Day 120. 27th December 2024. Around Cape Horn, into the Beagle Channel, to Ushuaia. Day 13.

The final sailing day.

It was another early rise for us. We were informed at last night’s briefing, that we would be passing Cape Horn at approximately 7am. The alarm went off and neither of us had had much sleep, but you don’t get too many opportunities to pass Cape Horn.

Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 by navigator Willem Schouten, captain of the “Eendracht” on a voyage funded by Isaac Le Maire. They named Kap Hoorn, after their hometown, in Holland

Getting to take the photo was quite a challenge. The wind was howling across the front observation deck, so protection was sought from the forward lounge.

Because of the fearsome reputation the cape had earned, great effort and expense was undertaken to find a passage that would eliminate ’rounding the horn’. I have mentioned Robert Fitz Roy in several earlier posts. It’s his voyage with Charles Darwin in the Beagle, and earlier, Ferdinand Magellan, that discovered alternative and safer routes between the South Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Next.

We will dine and sleep onboard this evening, and lug our meager possessions to a taxi, for a ride to the tour booking agents, who will then take us the 5k’s to pickup Poki. Will it start, Kelvin jests? I have absolutely no doubt at all….:)

While it’s many years since doing an extended ship voyage, 59 to be precise, this has been a first class act. Crew, vessel, food, all brilliant. Scenery and excursions, challenging at time, but unforgettable. Interestingly its only in the last few days that friendships have been formed and the atmosphere lightened.

The journey.

The Expedition crew.

Cheers, Swan Hellenic.

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