Colonia Weekend Day 2
There was supposed to be a dinner last night but I forgot to get the address before leaving and missed out.
Colonia is a pretty little place and I took a quick walk around this morning before returning to CNV.
Most of the streets near the harbour are cobbled and the buildings well cared for. Colonia is a Unesco world heritage site.
A calm Rio de la Plata.
Tiled reproduction of an early French map of the Rio de la Plata.
Lots of lovely tree lined streets.
I dropped the mooring at 09:50 and had a good sail back until just after 13:00 when the wind died away. Sadly it was necessary to motor back to CNV where I arrived at 19:10.
Boats returning to the Rio Lujan from a very calm Rio de la Plata.
Colonia is a pretty little place and I took a quick walk around this morning before returning to CNV.
Most of the streets near the harbour are cobbled and the buildings well cared for. Colonia is a Unesco world heritage site.
A calm Rio de la Plata.
Tiled reproduction of an early French map of the Rio de la Plata.
Lots of lovely tree lined streets.
I dropped the mooring at 09:50 and had a good sail back until just after 13:00 when the wind died away. Sadly it was necessary to motor back to CNV where I arrived at 19:10.
Boats returning to the Rio Lujan from a very calm Rio de la Plata.
Colonia Weekend
CNV Victoria had a weekend rally to Colonia in Uruguay so I decided to go along.
I got under way at 08:00 and by 08:30 I had cleared the Rio Lujan, stopped the engine and was proceeding slowly under main and poled out yankee.
At first it was slow going in light winds but by about 10:30 the wind settled down to NW F3-4.
The argentine boats were all noticeably faster and cleared off into the distance. I think I was the last in after a relaxing uneventful sail across. I was all fast on a visitor buoy by 17:00 having covered some 35.29 miles (GPS track.)
I got under way at 08:00 and by 08:30 I had cleared the Rio Lujan, stopped the engine and was proceeding slowly under main and poled out yankee.
At first it was slow going in light winds but by about 10:30 the wind settled down to NW F3-4.
The argentine boats were all noticeably faster and cleared off into the distance. I think I was the last in after a relaxing uneventful sail across. I was all fast on a visitor buoy by 17:00 having covered some 35.29 miles (GPS track.)
Puerto Iguazu
These coaches are impressive and I slept well.
Early morning panoramic view from our front upper deck seats.
We arrived in Puerto Iguazu around noon. It was hot. Very hot. About an hour later we were joined by Angela, on holiday from England. Within a few minutes of setting off to find a hotel a street hustler suggested we try a serviced apartment.
I was skeptical but in the event it was not bad. Arg$200 pesos per night (Arg$50 each) for a serviced apartment in nice grounds with a pool.
After settling in we walked along the Rio Iguazu.
Argentine patrol boats. This area is popular with smugglers.
Water levels can rise rapidly. This guage, halfway up from the river, reads 25.8 metres.
Rock sculptures and murals, Puerto Iguazu.
Early morning panoramic view from our front upper deck seats.
We arrived in Puerto Iguazu around noon. It was hot. Very hot. About an hour later we were joined by Angela, on holiday from England. Within a few minutes of setting off to find a hotel a street hustler suggested we try a serviced apartment.
I was skeptical but in the event it was not bad. Arg$200 pesos per night (Arg$50 each) for a serviced apartment in nice grounds with a pool.
After settling in we walked along the Rio Iguazu.
Argentine patrol boats. This area is popular with smugglers.
Water levels can rise rapidly. This guage, halfway up from the river, reads 25.8 metres.
Rock sculptures and murals, Puerto Iguazu.
Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu
Later in the day, around 17:00, I met up with Gilles. We walked to Beccar station where we met Günter from Cora Mae before taking the train down to Retiro. We are off to Puerto Iguazu for some tourism.
Günter and Gilles aboard our Via Bariloche coach awaiting departure from Retiro bus station.
We had booked Super Cama seats which fold almost flat to form a bed. Meals, wine and on board wi-fi were included.
Günter and Gilles aboard our Via Bariloche coach awaiting departure from Retiro bus station.
We had booked Super Cama seats which fold almost flat to form a bed. Meals, wine and on board wi-fi were included.
Change of Berth
15/03/09 21:01 Filed in: Argentina | San Fernando
To date Kiriwina has been moored in the motor boat section at CNV Victoria. My space was needed for another boat so I was moved to another berth opposite the marinero's office.
Looking astern from my new berth.
Looking over the bow across VNV grounds to the Rio Lujan.
My landing jetty just under water. This is not normal.
Water levels were high today. About a metre above average.
Later I got a call from Gilles on Menkar. His motor had failed in the Rio Lujan. He got a tow from an Argentine boat and found a safe berth.
Looking astern from my new berth.
Looking over the bow across VNV grounds to the Rio Lujan.
My landing jetty just under water. This is not normal.
Water levels were high today. About a metre above average.
Later I got a call from Gilles on Menkar. His motor had failed in the Rio Lujan. He got a tow from an Argentine boat and found a safe berth.
Puerto Madero to CN Sudoeste
05/03/09 21:30 Filed in: Argentina | San Fernando
Yesterday was a bit of a write off with heavy rain all day. This morning it was cloudy but fine with a relatively high water level. Just perfect for the trip on Cora Mae from YCA to Club Nautico Sudeste.
I cycled up to Beccar station, took the train down to Retiro and cycled round to YCA.
Tortoise on the verge at YCA.
We left just after 10:30.
Schatzi on deck leaving YCA.
MSC Sinfonia in Darsena Norte.
Container ship in Darsena Norte.
Conditions were almost perfect. We motor sailed on a rising tide with a gentle SSW breeze which died about halfway up. Using waypoints given to me at CNV there was rarely less than 3.0 mtres of water. Much more than when I did this trip in January. No doubt helped by the rain yesterday.
Approaching CN Sudeste after about 2.5 hours en route. It was virtually slack water with a very benign approach.
CN Sudeste launch waiting guide us in and assist with berthing.
CN Sudeste has a greater variety of moorings than CN Victoria where Kiriwina is berthed. Cora Mae was placed on visitor moorings in midstream.
Afterwards we went for a walk around San Fernando and San Isidro.
Günter and Schatzi at CN Victoria.
Cathederal and gardens at San Isidro.
Plazoleta Ospispo Aguirre - San Isidro
Colego San Juan El Precursor - San Isidro
Cathederal Tower - San Isidro
Terraced gardens and park leading to San Isidro Station - Tren de La Costa
San Isidro Station
I cycled up to Beccar station, took the train down to Retiro and cycled round to YCA.
Tortoise on the verge at YCA.
We left just after 10:30.
Schatzi on deck leaving YCA.
MSC Sinfonia in Darsena Norte.
Container ship in Darsena Norte.
Conditions were almost perfect. We motor sailed on a rising tide with a gentle SSW breeze which died about halfway up. Using waypoints given to me at CNV there was rarely less than 3.0 mtres of water. Much more than when I did this trip in January. No doubt helped by the rain yesterday.
Approaching CN Sudeste after about 2.5 hours en route. It was virtually slack water with a very benign approach.
CN Sudeste launch waiting guide us in and assist with berthing.
CN Sudeste has a greater variety of moorings than CN Victoria where Kiriwina is berthed. Cora Mae was placed on visitor moorings in midstream.
Afterwards we went for a walk around San Fernando and San Isidro.
Günter and Schatzi at CN Victoria.
Cathederal and gardens at San Isidro.
Plazoleta Ospispo Aguirre - San Isidro
Colego San Juan El Precursor - San Isidro
Cathederal Tower - San Isidro
Terraced gardens and park leading to San Isidro Station - Tren de La Costa
San Isidro Station
Puerto Madero
02/03/09 21:26 Filed in: Argentina | Buenos Aires
Günter and Schatzi were on their way back from Uruguay so I went down to Buenos Aires to meet them for dinner.
En route I needed to top up my mobile. The mobile system in Argentina has a few eccentricities one of which is that credit added is valid for a month after which the network cannot be accessed, even to add credit via a prepaid card. Unused credit is not lost but cannot be used until more is added. My month was up so the only way to add credit was to find an over the counter top-up retailer.
I went down to Puerto Madero but the British built swing bridge had malfunctioned in the closed position so no boats could enter or leave Puerto Madero. Günter had diverted into YCA.
Schatzi with ant in Centro Cultural Borges.
We ran a few errands up town before returning to Puerto Madero and dinner at Cabaña Las Lilas.
This was quite the place. They charged like wounded bulls (A$27 for a potato) but the food and service were very very good. Their main business is breeding and raising beef cattle and the restaurant is a showcase for their products.
Not a spot for eating every day but very nice once in a while and certainly the best beef I've had in Argentina
Günter and Schatzi, er, conversing.
En route I needed to top up my mobile. The mobile system in Argentina has a few eccentricities one of which is that credit added is valid for a month after which the network cannot be accessed, even to add credit via a prepaid card. Unused credit is not lost but cannot be used until more is added. My month was up so the only way to add credit was to find an over the counter top-up retailer.
I went down to Puerto Madero but the British built swing bridge had malfunctioned in the closed position so no boats could enter or leave Puerto Madero. Günter had diverted into YCA.
Schatzi with ant in Centro Cultural Borges.
We ran a few errands up town before returning to Puerto Madero and dinner at Cabaña Las Lilas.
This was quite the place. They charged like wounded bulls (A$27 for a potato) but the food and service were very very good. Their main business is breeding and raising beef cattle and the restaurant is a showcase for their products.
Not a spot for eating every day but very nice once in a while and certainly the best beef I've had in Argentina
Günter and Schatzi, er, conversing.
Rio San Antonio
01/03/09 20:24 Filed in: Argentina | San Fernando
After last night I slept in a bit. Ezequiel woke me up with an invitation to come aboard GOYO for a trip round to Rio San Antonio in the delta.
Skipper Dario (at centre) was joined by the Fredes family and friends making a total of 10 on board. GOYO is a Genesis 387 with two powerful Mercruiser engines.
Kiriwina looked quite small from the flying bridge on GOYO. It was quite a change to view the world afloat from a height of around 4m compared with around 1m on Kiriwina.
We left CNV around 13:00 as dark clouds gathered on the horizon. GOYO spanned the gap between two rows of moorings but Dario easily worked her round.
Passing Yacht Club Argentino (Norte). Long thin dark clouds indicate an imminent thunderstorm.
Just as in Spain bikinis tend to gather on the foredeck.
A very fast rib piloted by Ricardo coming alongside to pass over some gear.
Looking back towards Rio Lujan and a constant stream of boats.
View from our anchorage in a very busy Rio San Antonio. There were boats of every size and shape with those under way having to pick their way through a multitude of anchored boats. Buenos Aires, about 25km away, is clearly visible in the background.
It was quite shallow, around 2.5-3m with a brisk current around 2-3 knots. Dario streamed a long security line with lifebuoy for the swimmers to hang on to. The water was warm but care was needed in the strong current.
Goyo at anchor. Rio San Antonio.
Then the rain came. Lots of it complete with thunder and lightning.
The rain was warm as well so everybody continued swimming.
In between rain squalls the sun came out and throughout the afternoon Gabriela kept everyone well fed. Thanks Gabriela.
So far as I can gather there are no speed limits in the delta. However passing too close to anchored boats at speed attracts a chorus of whistles and obviously inconsiderate or dangerous navigation could lead to a conversation with the Prefetura who maintain a very high profile with four boats scattered along our four mile route.
Our route. There are very shallow banks near the junction with Rio San Antonio.
Back in San Fernando Dario cooked up another parilla after which I got to bed around 01:30. It was a lovely day. Thanks Dario, Gabriela and Ricardo y todos for your hospitality.
Skipper Dario (at centre) was joined by the Fredes family and friends making a total of 10 on board. GOYO is a Genesis 387 with two powerful Mercruiser engines.
Kiriwina looked quite small from the flying bridge on GOYO. It was quite a change to view the world afloat from a height of around 4m compared with around 1m on Kiriwina.
We left CNV around 13:00 as dark clouds gathered on the horizon. GOYO spanned the gap between two rows of moorings but Dario easily worked her round.
Passing Yacht Club Argentino (Norte). Long thin dark clouds indicate an imminent thunderstorm.
Just as in Spain bikinis tend to gather on the foredeck.
A very fast rib piloted by Ricardo coming alongside to pass over some gear.
Looking back towards Rio Lujan and a constant stream of boats.
View from our anchorage in a very busy Rio San Antonio. There were boats of every size and shape with those under way having to pick their way through a multitude of anchored boats. Buenos Aires, about 25km away, is clearly visible in the background.
It was quite shallow, around 2.5-3m with a brisk current around 2-3 knots. Dario streamed a long security line with lifebuoy for the swimmers to hang on to. The water was warm but care was needed in the strong current.
Goyo at anchor. Rio San Antonio.
Then the rain came. Lots of it complete with thunder and lightning.
The rain was warm as well so everybody continued swimming.
In between rain squalls the sun came out and throughout the afternoon Gabriela kept everyone well fed. Thanks Gabriela.
So far as I can gather there are no speed limits in the delta. However passing too close to anchored boats at speed attracts a chorus of whistles and obviously inconsiderate or dangerous navigation could lead to a conversation with the Prefetura who maintain a very high profile with four boats scattered along our four mile route.
Our route. There are very shallow banks near the junction with Rio San Antonio.
Back in San Fernando Dario cooked up another parilla after which I got to bed around 01:30. It was a lovely day. Thanks Dario, Gabriela and Ricardo y todos for your hospitality.