Stanley

9 January 2024

Stanley

To reach Stanley’s harbor, we first had to navigate through Port William, a sheltered body of water that resembles a fjord. After traveling about 4 miles inland, there is a narrow opening leading to the next stretch of sheltered water—Stanley Harbour. We dropped anchor in the assigned spot, and after a good night’s sleep, the first excursions into town were made.

It is a peculiar sensation to travel so far from home and walk in a place so distant from everything else, yet still, have the feeling that everything looks familiar. Stanley gives us the impression of a small town in England or Scotland. Our British trainees, in particular, were delighted to discover red phone booths, typical red post boxes, a red double-decker bus, and all the specialty foods and snacks from home.

The two and a half days at anchor passed quickly as we were quite busy. Just in time for the next group of trainees to arrive, a space at the quayside became available, allowing us to welcome everyone via the gangway. The itinerary for this trip is quite packed, so the next morning, we departed on time to reach Pebble Island. Unfortunately, the wind was not in our favor, so we spent half the day motor sailing and trying to make our way north against the swell. Not everyone enjoyed the somewhat bumpy start of the trip. However, soon enough, the wind and waves decreased, making the night more pleasant.

After arriving at Pebble in the morning and having a good day of hiking and exploring on land, we are already on the move again. We will soon drop anchor in a more sheltered bay to get some rest at night. Tomorrow, we will set sails again!