Rio Grande to Punta del Este - Day 3

Winds increased to F5-6 overnight with rough seas and a big swell. The yankee was furled and we made good progress under main (3 reefs) and staysail.

Seas were fine on the port quarter but the Aries steered well. As noon approached winds were gusting to 30 knots at times.

Noon run: 100.02 miles. Punta del Este 80 miles. La Paloma 32 miles.

Robust conditions continued through the afternoon and evening with clear skies appearing at times.

La Paloma lighthouse was abeam to port at 19:30.

Rio Grande to Punta del Este - Day 2

Overnight the seas roughened as the wind increased to ESE F6.

Noon run from berth 76.08 miles. Punta del Este 193 miles.

During the afternoon the wind backed to the east and eased to F4. We made good progress under main (3 reefs),
½ yankee and staysail.

Andre caught a Brazilian swordfish with his trailing line. A vicious looking thing that had us hopping about the cockpit when it wriggled off the hook.

Fish0118032013

Fish0218032013

No change during the evening as we made good progress with the wind on the port quarter.


Rio Grande to Punta del Este - Day 1

We left Museo Oceanografico at 10:00. The wind was SSE F3 but was forecast to back to the east.

With no sign of a change in the wind we anchored inside the breakwater at 13:15. At 16:00 the wind appeared to be backing eastwards so we weighed anchor and cleared Rio Grande breakwater at 17:05.

We were able to hold a course of 185º T for the rest of the evening sailing under main (3 reefs),
yankee and staysail. Moderate to rough seas with a moderate swell. Boat motion was uncomfortable.

Rio Grande - Maintenance

Last day in Rio Grande. We cleared out yesterday.

Kiriwina will be 15 years old this year. The first 20 metres of her anchor chain have pretty much lost all galvanising and rust freely. I'm not sure yet whether I will re-galavanise or purchase new chain. In the UK I would re-galvanise but over here I suspect a new chain will be cheaper.


Chain corrosion.
RG0116032013

Today I replaced the anchor chain markings and topped up with 95L of fresh water. Donation to the museum R$70 and a final supermarket shop.

Rio Grande - Bunkers

Our average fuel consumption on this trip was 1.323 litres per hour. Not too bad.

Today I added 90 litres of diesel (R$2.38 litre). The nearest service station was about 20 minutes walk away and four return trips took a couple of hours.

Later on Andre cooked dinner and we welcomed a charming guest on board.
RG0115032013

Rio Grande

Routine maintenance today.

Since leaving Florianopolis we had run the engine for 60 hours. The engine bilge had about ¼ cup of coolant. Much reduced from previous observations. This was cleared up.

Other jobs:
- Engine lube oil top up.
- Tighten shaft gland. Packing likely needs replacing.
- Clean auto bilge pump and raw water inlet filters.
- Tighten alternator belt.

It has become apparent that using the generator for quick charging is not effective. Charging for an hour with engine is.

Rio Grande

Statement prepared we returned to the Receita this morning and were granted an extension. We then made a quick visit to the Capitania and our for formalities were complete.

Therafter a bit off shopping in the centre before returning to the boat.

Andre and the Portuguese tile mural.
RG0112032013

Testing a fishing net.
RG0212032013

Formalities in Rio Grande

We have been given permission to remain on our mooring at Museo Oceanografico.

First stop this morning was immigration at the Policia Federal. No problems. It only took about 20 minutes. After lunch we visited the Receita Federal. Things did not go well.

After waiting nearly 2 hours the Receita decided they were not happy. They suspected we were in Brazil illegally. We were taken back to Kiriwina with three Receita officers who inspected the log book and questioned us at some length.

We were then taken back to the Receita office. Here we were told that while they were now satisfied as to our legality the exit document issued by the Receita in Florianopolis was incorrect. Legally, Kiriwina had not been cleared out. We need to prepare a statement requesting an extension. The intention being that a correct exit document would be issued when left Rio Grande.

This took all afternoon. The Capitania would have to wait until tomorrow.

Florianopolis to Rio Grande Day 5

In the early hours the wind continued to back as we motor sailed towards Rio Grande.

At 03:30 we entered Rio Grande breakwater and at 04:15 anchored where designated to the east of the big ship channel. Passage distance 362.1 miles. Bar 1001, light rain with wind WNW 15 knots.

After a comfortable sleep we weighed anchor at 10:45 and proceed inbound. The wind was now WNW F6.

Passing the shipyard at 12:23.
RG0110032013

All fast at the Museo Oceanografico dock at 14:10.
RG0210032013

Our concern was justified. Southerly winds are forecast for the next week.

FloriRio

Florianopolis to Rio Grande Day 4

No change during the early hours as we continued motoring under clear skies with a slight sea and swell.

Just after 07:00 we had a brief spurt of wind. NNE 4, but it didn't last long.

At noon the wind was still NNE at F1-2. We continued to motor in slight seas with a moderating swell. We had expected a bit more wind from the east.
Noon run 102.8 miles. Rio Grande entrance 72 miles.

Conditions during the afternoon were quite pleasant with a lovely sunset and stunning evening sky.
Sunset0109032013

Andre relaxed at sunset.
Sunset0209032013

Later in the evening the wind backed to N and increased to F4. We interpreted this as confirmation that headwinds were on the way within a day or so.

Forecast for 8th March - 5th March
Weather0109032013

Florianopolis to Rio Grande Day 3

Conditions remained the same overnight as we made good progress in rough seas. We passed the latitude of Porto Alegre at 04:00.

During the morning the wind eased to NE 4 and the seas moderated. We again poled out the yankee. By 11:00 the wind had dropped to NE ½ and we reluctantly put the motor on. Our weather window was not large and we faced the possibility of headwinds if we did not reach Rio Grande by Sunday.

Noon Run 104.84 miles. Rio Grande Entrance 180 miles.

Conditions remained the same as we continued under motor.

Forecast for 8th March - 5th March
Weather0108032013

Florianopolis to Rio Grande Day 2

Overnight we continued motoring in almost calm conditions as the forecast wind NE did not appear.

At 08:00 Cabo Santa Marta was around 10 miles to starboard. A light NE wind provided some extra power as we continued motoring. Conditions were settled but a slight swell threw the boat a boat a bit.

A bit later the wind increased to NE 4 and we continued under main and poled out yankee.
Noon run 79.36 miles (21 hours). Rio Grande Entrance 270 miles.

The wind was now more or less as forecast though a tad stronger.

Forecast for 7th March - 5th March

Weather0107032013

By 20:00 the wind was NE 5 with rough seas and moderate swell. We proceeded under main with 3 reefs, staysail and yankee. Boat motion was uncomfortable at times and Andre suffered mild sea sickness at times.

Florianopolis to Rio Grande Day 1

Our plan was to sail on the mid afternoon tide. Conditions were calm with a NE wind forecast to develop during the afternoon.

My first job was to give the dinghy a good scrub and rinse. It took a while as barnacles from San Antonio were well established in places. Thereafter I checked oil levels and belt tension and we were pretty much good to go.

I collected Andre at 14:00 and after stowing the dinghy we weighed anchor at 15:00 in light variable winds.

Clearing the bridges southbound at 15:20.
Flori0106032013

Flori0206032013

As we approached Punta Dos Naufragados and Canal Sur leading to the open sea breakers were clearly on the rocks to starboard. Canal Sur is benign in settled conditions but when an ebb tide meets southerly waves or swell conditions can become very violent.

In the event our passage was calm and uneventful. We cleared Punta Dos Naufragados at 19:40 just after dark. Andre was on the phone to an experienced local sailor who recommended proceeding east to an offlying island before turning south.

Absent any wind we continued motoring in slight seas and swell.

Forecast for 6th March - 26th Feb
Weather01060320132013

Forecast for 6th March - 5th March
Weather02060320132013

Checkout for Uruguay

After bailing out a pretty full dinghy I went ashore to meet my crew for the trip, Andre, and attend to formalities. Our plan was to clear out for Uruguay with a fall back plan to shelter in Rio Grande if the weather turned.

First up was immigration at the Policia Federal. They don't do too many yacht clearances in Florianopolis and we were there for over an hour. No problem though. Then we just made it to the Capitania before they closed at 11:30 but we were all done in about 20 minutes. Normally we would have visited the Receita Federal but I had been told that provided we left by 10th April no further visit was necessary.

Later in the evening we did a final supermarket shop to complete provisioning and I spent a second night comfortably anchored off Beira Mar.

BM0105032013

BM0205032013

Santo Antonio to Beira Mar

Ashore early this morning to get some laundry done and top up on stores. The weather forecast is looking good for departure on Wednesday.

Returned to the boat early in the afternoon to find the wind was blowing 17 knots from the SE. The anchorage was becoming bouncy so at 14:00 we weighed anchor and shifted across to the more sheltered anchorage at Cacupe.

There followed an afternoon of very heavy rain with winds gusting to 25 knots. All fresh water tanks were topped up with rainwater.


StAnton0104032013

Late in the afternoon the rain stopped and the wind eased so I decided to move down to Beira Mar which is well sheltered from southerly weather.

It was only a 5 mile trip but en route a SE wind returned and we ended up motoring into 20 knot plus winds and took around two hours.

Finally at 19:20 we were comfortably anchored off the jetty at Beira Mar.

Buenos Aires to Florianopolis

Cold air conditioning blasting all night. Impossible to turn off.
Lots of unscheduled stops so late arrival.
My box had been moved and thrown to one side upside down. Courtesy of jerks in Retiro I suspect.
Having tried both services on this route I would say Pluma are better but their coach is an older design. Flechabus are not recommended. In fact I would say they are to be avoided.
While being a tad more expensive and taking longer the route to Florianopolis through Montevideo is a much better experience. Particularly on EGA.
Kiriwina will take a day or two to repair so we are saying two nights at
Posada Quinta da Bela Vista in Santo Antonio. Lovely location.
tumblr_inline_mo2p89JFpY1qz4rgp

Buenos Aires to Florianopolis

We travelled on FlechaBus from Retiro.
There were problems boarding due the jerks loading baggage saying a cardboard box was not baggage. Had to get the driver to resolve. Then jerks argued about putting my box the right way up. Had to argue repeatedly before they finally stowed it correctly.
Coach not very clean. Particularly fresh water dispenser and toilet where no soap paper or towels.
tumblr_inline_mo2ou2YJbm1qz4rgp

Service on board again perfunctory. Crew not interested. Food served not worth the effort . No films shown. At Brazilian border passengers dumped outside at 23:30 while coach taken away for cleaning and fuelling.
Passengers then had to stand in a circle while passports and then immigration cards returned.