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Just a few kilometres in the woods the terrain starts to gain height. Always kept in the forests, but those lightning up rather quickly, up to latitudes of 600 meters where there are only shrubs and grass left. On the peak, of course, is nothing more than stones and rocks and it’s not odd to find some snow. From there the racers are permitted to have a gigantic view of the nearby mountains and valleys.  

Refreshed by this incredible sight they start the long descent through valleys and gullies which lead to a nourishing river, recovering the terrain, to bring back the dense forests and its juicy green and in the end, opening up again in the big extensions of the peat bog.
Once arrived at the lake, the racers will wade in water dribbling around their knees and even their hips while they make their way. As the surrounding forest is very dense, it would not allow an easy marsh. This terrain is interrupted by small shores that will facilitate the cold environment – but just a little.

At the end of the lake the path continues through swamps and small wooded areas. At this point, a good orientation and three-dimensional imagination of the terrain becomes imperative. It can make a difference of about four times of the average speed of the teams’ march.

After continuing through a valley, always in southern direction, the swamps became seemingly longer, until reaching a small edge with a fantastic view to Rìo Boer and Seno Otway. From there it would last only a few minutes longer to descend to a traditional farm called Rancho Sutivan, where is located the PC4.

From PC4 Rancho Sutivan they told us that the French team will start kayaking tomorrow morning at 6:00 am. Likewise the Chilean team DAP- Armada de Chile that has dropped out of the race, would start from there, although out of the official ranking.

6:57 am: 1- TSL Outdoors La Clusaz, the indisputable leader of the race – up to the very moment – and sever followed by the Chilean team (out of ranking and further evaluated by the Armada de Chile's paramedic) starting the kayaking segment. The weather conditions are exceptional, the sea is calm and there is absolutely no wind at all. A unique and rare situation… that may last… ???

The crossing of the Seno Otway is controlled by two patrol boats, Explorador and Tornado, supplied by Cruceros Australis, a local cruise line, and principal sponsor of this year’s race logistics.

At 09:45 am the Explorador, calls out for assistance to the Patrullera Punta Arenas de la Armada de Chile – stationed in PC4 Rancho Sutivan, as they had offered their help if needed – because the wind has suddenly increased its speed to 30 to 35 knots (65 km/hr), raising great waves. The racers have made it half way through the Seno Otway, just had passed two little islands called Engelfield and Vivian, however by now they are outside of the water waiting for the yacht to pick them up.

At 11:12 am: the racers are safe on board of the Patrullera Punta Arenas de la Armada de Chile, but returning to PC4 Rancho Sutivan due to the bad weather conditions. The gusts of wind have reached 40 knots (74 km/hr) and more... Mother Nature’s showing her true strength! The next act is transporting the racers to the end of Seno Wickham, so they can continue the race kayaking in a more protected zone, passing through rivers and lagoons to PC5 Río Bachelor, located in the northern coast of the mystical Strait of Magellan.
The weather report for tomorrow (although it is only a reference) says:

The crew of the Patrullera Punta Arenas de la Armada, which was travelling to PC4, informed us that Julio Llanos of team 7- DAP- Armada de Chile was suffering on hypothermia. The paramedic on board indicated that he was stabilized, after injecting him serum, and that he will be transported to Punta Arenas by an ambulance of the I. Municipalidad de Río Verde.

At 5:20 pm 11-Camelos on the Rocks arrived at PC4 Rancho Sutivan.

The weather conditions remain being really bad, therefore the organisation decides to cancel the kayaking for today and will thus transport the racers to a more protected zone where they could launch the boats.

5:09 pm: Again grateful of having those free minutes sponsored by TE.SA.M Satellite Communication, the organization informed us via satellite phone that 1-TSL Outdoors La Clusaz and 11-Camelos on the Rocks disembarked safe and sound from the Patrullera Punta Arenas de la Armada at the end of Seno Wickham.

From here, the racers continue through the so-called Paso del Indo, a former Indian passage, pulling and carrying their kayaks through the peat bog and forests, supported by small rivers and lagoons in the first third of the crossing, until reaching the Magellan Strait, where PC5 Río Bachelor is situated.

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