Rounding Cape Horn
Cape Horn (Isla Hornos) is Chile's southernmost island and is located in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. When sailors "Round the Cape," they are referring to navigating Drake passage and passing south of this island. It's surrounded by wild seas and marks the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet.
Visibility was limited as we strained our eyes for Isla Hornos. For an instant, a ray of sunlight passed through the thick layer of clouds to form a rainbow.
Rocky protrusions were everywhere! Most of the year the waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous because of strong winds, high waves, unpredictable currents and icebergs.
Then we spotted the northern cliffs of Isla Hornos. The Chilean Navy maintains a station on the island consisting of a residence, utility building, chapel, and lighthouse. A short distance from the main station is a memorial, including a large sculpture made by Chilean sculptor José Balcells featuring the silhouette of an albatross, in remembrance of the sailors who died while attempting to "round the Horn". It was erected in 1992.
We were not alone. A smaller "expedition ship" was near the shoreline. She had dispatched a zodiac with several hardy souls desiring to go ashore, climb the cliff and visit the memorial.
About 10:00 AM we passed the southern cliffs of Cape Horn, a massive prehistoric-looking massif of Jurassic volcanic rock. We can now write home that we have "rounded the Cape."
Nautical Term of the Day - A Square Meal
In good weather, the crew's mess was a warm meal served on square wooden platters.
It was 7:00 AM, 43° and raining as I joined fellow passengers on the upper deck waiting for a view of Cape Horn.
Visibility was limited as we strained our eyes for Isla Hornos. For an instant, a ray of sunlight passed through the thick layer of clouds to form a rainbow.
Rocky protrusions were everywhere! Most of the year the waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous because of strong winds, high waves, unpredictable currents and icebergs.
Then we spotted the northern cliffs of Isla Hornos. The Chilean Navy maintains a station on the island consisting of a residence, utility building, chapel, and lighthouse. A short distance from the main station is a memorial, including a large sculpture made by Chilean sculptor José Balcells featuring the silhouette of an albatross, in remembrance of the sailors who died while attempting to "round the Horn". It was erected in 1992.
We were not alone. A smaller "expedition ship" was near the shoreline. She had dispatched a zodiac with several hardy souls desiring to go ashore, climb the cliff and visit the memorial.
We continued our circumnavigation of Isla Hornos which was discovered in 1616 by the Dutchman Willem Schouten . He named it Kaap Hoorn after the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands. For decades it was a major milestone on the trading routes of the famous merchant clipper ships.
About 10:00 AM we passed the southern cliffs of Cape Horn, a massive prehistoric-looking massif of Jurassic volcanic rock. We can now write home that we have "rounded the Cape."
Nautical Term of the Day - A Square Meal
In good weather, the crew's mess was a warm meal served on square wooden platters.
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