Karma Blog: ‘Shit!’ – Zeilhelden

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.

Fri 01 March 2024 03:22 (CET) – Shit!

It arrived yesterday in the Strait of Magellan, after a good day of sailing. Just traveling all day again. Backstay winds and in the Strait itself went against the wind up to 41.8 knots. Finally a good ship again.

Today is a bad day. Actually, but also figuratively. The sewage tank turned out to be clogged. It had to be removed and that is a big job. And it made a big mess. Dirty gang. Oh good, around eight o’clock everything was done again, dinner was on the table and tomorrow we continue to travel. So much to look at in front of him. Close to Punta Arenas.

Just like Maud and Tyche, Robert also blogs through Polar Steps. Already follow him there?

Sun 03 March 2024 18:27 (CET) – Whale watching in Patagonia

Wed 06 March 2024 02:07 (CET) – Piriapolis

Have you ever heard? Piriapolis? Not me. Until the day before yesterday. It is located in Uruguay and seems to be a good place to leave your boat for six months. That’s the new deal. Tomorrow morning we leave and leave Chile behind us.

Patagonia is beautiful. Canals, glaciers, whales, dolphins, other wildlife. We really enjoyed it. Even the weather was good. There were many engines and no wind. Unlike expected.

We feel like sailing again, out in the open. So instead of Puerto Williams, we travel further north. Go to Piriapolis. 1,312 miles from Punta Arenas. A difficult step, but possible, we think.

I travel with Mitchel. The two of us. Robert came down today as planned. We had a great time together and we miss him already.

Thu 07 March 2024 11:03 (CET) – Back to the Atlantic

A light is shining on the horizon. It is quarter past seven in the morning. Behind us the last cape of the Strait of Magellan. It is known for its bad weather. For us 1,200 miles of open water to Piriapoli.

Mitchell and I are looking forward to it. Sailing again. Patagonia is so beautiful. Probably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I certainly wouldn’t want to miss it.

Yes, we may be leaving out the best thing. Gordon Island. But can it get any better? With more ice, more whales, even more than everything we enjoyed so much? It couldn’t have been nicer. Plus, that would be it. It was enough for us.

Sailing is different from a ship. I would rather sail the sea than drop anchor at the end of the day. Preferably in open water rather than in narrow channels. Better with wind than no wind.

Because that was Patagonia for us too. It is known for its bad weather. But in our case we had twice more than 40 knots. Thumbnails. Other than that, it was very quiet. And the engine. We didn’t need more than that.

Back on the Atlantic, Genoa is tough. It will be very windy for the first few days. A lot of wind. Bad wind. Good wind. Very little wind. We will see it all in the next 12 days. But we are traveling again.
Close to Uruguay. I never looked at it until yesterday, but it looks like a great destination. And a place where I can safely leave Karma for a while.

Travel 1,200 miles and enjoy. From open water, disturbance, ships at night with the first light on the horizon.

Werner also makes videos on the KARMA board, which you can watch see here.

Werner Toonk

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