
Mar del Plata, the day before departure
Games
Seaside stroll, Puerto Madryn
In front of the Puerto Madryn anchorage
Crew at the restaurant!
In honor of the 1982 fighters
Swinging
In Fernando and Nelsis' garden
Nelsis and the girls
The prefectura, quite a story...
Mathilde and Nina at sunset
