Cruising Cape Horn

Notorious for treacherous weather conditions – very rough seas that could reach as high as 9 meters and gusting winds up to 75 knots and even more – we have sailed the notorious Cape Horn in its most tranquil setting.

I have no idea who brought us the luck to have sailed Cape Horn waters in perfect weather. Definitely, that was not me 🙂 🙂 :). With very minimal winds at 12 knots max, the pilot said, we had one of the most gentle sailings at Cape Horn! To prove that, here’s us smiling with the breathtaking scenery of Horn Island in the background. For sure, we won’t be flashing our smiles for nothing. There was no heavy rolling and pitching, so we’re in happy-face mode. I can’t share what our faces looked like when in the middle of bad weather, but I can tell, it’s something anyone would not dare see. 🙂

With strong winds, large waves, strong currents, and icebergs, the waters around Cape Horn are too dangerous to sail. The pilot said many sailors perished navigating this passage, so underneath Cape Horn is the world’s biggest cemetery. As a mark of respect to all who sadly died navigating the Cape Horn passage, we sounded the ship’s horn with the Fred. Olsen salute- 2 long followed by 1 short blast.

The visibility was very good that we could see the Cape Horn Monument even without binoculars. To make the most of that fantastic weather, Captain maneuvered the ship allowing everyone on the ship to enjoy the scenery on the other side of the island. Also comes into view as we move around the island is a huge Chile flag and a lighthouse standing in a red building.

There are no regular commercial routes around Cape Horn, and cargo ships are rarely seen too. However, a number of cruise ships sail round the Horn – that includes us, of course.

Here’s some facts about Cape Horn I excerpted from Australis

1. Cape Horn marks the point at which the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.

2. With challenging conditions, Cape Horn is now the stage for the world’s most challenging yacht races, including the Vendee Globe and the Volvo Ocean Race.

There’s more about Cape Horn than what it is notoriously known for. Think about wildlife and breathtaking scenery – no wonder cruise ships regarded passing Cape Horn a must-do!