Mar del Plata to Beagle Channel

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Description

Navigating from Mar del Plata along the coast of Patagonia Argentina first and then to the Tierra del Fuego and Beagle Channel that leads to Puerto Williams (Chile) and Ushuaia (Argentina) can be quite easy or very difficult. The distances between the few ports or bays can be used are initially high and very high in southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, the winds can be very strong: sailing first in the roaring forties and then in fifty screaming. But with careful planning of stops and the weather, having the time to wait for the best conditions is certainly possible to reach "the end of the world" and Cape Horn with sufficient security. Giorgio Ardrizzi author of Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego Nautical Guide, a "Bible" which is absolutely necessary on board, says that it is certainly more dangerous to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Caribbean to Azores which dozens of boats face every year, then the navigation described herein. Having path I both, absolutely confirm his statement. The boat must be absolutely equipped for the high latitudes, here I just mention: HF radio and satellite phone, autopilot robust and reliable, insulation, heating, protected area for the guards, proper rigging, mooring ropes very long, rich set of spare parts etc. etc.

Climate & Weather Information

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• Argentina weather forecast sources
• Chile weather forecast sources

The GRIB files along the Atlantic coast of South America are reliable. To receive them, you must have connection via HF radio Sailmail and connect to the Chilean station, or the connection via satellite phone to Winlink. The Winlink network is not accessible via HF radio as missing ground stations. Rarely receiving stations Winlink South African. It is useful to use the text bulletin of Metarea VI, refer to the catalog of Airmail to request it.

Weather Windows

Reading the pages of Vito Dumas "Towards the Southern Cross-The Roaring Forties" (MURSIA) it turns out that the Yacht Club of South America have advised him to round Cape Horn in winter. The advice to navigate in these turbulent waters during the winter it is located here and there in the literature and what has always intrigued me. There will surely be the true. Leafing through the Pilot Charts you notice that on the coast of Patagonia there is no difference in average winds between summer and winter: always from West strength 4, while on the coast of Tierra del Fuego, the average strength of the winter wind is a plus point of the Beaufort scale: 5 in winter and 4 in summer. In winter the average wind direction is from NNW while in summer is from W. Here it becomes obvious that a descent to South in winter may make sense, while going to the North would be a difficult navigation. The choice is yours. I went South early in spring (September-October 2014) with conditions similar to those in winter. I returned to North in summer (December 2014-January 2015) and I found myself very well. So you can enjoy the late spring and early summer in the Beagle Channel, and you have the time to go up north without waiting for the following year.

Radio Nets

• Argentina radio nets
  
• Chile radio nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation Charts Required

Argentina: which charts and where to buy
Chile: which charts and where to buy

Below is a selection of charts Argentine and Chilean for the stopover suggested in this text:

Repubblica Argentina

H-50 - De Rio de la Plata al paralelo 57 sur - scale 1:3.500.000

H-251 - Puerto Mar del Plata - scale 1:5.000

H-213 - De Faro el Rinchon a Faro Secunda Barranca - scale 1:150.000

H-260 - Bahia San Blas

H-264 - Puerto Madryn

H-267 - Rawson

3 - Camarones

14 - Isla Leones

15 - Caleta Horno

H-360 - Puerto Deseado

H-361 - Puerto Deseado

Hinstituto Hydrografico Chile

13400 - Isla Nueva a Isla de los Estatos - scale 1:200.000

13300 - Canal Beagle e Islas al Sur - scale 1:80.000

13100 - Canal Beagle Canal Murray a Puerto Williams - scale 1:80.000

Possible Departure Points

• Mar del Plata (Argentina) Template:Coord legacy

Route/Suggested Stopovers

1. Mar del Plata (Argentina) Template:Coord legacy - Departure port and the last with a Marina.
2. Bahia San Blas Template:Coord legacy - This is a good stop 270 nm after Mar del Plata.
3. Golfo Nuevo Golfo Nuevo is a wide basin with four anchorages. You must chose them depending of the winds, pay attention that the distance from one to the other are high, 25-30 nm. It is wildlie santuary with rules to restrict the navigation:
   1. Puerto Madryn Template:Coord legacy - The main town lies on the west side.
   2. Fondeadero Cracker Template:Coord legacy - Just an anchorage lies in the west side near the Gulf entrance.
   3. Puerto Pyramides Template:Coord legacy - A small village in the east side.
   4. Puerto Pardelas Template:Coord legacy - Just an anchorage in the east side.
4. Rawson Template:Coord legacy - A good alternative to GOLFO NUEVO, but the boat should be allowed to rest on the bottom because the port remains without water in LW.
5. Camarones Template:Coord legacy - Fishing port, famous for its king prawns and giant cuttlefish. Near two interesting bays in which to anchor.
   1. Puerto Santa Elena Template:Coord legacy - A wide bay with several good anchorages 25 nm nord of CAMARONES. The coordinates are referred to Baliza St Elena, with light, but it was out of order in 2014:
   2. Caleta Sara Template:Coord legacy - 10 nm south of CAMARONES, with a restaurant opened in the week ends.
6. Golfo San Jorge nord side:
   1. Caleta Leones Template:Coord legacy - Cala very sheltered SE Isla Leones, the beach is heavily populated by penguins and sea lions.
   2. Caleta Horno Template:Coord legacy - Deep fjord by high walls.
7. Puerto Deseado The last Argentine port in this route with three place to stop:
   1. Coserena Shipyard Template:Coord legacy - The best place, moor at the pontoon sheltered from all winds, being a private yard is not always accept yachts.
   2. Club Nautico Pto Deseado Template:Coord legacy - Anchor and put ropes at long wooden jetty. Stay away because the end of the pier at LW is dry. Protected from North to East and South. No protection from the prevailing winds from West.
   3. Anchorage SW of Roca Magallanes Template:Coord legacy - Anchor between the kelps (shallow, attention) and the shore in 3 metres. Totally open to west winds but with no waves, and no or small tide stream.
8. Puerto Williams, Chile Template:Coord legacy - Moor to Transporte Contramaestre Micalvi.

Possible Arrival Ports

• Puerto Williams, Chile Template:Coord legacy

SUGGESTED STOPOVERS

Mar del Plata the last Marina before the great South	Bahia San Blas, the long beach, a fisherman's paradise and anchoring in front of the village	P.to Madryn, anchored near to the pier unapproachable by small yachts
Rawson, the pier in front of the Prefecture, in LW the river dries up completely	Camarones, the pier, in the absence of fishing vessels	C.ta Horno, the deep fjord
Isla Leones, the sheltered Caleta Leones	Isla Leones, penguins and sea lions on the beach of Caleta Leones	Isla Leones, the little penguins are born ...
P.to Deseado, the pier of Club Nautico	P.to Deseado, items recovered from the wreck of the HMS Swift and well presented in the local museum	P.to Williams and the very sheltered bay with the Micalvi
P.to Williams,the Ponton Micalvi	P.to Williams, the Micalvi resting room	P.to Williams, the wheelhouse of Micalvi

Distance & Duration

Approximate Distances in nM (±5 )
Approximate Duration days + hours (non-stop, assumes an average speed of 6 knots)

	Mar del Plata	Bahia San Blas	Puerto Madryn	Camarones	Caleta Horno	Puerto Deseado	Puerto Williams
Mar del Plata		270 1+21	490 3+10	660 4+14	685 4+18	855 5+23	1455 10+3
Bahia San Blas	270 1+21		220 1+13	220 1+13	415 2+21	585 4+2	1185 8+6
Puerto Madryn	490 3+10	220 1+13		170 1+4	195 1+9	365 2+13	965 6+17
Camarones	660 4+14	390 2+17	170 1+4		25 0+4	195 1+9	795 5+13
Caleta Horno	685 4+18	415 2+21	195 1+9	25 0+4		170 1+4	770 5+8
Puerto Deseado	855 5+23	585 4+2	365 2+13	195 1+9	170 1+4		600 4+4
Puerto Williams	1455 10+3	1185 8+6	965 6+17	795 5+13	770 5+8	600 4+4

Forum Discussions

See Argentina and Chile.

External Links

See Argentina and Chile.

References

See Argentina and Chile.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• From Mar del Plata with Shaula Danbag sailed the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in the southern spring of 2014. Sailed from Mar del Plata on September 12 I arrived in Puerto Williams on October 21. Employing forty days for a distance of about 1,500 miles. It seems so many days and indeed they are, but I have always sailed safely waiting whenever favorable weather window before sailing. I was particularly lucky in the long leg of 600 miles from Puerto Deseado to Puerto Williams, having had always winds from the west and north along the coast of the Atlantic and arrived in the Beagle Channel I got wind from the north, something that happens rarely. I passed the fearsome Estrecho de le Maire, extreme southern tip of Tierra del Fuego, almost dead calm and choosing the right time to have favorable current, then again without problems.
  
  I had a few mishaps: while I was anchored in Puerto Pardelas, a whale was entangled in the anchor chain giving to the boat some terrible shakings, but luckily the only damage was at anchor: the shank bended. In Puerto Santa Elena I was anchored three days with wind of 40 knots, also in Puerto Deseado in the anchorage SW of Roca Magallanes, here with 45 nodes, but these situations are part of the game and should be placed in the account; the important thing is to be sheltered and not at sea. In Camarones I make indigestion of king prawns and cuttlefish.
  
  I used points Stopovers indicated and were always satisfactory. --Danbag

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Names: Danbag