Quote:
Originally Posted by Fliegerfahrer
Good afternoon everybody,
I am looking for planning advice of people who have been in this area recently to understand the regulations and as well I would appreciate if you would share a few things out of your experience cruising there as it will be our next step of our sailing journey.
Presently we are in Tobago and our plan is to head to Marquesa around March, spend the season in French Polynesia and Cook Islands and than go down to Puerto Montt in September or October.
From there we most probably would like to go through the beagle chanel, and come back north on the Argentinian cost.
Reading through noonsite it is not the easiest task to deal with the authorities of Argentina, I understand they do a thorough check of the boat ones you wanna clear out and decide if you are seaworthy. I found a translated minimum equipment list which mentions for example AIS. We have only passive AIS and not a active one, does it mean we have to upgrade here, anybody has been there recently and knows how carefully they check everything? How difficult is it to deal with them.
I am aware AIS is a good tool, but I really would like to safe this cost of an upgrade and use the money on more critical equipment which brings me to my next question:
Which kind of equipment did you consider essential and a must to have on board, for the passage from French Polynesia to Chile our boat is already prepared (heavy weather gear), I am more looking for the things you need or is nice to have to cruise Patagonia.
How do solar panels perform down there, maybe compared to the Mediterranen or Caribbean? Does a wind generator make any sense, or are the bays where you anchor to calm to get some output.
Thanks a lot already for all your inputs.
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Hello,
Coming in from the Pacific to Montt or Valdivia make sure you have sent a pre arrival form to SAG... the quarantine people... several days in advance. Also start sending daily position reports to MRCC Chile once in their area of responsibility. An advance
email to whatever marina you wish to go to is also a good idea. Give one hours notice of arrival to xxxx Capuerto
Radio on VHF16 ( working ch 14 ).
In Montt - not sure of Valdivia... Armada, PDI, SAG and Aduana will come down to your boat. PDI will give you and your crew 90 day visas which can be renewed for another 90 days 'in country'... after that you will have to make a visa run to Argentina.
SAG will do a quarantine check and the Aduana will give you an 'admision temporal' for your boat. They were giving them for 12 months but reports suggest that this may now be 120 days. Either way ... renewable out to 2 years.
You can get pretty much anything in Montt with the exception of three things... edible locally canned green peas... you can sometimes find good french ones in Jumbo, baked beans ... although a weak Mexican equivalent can be found, and you will never ever find chutney..
You would probably enjoy the german butcher out at Nueva Branau..
Prior to sailing from any Chilean port you will need to get a 'Zarpe'... simple enough.. I have had a couple of cursory inspections in Montt.
Autumn /
winter is the best time to go south... Leaving Montt in April is good.
In summer lots of rain and NWly
wind, along with overcast and high humidity.
Much less
wind and rain in winter coupled with often brilliant visibilty.
Equipment?
Shore lines can be bought from Gandara, I have 2 full coils and two half coils, make sure they float. I stow mine in 'bolsas para verduras'.... 50 cents each from Weitzler.
The 'Italian Book' and the RCC Guide.
A kelp knife,
Good warm gloves and boots and hats that keep your ears warm... sunscreen.
A good
heater and a well insulated boat are good to have... double glaze your windows to avoid
condensation.
A wind gen is of little use ... as you say you are trying to tuck into somewhere out of the wind.
Solar works good in the cold. I also have a small
Honda for when stuck in a gloomy caleta for a week or so.
Plenty of
fuel bidones filled to the brim with petroleo.... I reckon on motoring 1000 miles of the 1400 miles between Montt and Williams and v/v.
Be aware that replenishment of anything south of
Canal Moreleda is essentially impossible... apart from
diesel in Puerto Eden. Foodwise... best store for two or three months in Montt.
Argentine officialdom? There is a reason I haven't visited Argentina in the last ten years. Popular mythology says that you have to go to Ushuaia as you can't buy stuff in Williams. This is rollocks... you will find pretty much everything you need in the shops in Williams and what they don't have they can bring down from Punta Arenas on the weekly
ferry.
If you do store in Ushuaia any meat, veg, and fruit will be subject to Chilean quarantine when you get back to Williams.
If you are concerned about inspections etc in Argentina just clear out of Puerto Williams direct to either the Falklands or Uruguay.
You want to visit Argentina? .. Catch a bus.....
Cheers,
Ping