Problem solved

The divers were waiting at the pier for us as we entered Puerto Madryn on Monday.  We gathered on the aft sundeck to watch them attempt to salvage our journey. 

Speculation was rampant about what would become of us.  Some thought it will take days to cut away the mess lying under the hull and fouling the propeller.  Many thought if we get to Rio, the cruise company might just send us home from there.  There has been plenty of talk about how we might be reimbursed, and even more talk about what planned stops might have to be eliminated.  Most seem to be favoring eliminating Dartmouth or even Rio, on the basis that those locations are more accessible than some of the more remote places.  It’s easier to get to England than it is to Fogo.

Amid all the hand wringing, the divers got to work to clear the propeller.  The exploratory dive found that there were no metal cables.  It was all rope and netting, so it was just a matter of cutting it all away.  Although they appeared to be using steak knives, within a couple of hours they had the job done, while we were off exploring a bit of this section of Patagonia.  They pulled up a tangled mass of rope, and for whatever reason, we’re now carrying a portion of it on board.  Maybe one lucky passenger will get to take it home as a memento.  Or maybe it will be cut up and everyone will get a rope bracelet.

There has been some talk that the divers found some of the netting wrapped around our one working propeller as well.  If that’s to be believed, we’re might be pretty lucky we’re not adrift in the middle of nowhere right now.

We sailed at 7 pm on Monday, and are now on course for Rio. Before we arrived in Puerto Madryn, the staff was making no promises about what would happen after Rio, and probably wouldn’t be able to until they would see how long we were delayed in port.  We now know that we will be in Rio on Sunday April 3rd (or is it Saturday the 2nd?  There seems to be some confusion) instead of the 30th, and rather than spending about 14 hours in port we’ll be departing around 2 in the afternoon.  

I’m sure the navigators are now busy plotting courses, calculating transit times and other such things.  Every evening, there is a gathering in the lounge for a recap of the day’s events.  I’m sure there will be some news and plenty of questions.  In the meantime, I’m sure there will be even more speculation, half-truths and rumors in circulation.