LEAVING PIRIAPOLIS

LEAVING PIRAPOLIS,  MAY 

22, 21015

 

So much time has passed since we pulled into Piriapolis with Doug and Jill on Campanera, and Max and Sandy on Volo right behind us.  It was the end of our Patagonia journey with our sailmates whom we had met in Ecuador and had meetups with in Peru, Chile, the Falklands and Argentina.  They have since visited us in NH by boat.  We now leave Piriapolis after 2 years on the “hard” (out of the water for you landlubbers)..

Our Goddess of Piria, Uta, came to the boat with fresh bake goodies of apple cake and almond torts.  A fellow boater just knows what you need to start a 5 day crossing off right.  Many thanks to all of the vendors who worked on the boat.- Laurence, Diego, Diego. As usual for So. America some projects were done well, others less so (more later), but never done on time….

We had not been able to test the watermaker in the Marina (dirty water). Once on sea we realize we have a problem and Marc is now down under (5^th class passage as he calls it) replacing an intake valve. He asks me to watch for the water release off the side of the boat and we realize the bilge is releasing water much too frequently.  Like any Captain worth his “salt” Marc mentally retraces all the work that was done on the boat- we can’t figure out where the water is coming from.  Final trace to the bow, under the front cabin where the mechanic had worked on the bow thruster.   Out comes containers filled with wine from Argentina 2 years ago and suitcases.  The workers had removed a drain plug that was situated just above the waterline.  They had not replaced it.  Problem temporarily solved til we reach Florianapolis with “SNOT”, a marine grade putty or what we call clay.  This event put the watermaker project on hold until tomorrow.  And the bow thruster work that was done is now inoperable due to the salt water damage.  Incompetence x 10.

Next day watermaker is up and running after Marc has to dissemble a major part of it, put in a new pump and reassemble it all at sea. 

As I sit on the bow deck and write we are coming around the point of Uruguay, Punte del Este.  In 7 hours we will be heading North and by tomorrow mid-day the southerly front will bring rain, cooler weather, and our much awaited wind.   I reminisce about the past 3 weeks we have prepped the boat and enjoyed (not) the melodious clings and clangs of being in a marina/boatyard, and enjoyed many social gatherings and met many new friends.  Many ex-pats from many countries are making Uruguay, especially Piria their home.  It is curious but we note that many have incredible conspiracy theories to share with us about just all sorts of things.  Many are just too far out to share here but suffice it to say that in ex- pat land there is an abundance of stories to tell about the homeland.  Land lots are inexpensive and everything is paid in cash. (no mortgages here). In 5 -6 days we arrive in Florianapolis. Brazil.  Time to switch from Spanish to Portuguese and from Pesos to Reals.  Time to put on our Samba shoes.