Our entire fleet afloat!

Here you see our entire fleet, the Yavari in the background, our dinghy “Meriel”, and our new barge “Victoria” all painted in the livery of the Peruvian Corporation which ran the entire lake fleet of 5 ships for eighty odd years.

Today we launched a (very heavy) barge made of fibre glass which we shall use for many things but it’s principal purpose is to enable us to avoid disposing or our sewage/human waste into the lake.

This will be the first of its kind and we hope set an example. We shall pump our waste out of the ship into two fibre glass tanks on the barge from where it will be pumped into a truck for disposal.

Currently some waste of 100,000 people of Puno is treated but not efficiently before being pumped back into the lake but the majority goes straight in. What we have done has cost us more but we believe that is the right thing to do.

Two crew members painting the plimsoll line from a barge which until now we have had to borrow.

British Embassy Visit

Together with Yasmine Martin who is handling all our PR and marketing, I called on British Ambassador Anwar Choudhury. Having come from Bangladesh via London’s east end, a similar background to one or two of the young Hammers, he is much looking forward to meeting them and will fly up to Puno to welcome them and sail on the Yavarí. He has also offered to introduce and promote La Asociación Yavarí when and where it is appropriate.

The Yavari bolinder engine in action!

Meanwhile, the young Hammers caused quite a media “frenzy” when they arrived in Tacna (550m) and the story developed that they were there to look for pieces of the Yavari left on the trail in the 1860s.

They shopped for stores before moving out to Miculla (1600m) to have a look at the petroglyphs and spend the night. At Palca they were warmly greeted by the mayor before continuing their climb to Caplina (3400+m) where they met the 25 llamas who will carry their kit and Toyota, the donkey, responsible for carrying the camping gas cylinder.

Young Hammers in Tacna

All are reported to be in fine form and much enjoying everything so far.

Further news of the young Hammers – Tough going at 3.800m but all doing well and have even kicked the ball about!

The Yavari has completed her refit and is now undergoing “sea trials”.

Captain and his 9 member crew

Captain Carlos and his crew of nine have been putting the ship through her paces while training the new crew members.

Yavari testing the new Danford anchors

In strong winds – even snow – Ian Biles , our marine surveyor, says “Today’s sea trials were a tremendous success. The ship handles wonderfully” and the Bolinder engine was running so well they reached 12 knots – which has never been done before – ever!

Yavari under way

Young Hammers take off!

At 19.20 on Sunday 9th August, twelve young Hammers took off from Heathrow bound for the Andes. They were all excited, some nervous, some apprehensive but the greatest fear each had was having to leave their mobile behind!

At the final count there were – ten lads and two girls: – John Akon, Hassan Khan, Sam Lowne, Adil Malik, Yaseen Mukadam, Jimmy Nganga, Emmanuel Okunja, Jasen Osei-Bonsu, Luke Sewell and Abdulrahman Sheik Yusuf and identical twins, Faye and Lauren Picton.

Angie White, the expedition leader, was in charge but according to the policy of Wilderness Expertise, the expedition organisers, she delegated the job of “herding” the group towards Departures to one of the team. Each day throughout the expedition, a team member will be appointed Leader and each member given a special responsibility.

Eventually they’d bought the Sunday Telegraph (see article), thrown away water bottles, identified their day-packs (each being identical!) and, accompanied by Angie’s assistants, Stephen Wass and Timothy Lukwago, disappeared through Passport Control.

They fly via Lima to Tacna (550m), shop for stores, take transport to Miculla (23km, 1600m), overnight in hostal with hot thermal baths and visit petroglyphs. Next day onwards and upwards to Palca (3,100m) where they meet the 25 llamas who will carry their kit! From there the trek starts.

Although Angie has a satellite phone we don’t expect to hear from them until they arrive in Puno, Lake Titicaca. Their ETA being Thursday 27th August. At 19.20 on Sunday 9th August, twelve young Hammers took off from Heathrow bound for the Andes.

Click on image below to expand it.