Day 8: Rounding the Horn!

Late in the afternoon of our fourth day at sea, we reached Cape Horn. We appreciated the efforts of our Captain to get us there in daylight, struggling against the strong headwinds.

Cape Horn is located on Hoorn Island, or Islas Hornos, at 55˚59' South latitude at the southern end of the Tierra Del Fuego achipelago. It marks the north edge of the Drake Passage, the strait between South America and Antarctica. As our home is located very close to 50˚ N, we had travelled a long distance to get there. We were only 800 km or 500 miles from the northern peninsula of Antarctica. (For comparison, the southern tip of New Zealand is 47˚ S.) Wikipedia

As you can see from this blurry photo of our TV screen in our stateroom, we were experiencing quite strong winds. We slowly circumnavigated the island in a clockwise movement, starting from the southwest, and the weather conditions and light changed from moment to moment, offering lots of different photo opportunities.

Approaching the headland, which rises 1391 ft/422 m.

I think the temperature was about 3˚C and the wind was really blowing, so we look suitably cold in these photos. Once again, we marvelled at the courage of those early sailors in their small boats braving these conditions, the first of whom did so in 1615!

My hood was up and tightly fastened except for this photo!

WikiMiniAtla

It took over an hour, I think, to circle the island, and we then headed northwest to find the Beagle Channel, headed for Ushuaia during the night. Thanks again to Wikipedia, I found out that there is not a weather station on or near Cape Horn. They referred to a study dating from 1882–1883 that reported “an average annual temperature of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F). Winds were reported to average 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph), with squalls of over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) occurring in all seasons.” Not a place you’d like to spend a lot of time, but we were excited to be there.

Although there is quite lush vegetation on the island because of the frequent rains, there are no trees at all.

Rain showers and mist meant frequent stops to wipe my lens

very unusual light

The Cape lies within Chilean territorial waters, and the Chilean Navy maintains a station on Hoorn Island, consisting of a residence, utility building, chapel, and lighthouse. Another smaller lighthouse is known as the ‘authentic’ Cape Horn lighthouse; it is the world’s southernmost traditional lighthouse.



 

It took over an hour, I think, to circle the island, with the wind and skies changing constantly. We then headed northwest to find the Beagle Channel, headed for Ushuaia during the night.