Karma Blog: ‘In Puerto Aguirre’

Werner Toonk is an IT project manager and sailor. After a difficult journey through the South Seas, he landed his two steel masters in New Zealand in 2018. Back in the Netherlands he published the book Karma van Staal about his 200-day journey with various passengers. This year he takes up the thread again and travels to Cape Horn. Through his blog karmavanstaal.nl he informs us.

Puerto Aguirre

Sat 10 Feb 2024 16:42 (CET) – In Puerto Aguirre

We are located in Puerto Aguirre. Or actually in Puerto Aguirre. There is a Marina for me. If we wanted to stay there, we would have to book in advance. We are just around the corner, at anchor. It is very busy. For here then. Three boats are now docked there. The Canadian, Swedish and Dutch flags fly there. Ours is the most worn.

Women are off the board. They travel back to land on the beautiful Carretera Austral. Never heard of that road? Google, you don’t know what you’re seeing, so beautiful.

Mitchel and I are preparing for the next step. On the way to the south. Tomorrow we will raise anchor. The diesel tank has been refilled, hopefully the water has also been refilled. Smoking with jerry cans. And find our way here in Spanish. Nice!

The next stop is Tortel. That’s where Robert steps up. If the weather holds up to expectations, we will be there as planned.

*View of the glacier fields and the highest mountain in Patagonia*

Wednesday 14 Feb 2024 02:43 (CET) – Penas Bay behind us

It was an all-nighter, but we made it. The infamous Penas Bay is behind us.

Thx Ruud for watching, that was great. The weather met expectations and we did our thing again. We drove into the sea, and in that wave the wind built up to 15 to 25 knots with frequent peaks of 30. But all the things behind, it’s very easy to handle. Around these types of capes is always exciting, mainly because there are always fishermen working without AIS, and various buoys are lit that are not on the map and because the wind is always crazy. It was like that too, but we got through it again. In the Gulf it became light again, and we had a beautiful view of the ice fields and the highest mountain in Patagonia. (see picture)
For NFL users: Karma van Staal has also been added as of today:

Wed 14 Feb 2024 15:13 (CET) – Small, very small for this beauty

A new day begins. The sun shines above our horizon. A dense forest surrounding a small inland lake.

After a night trip over the Golfo de Penas we slept like babies again. In a small and well-kept corner, behind our anchor and two lines to the side. New and reborn we are back on deck. To enjoy this ‘fleeting fleeting moment.’ (That translation in Dutch…)

The sun’s rays find their way through light clouds. They heat up whatever they land on. Mitchel drowns in clear water. I enjoy my coffee. It has been remade. We take it easy. You wouldn’t want anything else in a place like that.

Today we focus on Tortel. 47 nautical miles. Through beautiful scenery and narrow canals, calm weather with a view of thousands of meters high snow peaks. How small we are. Emptiness. As a guest. In Patagonia this disaster.

How far we get depends on the wind, because it controls. On the sea and here. Perhaps the best is: DIRECTION of the wind. When it blows, it blows hard. So loud that it also affects the flow. The wind is against you, the current is against you. The wind behind is the current.

Less wind is expected today, but still Patagonia. It can turn at any time. Then suddenly it flies near your ears. And forty knots or more. Bad weather here is reported to start at just over 50 knots.

It takes some getting used to. For greatness, strength, infinity, emptiness, purity, but above all the beauty of Patagonia. What a gift to be able to travel, be and enjoy here.