flihwax.blogg.se - Slocum sailing around the world

Joshua Slocum was the first to round Cape Horn solo during his 1895 circumnavigation in his small sloop Spray. Ironically, it toppled in high winds in 2014 and had to be repaired.

There’s also a memorial on the island to the sailors who have died attempting the passage around “The Horn.” It was erected in 1992. The Chilean Navy operates a small rescue station on Hoorn Island, including a lighthouse and a chapel. And the extreme southern latitude, of course, means that temperatures are cold, and the amount of daylight is limited even in the summer. Its proximity to Antarctica also means that icebergs are a possibility. The whole thing is a cauldron for unpleasant and challenging sailing conditions. Ocean currents often accelerate, meet, and divide here as well. The landmass acts as a venturi, funneling winds and making them strong. One thing about capes is that they often amplify weather. In addition, those strong winds build up massive waves and ocean swell, all of which meet in the constricted space between South America and Antarctica. Wind speeds commonly top 60 knots, something that only occurs during the worst of storms in other areas. But for the unwary, hazards abound.įor one thing, at those latitudes, the winds howl. Just like anywhere else, you can travel safely if you proceed with an abundance of caution. The area is probably the most hazardous region for ships and sailing in the entire world. And speaking of the southern continent, only the narrow Drake Passage separates Cape Horn from the Antarctic Peninsula. In fact, it is the southernmost landmass in the world outside of Antarctica. The point of Cape Horn lies at 56 degrees south latitude, much farther south than the Cape of Good Hope.

The actual point of land is on Isla Hornos, the southern island of Tierra del Fuego in Chile.

FAQs – Questions About Sailing Around Cape HornĬape Horn lies on the southernmost point of South America.

To Round Cape Horn – Dangerous or Doable?.

And mirroring it on the other side of the Atlantic is Cape Horn–sometimes called the “sailor’s graveyard.” Table of Contents On the southern tip of Africa, there is the Cape of Good Hope. A cape is a point of land that sticks out into the water. When you stray too far from equatorial waters, weather systems start getting more intense, and the level of discomfort goes up dramatically.Īnd then there are the world’s famous capes. These trips, often made downwind in temperate climates, are commonly called “milk runs.” Far fewer sailors dream of high-latitude sailing. Crossing the Pacific Ocean from Central America to French Polynesia? Dozens of boats make the 20-plus day passage annually. Hopping from Florida down to the Caribbean? Hundreds of boats do it every year. There are trips that anyone can do in the sailing world, and then there are trips that only adventure-seekers want even to try.