Circuito Cabo de Hornos

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CIRCUITO CABO DE HORNOS

Contents 1 CIRCUITO CABO DE HORNOS 2 Description 3 Climate & Weather Information 4 Weather Windows 5 Radio Nets 6 Navigation Charts Required 7 Possible Departure Points 8 Route/Suggested Stopovers 9 Possible Arrival Ports 10 Distance & Duration 11 Forum discussions 12 External Links 13 References 14 Personal Notes

Description

Circuit Cabo de Hornos is crossed by nearly all boats that reach Puerto Williams or Ushuaia. The starting point is necessarily Puerto Williams as the circuit is in Chilean waters and the Zarpe must be obtained from Capitania de Puerto in P.to Williams. Cabo de Hornos is located at the south of the island of the same name that is part of an archipelago. The navigation of 100 nm to go and 90 nm to return occurs in partially protected waters, but should not be underestimated because the winds can be very strong and in the anchorages the wind blow with violence. You can stop only in the allowed anchorages which are listed below with a brief description for each. You must contact with VHF the Alcamars along the way, well-located and attentive listening and assistance to yachts. The circuit can be covered in four/five days excluding any stop, to put into account, due to bad weather. There are not possible supplies of any kind along the way, except water in Puerto Toro.

Climate & Weather Information

Beagle Channel weather forecast sources
Argentina weather forecast sources
Chile weather forecast sources

Weather Windows

You should closely monitor the weather and take advantage of any windows of wind manageable as they arise. Some times north winds arrives that will last briefly and are useful for a rapid descent to the south. It is rare but not impossible to obtain a suitable window to accomplish all the way without waiting. More likely to take advantage of two or more good weather intervals waiting in authorized bays.

Radio Nets

Argentina radio nets
Chile radio nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Alcamar along the way, listening VHF Ch.16. You must communicate daily the anchorage point and yours movements and contact any Alcamar when sailing in their area:

• [[PUERTO WILLIAMS RADIO]] Template:Poi coord
• [[ALCAMAR TORO]] Template:Poi coord
• [[PICTON RADIO]] Template:Poi coord
• [[ALCAMAR LENNOX]] Template:Poi coord
• [[ALCAMAR WALLASTON]] Template:Poi coord
• [[ALCAMAR HORNOS]] Template:Poi coord

Navigation Charts Required

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

Below is a selection of Chilean Charts:

Hinstituto Hydrografico Chile

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

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

13620 - Isla Hermite - scale 1:40.000

Possible Departure Points

• [[PUERTO WILLIAMS (CHILE)]] Template:Poi coord- Transporte Contramaestre Micalvi in P.to Williams

Route/Suggested Stopovers

1. [[PUERTO TORO]] Template:Poi coord - Port with pier used by local fishermens of king crabs (centollas), a nice stopping point.
2. [[CALETA LENNOX]] Template:Poi coord - Anchorage with good protection from winds from the west and south. It hosts Alcamar Lennox, there is pier possibly approachable from the yachts in case of need
3. [[CALETA MAXWELL]] Template:Poi coord - Good anchorage (it is called Puerto) near Cabo de Hornos and well protected from all winds, but infested by extensive stands of kelp. Frequently used in the forward path because it allows to double Cape Horn in the direction of prevailing winds from west to east
4. [[CALETA LEON (C.HORNOS)]] Template:Poi coord - Bad anchorage but protected from the winds from the south and west, used only to land on the Island of Cabo de Hornos. It is absolutely necessary to leave a person on watch aboard
5. [[CALETA MARTIAL]] Template:Poi coord - Anchorage near Cabo de Hornos and well protected from the south and west winds. Frequently used in the return path

Possible Arrival Ports

• [[PUERTO WILLIAMS (CHILE)]] Template:Poi coord - Moor to Transporte Contramaestre Micalvi

A PHOTO SELECTION

The pier in Puerto Toro with an Armada Ship and some fishingboats	A fishingboat in P.to Toro loaded with "centollon",small king crabs, different from "centolla" big king crabs	Two big centolla, big king crabs
Alcamar Lennox with the pier and a fishing boat	Near Cabo de Hornos	Cabo de Hornos and its lighthouse

Distance & Duration