Our arrival in Stanley was rather uneventful.The weather fine with little breeze which was fantastic so we were able to motor in quite safely.\u00a0 Although, as usual when we got close to our berth position a few strong gusts came through which meant our pre-arranged escort boat was need to bring our bow in.\u00a0\u00a0 Our warps were secured with Springer@@apos@@s on.\u00a0 Customs arrived shortly afterwards and we started the process of obtaining visas for our Russian crew.\u00a0 Not a simple task which eventuated is us all bundling into a vehicle and proceeding to the customs office for the Government required photos of our crew.\u00a0 For myself it was a simple process being an Australian citizen.<\/p>\n
Over the next few days we enjoyed fantastic weather with temperatures in the high teens with one day soaring to twenty two.<\/p>\n
Stanley is the port of call for many tourist ships.\u00a0 Some days the islands population would increase three fold with\u00a0some ships bringing ashore two to three thousand visitors.\u00a0 Sometimes two ships on the same day.<\/p>\n
Walking down the main street of Stanley on the Sunday I arrived there was complete silence.\u00a0 Not a vehicle in site and very few people.\u00a0 So quite I could almost hear my own heart beat.<\/p>\n
Six of our crew departed the Falklands on the Tuesday with the remaining two staying onboard until today.\u00a0 They have now left.\u00a0 It was rather difficult to say goodbye.\u00a0 They had all become such good friends over the time of our passage from Auckland.<\/p>\n
Stanley is quite a remarkable town with friendly people and a very relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Over the past week we have had little wind apart from one or two days with gusts to forty to fifty knots.\u00a0 We are well secured although today will be a test with seventy knot squalls predicted.\u00a0 More warps have been laid and we are very safe alongside a reasonably protected berth.<\/p>\n
Simon arrived from Auckland two weeks ago with the remaining crew, Peter from Poland and Rene from Canada arriving this afternoon.\u00a0 Just as soon as they refresh from their long flights we will set sail, probably Sunday or Monday morning depending on the winds, to start another adventure.\u00a0 We look forward to the warmer climates as we head North to Antigua<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mark McRae<\/p>\n
Port Stanley<\/p>\n
Falkland Islands<\/p>\n
12.30 GMT 21\/02\/2009<\/p>\n