SV Sea Wind, en-route to Antarctica, managed to stop in Chile and gain entry permission. Here is their feedback:

We did know that Chile’s sea borders were closed (as was Brazil when we left from Gambia) but we were on a mission (to get to Antarctica) and we had to make at least a stopover in Chile. We were hoping for the best and it paid off.

As far as we understand we are the first foreign boat that has been accepted since the pandemic. First it was no, then we claimed to have some issues with the the boat (always a good starting point) then they promised to try to workout a special limited permission for a short time and a day later we received a full entry acceptance for the normal three months with no limitations. Hallelujah!

At first it did not look so promising. After a night passing through the Beagle channel in strong counter current and in the end gale force winds, we were called by Puerto Williams port control on the radio at 4 am announcing that the port was closed and we could not leave the boat. I replied that we were too tired to discuss the matter so could it please wait until later. We got a few hours sleep

And then the port captain called and asked us to come ashore for the traditional formalities. Once again we were told that the port was closed [Puerto Williams is an isolated small community on an island], but maybe they could give us a limited special permission to stay a short time. They left with our passports, boat papers, Covid vaccine certificates and negative PCR tests from our last port in Brazil.

We did not expect any response until after the weekend, but the next day they called us on the radio to come ashore for instructions. Hmm, is this good or bad we thought. Very good it turned out. We had received full acceptance with no restrictions for the first three months. It felt absolutely unbelievable.

However, we don’t consider this to be the new rule and count ourselves very lucky. On the other hand we do believe being fully vaccinated with certificates and having a fresh PCR test from our last port definitiely helped In the process.

We cannot express how grateful we are. During this process we have received so much help and support from our new friend Denis, introduced to us by Andreas Viltfjäll (another Swedish sailor who was here with s/v Nemo of Sweden many years ago). Denis met us on the dock the first day and has since been a source of endless help with food, diesel, telephone SIM cards etc. when we were not allowed to go ashore.

In conclusion if you are prepared to be refused it’s worth a shot. The fact that we came in does not constitute a new rule yet. Our plan B was to turn around and sail to Port Stanley in the Falklands.

The world is full of amazing people. That’s a fact that never stops to strike us wherever we go.
Thank you Andreas, thank you Denis and thank you to the people of Chile.