6 February 2007

Well I have done it, or rather Cowrie Dancer in her low key style, but style none the less, has done it. Cape Horn. I've thought about it since I was a young boy and now I have been around. The conditions for a rounding were almost perfect. We had all speculated. What if there is no wind? Should we motor. Everyone thought that was a bad idea. On the other hand we didn't want to go around in head winds or dangerous conditions of wind and sea. We had almost ideal conditions. Plenty of wind (up to 35 knots) and sea (5 metres). There was blue sky and sunshine but also low dark clouds and squalls to remind us of where we were. The wind was from astern and we gybed at the furthest point south on the longitude of Cape Horn (56 01 S, 67
14 W). At the time Cowrie Dancer was sporting a Main with 3 reefs, Mizzen with a reef and the Stays'l. The boat was doing an easy 9 knots sliding down the waves. Everyone had a turn steering and there were lots of photo opportunities. Cape Horn and the island is much bigger than I expected.

There are huge, dark cliffs and spires. The albatrosses (and other unidentifiable seabirds) seem to love the wind and soar and glide near the rocks.

Just after we gybed Nick opened the bottle of Moet et Chandon that Stephen and Elicia gave him. 

We went to the cove on the NE side of Horn Island and although it was to rough to anchor we were able to drift and in two lots get everyone ashore to visit the Lighthouse,talk with the keeper, sign the register and get a gold ring for my ear (just kidding).

Last night we stayed in Caleta Martial, about 12 miles from the Horn, where we had a celebration dinner. To begin I sabred a bottle of Pommery which we drank with foie gras. Next we had fillet of beef which we accompanied with a Penfold's 389, 1998 provided by Reg and Denise. Everyone waas quite pleased with themselves. The only downside was that during the night the
wind fell completely and Cowrie Dancer scratched herself on the mooring buoy provided by the Navy.

Tonight we are already back in Puerto Williams preparing to leave Chile for the next leg of our journey.

Dale

Click here for Cowrie Dancer's current Yotreps position