December 15, 2018
Days distance: 57 nautical miles
Total distance: 731nm
Prominent Feature: 40 miles north of Golfo San Jorge
1800 Position: 44-29’S 064-22’W
All night we sailed a nice close reach in a moderate northwesterly and made some nice progress. Mid-morning however we were stopped by a wall of gale force south westerlies. We hove to and waited for the cold front to blow itself out. Half an our ago at 1700 the wind had subsided enough to start making way again under heavily reefed sails. We are close reaching and doing no better than a westerly course which does not do us much good, but the wind is supposed to lighten more and continue backing and we should be able to make a progressively better course as the night passes. Progress has been painfully slow, but we are still in good spirits. Deb and I love being together when the going gets tough. Dawn Treader is handling wonderfully and we try to repay her by not driving her too hard.
Comments on our blog posts are automatically emailed to us so we do get to read them at sea. However, we are unable to reply to them until we get to an internet source. We are posting via email using our satellite phone. We very much enjoy reading the comments and appreciate you following along with us.
sailing dawn treader 
Enjoy your posts on progress this leg. Keeping up with position via your garmin “share” page and weather from various services. Thanks for the explanation on how you are communicating, was wondering. With the Falklands as a current destination, looks like that will put you in southern ARG/CHI over the winter? Take care …
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Just bored stupid here in Trinidad waiting for a new gearbox to arrive. Hot and sweaty as the sun goes down. In the north of England they call it “sweating cobs”, I’m from the south so god knows what it means! Them’s funny up north.
Appreciate on a long passage any external input, could be a plastic bottle floating by, takes on added significance so my verbal dregs might entertain briefly – very briefly.
History of the Falklands_ UK or Argentina?
Basically it is theirs, meaning the Argentinians, if you look back at 200 years of history we have no real claim. But in 1978 (war) there was the last gasp of Empire and we had just enough military muscle to impose our will.
This won’t go down well with the locals so just say, yes of course the Falklands are British!
Keep your eye on Stanley and you’ll be there in no time. Also tour the graves of the war dead – both sides. It happened and we are all caught up in history – like it or not.
Fair winds, Gerry
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Your comment that you and Deb really love being together when the going gets tough touched my heart. Walking through the difficult times with someone who knows us and stands by our side is such a blessing. I look forward to each days report. They are very encouraging. Mom
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Hi guys!
Kev and I are in Puerto Morales with Jen, Marcelo, Kyle, Marina, and Jessie. We have commented MANY times that we miss you both tremendously and wish you were here with us! We MAY have also shared a fun story or two at your expense Brian. While doing so, I am confident you would have found the humor in the stories as well.
I am sorry to hear that your travels have been slow and at the same time challenging but I know you are prepared for anything that Mother Nature has in store for you.
Thank you again for your daily posts. We love hearing from you and are eager to read that you have made it safe and sound to your next destination.
Love,
Heather
P.S. Kevin is now craving Sonny’s Tex Mex pasta!!!
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Good to hear you are still sailing well although hard at times….You are an inspiration. Vickie
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Hi guys, I just got back from Arizona helping out uncle Jim constructing his new houses. I shared your website with him and he was interested in your progress but we were both heavily focused on working hard on The post drywall construction details. It was exciting to read about your finding the great albatross and the penguins. I am dismayed to see your progress being hampered by the weather as a few days back it look like the wind was steady right into Stanley. But you are not in a car driving to make progress towards home. Your long stay in Uraguay And previous saling experience has taught you lots of patience with the fickleness of the ocean. Looking forward to more of your reports. Chuck
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Jennifer, Marcelo, Kyle, Marina, Heather and myself are all waiting at the dock here in Porto Morales for you to pull in. Keep coming😎
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