11-3-2025, 61°40’S 064°39’W
Follow us: https://my.yb.tl/Tecla
Anja, our cook, arranged a wonderful visit to the Vernadsky Research Station. Being Ukrainian herself, this visit held special meaning for her, as the station is also Ukrainian. These are uncertain times for these good people (for all people, really…). The station is manned year-round, and this was the last week for their summer shift. There was a lot of cleaning and clearing to be done before the boat arrived to take them back to Punta Arenas.
In the evening, a small group from the station visited Tecla. One of the scientists was particularly interested in our voyages. Never one to pass up an adventure, I started thinking—perhaps in the future, we’ll do an Antarctic Circle trip with some of their team on board, heading even farther south, where few others go. Food for thought. Anja spent the night ashore, singing with her friends.
We left after breakfast for one final scenic trip through the channels. First, the Lemaire Strait—this time with far better visibility than the day before—then up to Neumayer and into the Gerlache Strait. As we sailed north, we left the White Continent behind.
At first, we motored, but around midnight, the wind freshened. After many weeks, we finally hoisted the mainsail again. As it climbed, ice particles rained down from the folds of the canvas. Tecla surged forward at 9 knots, heading straight for Chile! Now we’re holding steady at 8 knots, still making good progress.
Tomorrow, the winds will shift north—headwinds, but likely a little warmer. We’ll use them to push west as much as possible. Or at least, that’s the plan.
All is well.
— Gijs
