Day 18 Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

 Oceania Marina is anchored off and tenders (lifeboats) are ferrying people ashore. Some on organised tours. Puerto Chacabuco is a small town that appears to be mainly a supply place for the fishing industry. It is likely there are many fish farms hidden among the Chilean Fjords. There is good high speed internet at the port office waiting room. 

I went for a walk round the town which was accomplished in about an hour. 

Yesterday at last the weather cleared. Since entering Chile at Punta Arenas the weather had been cool and overcast. The Chilean Fjords are extensive. An amazing cruising ground for the most adventurous small boat sailors. However they are affected by very strong (williwaws) winds at times needing several anchors and lines ashore to prevent dragging the anchors ashore. 

The ship stopped near Laguna Rafael. Only a few passengers could go ashore in catamarans to view the large glacier. It was disappointing that the ship anchored for the day with no view of the glacier.

On board there has been plenty to occupy one. When at sea or sometimes at anchor I have had intermediate bridge lessons in the morning followed by duplicate bridge in the afternoon. We usually have ten tables and play twenty hands. I have found a nice partner - a lady called Chris from Manchester. I have even gained some ACBL points. There is endless excellent and variable food in about eight different eating places on board. The challenge is to keep the calorie intake down and to exercise - there is a gym and I try never to use the elevators but to climb the stairs anywhere from deck five to deck fifteen. Every day one meets new people, usually while eating. With 1200 people on board it is rare to meet the same people twice when one opts for sharing tables at dinner time. People from all over the world who often have had very interesting careers. One recent meeting with a man from Texas who was involved in the chip industry. He pointed out that Taiwan makes 80% of the chips in the world and that is why the US is building up their military in Asia to discourage China from invading Taiwan. For the US the threat to Taiwan he said is much more important than Russia and the Ukraine war.