On Tuesday, April 26th at about 1 pm, we landed by helicopter on Guamblin Island, which is a national park reserve in the Chilean archipelago. The island is uninhabited, and it requires permission to visit. We had flown over 4 hours, with two refueling stops along the way. Thankfully the weather was clear, and we were able to land the helicopter on a northeasterly sandy beach after circling the island. Note the windswept trees in the above photograph which are located on the windward side of the island facing the unrelenting blast of the Pacific. Guamblin Island measures about 16 km x 8 km, and is located at 45 degrees south latitude. We even had a small rainbow bless us on arrival!
The importance of Guamblin Island in Anson’s Voyage is that in spring 1741 it was the first rendezvous point for his fleet after rounding Cape Horn should the fleet become separated. Back then it was known as Socorro Island, and it had taken them nearly 2 months to sail around Cape Horn in the most atrocious weather, and the fleet had been scattered far and wide. Commodore Anson in his flagship the Centurion arrived on May 8th, and no doubt put ashore to find fresh water and provisions. He stayed anchored offshore for two weeks, but no other ships of his fleet appeared.
Following orders, he decided to sail for Juan Fernandez island, situated 200 miles off the west coast of Chile as this was their next agreed rendezvous point. Unbeknownst to him at the time, two of his ships, the Severn and the Pearl had failed to round Cape Horn and turned back. The status of the Gloucester, Tryal, Anna Pink and Wager were unknown.
Our own arrival at Guamblin Island was almost 279 years later to the day. Quite a moving and memorable experience for me.