San Fernando
A Little Flood
19/01/09 22:22
When I got up at 10:00 the water level had risen further. High water was not until 13:30 when the tide was predicted to reach 0.73m.
My mooring lines were bar tight, extremely tight, despite being slacked off last night. The bow line being tight enough to trim Kiriwina by the head. The water level was now very high and starting to cover paths and recreational areas.
.
I rowed around to check the tide guage. It was 2.6m and rising. Wow!
My trusty Brompton had it's second dunking in two weeks.
This is the picnic recreational area bordering the river Lujan.
The same spot two weeks ago.
Kiriwina on her mooring. The yellow pole marks the normal shoreline.
Entry breakwater submerged.
Eventually the tide reached 2.75m making a range of almost 3m over 24 hours compared with a predicted range of around 0.8m.
Later in the afternoon a very strong ebb was running in the river Lujan against a 15-20 knot SE wind. This produced short choppy seas combined with lots of debris.
High water debris from this morning.
My mooring lines were bar tight, extremely tight, despite being slacked off last night. The bow line being tight enough to trim Kiriwina by the head. The water level was now very high and starting to cover paths and recreational areas.
.
I rowed around to check the tide guage. It was 2.6m and rising. Wow!
My trusty Brompton had it's second dunking in two weeks.
This is the picnic recreational area bordering the river Lujan.
The same spot two weeks ago.
Kiriwina on her mooring. The yellow pole marks the normal shoreline.
Entry breakwater submerged.
Eventually the tide reached 2.75m making a range of almost 3m over 24 hours compared with a predicted range of around 0.8m.
Later in the afternoon a very strong ebb was running in the river Lujan against a 15-20 knot SE wind. This produced short choppy seas combined with lots of debris.
High water debris from this morning.
Around San Fernando
11/01/09 23:36
Buenos Aires to San Fernando
10/01/09 20:33
Many thanks to Yacht Club Argentino for their hospitality over the past three weeks.
The strong winds overnight had eased and by the time I left YC Argentino at 13:25 there was virtually no wind. I took the coastal route exiting Antepuerto Norte to the north.
Northern Entrance
Container berth in Antepuerte Norte.
Outer breakwater.
Don Alejandro buoy was left to starboard at 15:40 and the motor turned off. With a brisk SE 15-20 knots it was good sailing with the main and yankee goose winged.
The river Plate has a surreal feel about it. I think it has something to do with the brown water. One is jut not used to large expanses of brown water. The contrast between river and sky is striking.
About 20 minutes later the river Plate began to shallow and at 16:50 Kiriwina slowly grounded in soft mud on a rising tide. She slewed to starboard beam onto the wind. I got the sails down and dropped the anchor to bring her head to wind and after a few minutes she was riding easier so I had a cup of tea and waited.
At 17:20 she floated clear and passage was resumed under motor and full yankee. It was like Piccadilly Circus for boats. There were heaps of them in a gloriously chaotic muddle. Boats running, boats tacking, boats anchored with people swimming in the fairway, boats motoring into the wind, boats racing and kids in optimists. Incredible! I've not seen this level of sailing activity since I left England.
Approaching river Lujan.
It is replicated ashore with commercial marinas and club nauticos and a truly impressive concentration of servicios maritimos. They can do anything here including building one a new boat.
Kiriwina touched bottom again approaching the river Lujan entrance but after a few minutes she floated clear.
When I got to the club (CNV) I was met by a marinero in a dinghy and escorted to my berth. Basically I have a bow and stern line provided by the club. These hold the boat a few meters off a micro-jetty. There is shore power, water and wifi all included plus the use of all facilities including excellent hot showers.
CNV moorings.
Thanks to Diego and Laura for inviting me over for an asado and some wine. I had a great evening talking about sailing and gleaning lots of local knowledge for trips to Uruguay and the Delta.
next
The strong winds overnight had eased and by the time I left YC Argentino at 13:25 there was virtually no wind. I took the coastal route exiting Antepuerto Norte to the north.
Northern Entrance
Container berth in Antepuerte Norte.
Outer breakwater.
Don Alejandro buoy was left to starboard at 15:40 and the motor turned off. With a brisk SE 15-20 knots it was good sailing with the main and yankee goose winged.
The river Plate has a surreal feel about it. I think it has something to do with the brown water. One is jut not used to large expanses of brown water. The contrast between river and sky is striking.
About 20 minutes later the river Plate began to shallow and at 16:50 Kiriwina slowly grounded in soft mud on a rising tide. She slewed to starboard beam onto the wind. I got the sails down and dropped the anchor to bring her head to wind and after a few minutes she was riding easier so I had a cup of tea and waited.
At 17:20 she floated clear and passage was resumed under motor and full yankee. It was like Piccadilly Circus for boats. There were heaps of them in a gloriously chaotic muddle. Boats running, boats tacking, boats anchored with people swimming in the fairway, boats motoring into the wind, boats racing and kids in optimists. Incredible! I've not seen this level of sailing activity since I left England.
Approaching river Lujan.
It is replicated ashore with commercial marinas and club nauticos and a truly impressive concentration of servicios maritimos. They can do anything here including building one a new boat.
Kiriwina touched bottom again approaching the river Lujan entrance but after a few minutes she floated clear.
When I got to the club (CNV) I was met by a marinero in a dinghy and escorted to my berth. Basically I have a bow and stern line provided by the club. These hold the boat a few meters off a micro-jetty. There is shore power, water and wifi all included plus the use of all facilities including excellent hot showers.
CNV moorings.
Thanks to Diego and Laura for inviting me over for an asado and some wine. I had a great evening talking about sailing and gleaning lots of local knowledge for trips to Uruguay and the Delta.
next