Cape horn

In the city of Hoorn they founded the shipping company Compañía Magallánica or Austral, better known as the "Gold Seeker" Company, and with two ships they set out to look for another step. The Hoorn urca caught fire in Deseado port while it was being cared for and with the Eendracht (Concordia) they arrived in Indonesia. There they were arrested because at first it was not accepted by the authorities who had discovered another waterway.

Actually the company started it because they had some idea that it could be successful. Both Spain and the Netherlands knew that Drake had sailed the "South Sea" south of Tierra del Fuego and from East to West. Furthermore, the Spanish pilots affirmed that there was another step; but only with this trip it was thought for the first time that Tierra del Fuego was an island and not part of a southern continent.

Since then it has become the greatest challenge for all sailors and one of the most feared places for anyone who must cross its meridian.

Sailing to Hornos Island

Sailboats depart from Ushuaia that with 4 or more passengers are destined to cross the Hornos meridian. They can be hired directly in Ushuaia although it is better to do it in advance with their representatives from Buenos Aires or Europe.

Once they leave Ushuaia they land in Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino (Chile) where they complete the formalities of the case. Being Chilean inland waters, a permit must be obtained and the corresponding fees must be paid. Chilean navy ships also depart from Puerto Williams to resupply their detachments in the Hornos archipelago.

The region has a well-earned shadowy reputation. The waves hit the rocks hard while the icy wind from Antarctica has these islands as the first obstacle in its race to the north.

Calms are also frequent and it is during them that sailboats and ships approach the island to visit it.

The best months to carry out the crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic, via Cape Horn, are those of December and January, a crossing that, because it is easy and short to carry out, does not require further prior planning, as to when to take it to out.

There is a boyón at the hornos anchorage where ships are moored. It is located in a small bay full of algae at the foot of a cliff, to the N.E. from the Monumental Lighthouse and about 800 meters from the lighthouse. On the same coast there is a staircase that allows you to go up to the Watch and Signal Post, where there is a permanent staff of the Chilean Navy.

Shipwrecks in the area

There is no exact inventory of the shipwrecks that occurred since the Dutch expedition dubbed it for the first time in 1616. Only somewhat fragmented research works.

In the following list are those that were lost during the 19th century SOUTH of Cape Horn. The compilation work was carried out by Professor María Cristina Morandi of the Naval Hydrography Service of the Argentine Navy.

"CONSTITUCION" or "URIBE" Chilean ship that disappeared during a squall in October 1815. No survivors

"SAN TELMO" Spanish ship lost in September 1819. On September 2, she was spotted by the MARIANA transport and had damage to the rudder, the cutwater and the main yard. She disappeared with 662 people on board

"O'HIGGINS" Chilean frigate sold to the government of Buenos Aires in 1826. She went down with the 506 people she was carrying

"PERSEVERANCE" Spanish frigate that sank in 1852; the castaways were rescued by the North American frigate ZENOBIA

"ROBERT SURCOUF" French boat abandoned during a storm in June 1853.

"AFFGHAN" North American frigate in October or November 1853. Shipwrecked rescued by the British frigate DIRECTA

"MANCHESTER" North American frigate that sank on 18-8-1854. Two of the castaways were picked up by the Argentine brig METEORO on May 25, 1855

"CONDANCE OF LIVERPOOL" Abandoned on November 28, 1855 in the middle of a storm, its crew being rescued by the English boat HAYDEE

"JOHN GILPIN" This clipper hit an iceberg in January 1858, sinking. Crew and passengers rescued by the English ship HEREFORDSHIRE

"BENHARD" Danish brig that sank on 11-28-1858. Crew saved by the English ship ESPERANCE

"RITTERSCHAFT" Wrecked in October 1858

"VISION" On November 1, 1858 it was abandoned because it was totally destroyed by storms.

"AUTUMNUS" caught fire and sank on July 27, 1861. All the castaways were saved

"CUBANA" It sank in August 1862, without victims

"REPORTER" North American frigate that sank in 1862. 32 crew members of the 36 she was carrying perished

"SIAM" French frigate disappeared in October 1862

"OLESEN" lost in April 1863

"FIRE SHIP" sighted by the hamburger frigate ALBERTINA on August 6, 1863. She could not see her name then she sank

"BLUE JACKET" caught fire and sank in March 1864

"ARACAN" French frigate that collided with the English frigate ADA on August 4, 1864 and sank. All crew members rescued

"FRANCK PEARCE" North American boat that sank in 1864 being two of the shipwrecked people rescued by the English boat CHARLES LAMBERT

"LADY PRUDPOE" British boat that sank in 1864 without loss of life

"HEATHER BELL" disappeared in September 1865

"SIMON GOBLEY" English boat that collided with the American frigate UNION sinking immediately. October or November 1866

"A.WILSON" English frigate, sank in June 1867.

"ASTRAL" North American frigate collided with an island near Cape Horn on August 21, 1867

"WALLASEA" British frigate abandoned by her crew in the middle of a storm and rescued by the Italian boat E.GRANELLI

"E.GRANELLI" Italian boat that after helping the WALLASEA sank and part of the two crews perished

"DREANOUGHT" North American frigate that sank on July 4, 1869. Her crew were rescued 17 days later by a Norwegian boat.

"GRASSENDALE" English frigate disappeared in August 1869

"JAPAN" American frigate caught fire and sank on August 26, 1870; her crew was brought to safety by the English boat CECILIA

"JAMES W. ELWELL" English boat that caught fire when Cape Horn rounded. She was abandoned and her captain, a sailor, and a woman managed to reach Punta Arenas; the remaining 9 perished.

"RESERVE" French frigate that in the middle of a storm was rescued by a Norwegian ship taking part of her crew. The captain, the first pilot and 4 sailors stayed on board to try to save her by disappearing on October 5, 1872

"LOLA" Nicaraguan frigate sank in May 1875

"EUGENIA" German boat sunk on October 21, 1875

"LE BARON" English ship caught fire and was abandoned on January 6, 1876

"PATMOS" North American boat that caught fire in January 1876, its crew being rescued by the British boat PASITHEA.

"UNITED STATES" North American ship that caught fire and disappeared on December 17, 1876

"SAN RAFAEL" English ship burned in 1877

"CHAMPION OF THE SEA" clipper sunk in 1877

"WASDALE" shipwrecked in June 1878.

"DELAWARE" English boat caught fire on December 26, 1881 being abandoned

"ROSENEATH" British boat, wrecked on May 12, 1882. A boat with the captain was rescued by a German steamer. The rest reached the coast and were killed by the Indians

"ORACLE" English frigate shipwrecked against an island near the Cape on March 7, 1883

"OBERON II" In 1883 it caught fire in front of the cape and disappeared.

"PARSIFAL" Lost off the Cape in 1886

"ARTIST" English boat that caught fire on November 3, 1887

"OLIVA BRANCHE" English frigate that was shipwrecked on August 11, 1891.

"WAMPHLAY" English frigate shipwrecked on October 19, 1891, one of the crew disappeared

"AMY" Danish boat that was shipwrecked in August 1894

"BRON CARLO" Italian boat, in September or August 1895 she collided with the English boat CONDOR, it sank and 16 crew members perished.

"BANKWILLE" English boat that sank in April 1896

"COMMANDANT" English frigate shipwrecked in May 1896

"P.N. BLANCHARD" North American frigate caught fire and was lost in May 1900

The fires were caused, in most cases, by self-combustion produced by the transportation of coal. This list does not include those who were shipwrecked near the island of the States or in Tierra del Fuego.

(Extracted from the book "Shipwrecks in Cape Horn, Isla de los Estados, Magallanes, Peninsula Miter, Malvinas and South Georgia" by Lic. Carlos Pedro Vairo. Edited by the Maritime Museum and Zagier & Urruty Publications).

Visit to Isla de Hornos

THE HIGHLIGHT AND ITS MONUMENTS

On top of the cliff one comes across a path built with wooden boards raised a few centimeters from the ground.

Its usefulness is given by how difficult it is to navigate the soil of the island. Almost entirely covered in "peat" makes it difficult to walk without tripping, getting muddy or burying knee deep in mud.

One path leads to the detachment and the other to a monument that cannot be understood well at first.

It is about the famous albatross that has been placed in the place. Of ultramodern conception and designed so that the strong wind of the area does not destroy it, it represents the bird that according to legend is the reincarnation of the ancient sailors and pilots who lost their lives in that inhospitable region.

Before reaching it, two marble columns impress with their legends. One of them says:

"Cape Horn Monument" 

"In memory of the seafarers of all nations. Who lost their lives fighting the elements in the stormy southern Chilean sea. Erected at the initiative of the Chilean section of Captains of Cape Horn, Cap Horniers, on the fifth Centennial of the Discovery of America Designed by the national sculptor Mr. Jose Ballse - Financed by maritime and private entities and executed by the Chilean Navy.

Solemnly inaugurated on December 5, 1992. With the assistance of Mr. Cmdte. Chief of the Chilean Navy, Government Authorities and members of the international brotherhood of Captains of Cape Horn - Cap Horniers. "

At the foot of the monument itself, there are allegorical plaques and directions to all destinations (of course Argentina does not appear) and plaques of the Cap Horniers of Australia and the Netherlands.

Near the station another monument put up by the "Cap Horniers" says: "Au nom de L Amicale Internationale des Capitaines Au Long Course" Cap-Horniers "in souvenier de tous nos passages de Ce Cap. Cap Horn, Nov. 1989" they recall to those "Long Course" sailors who on long routes such as China or Australia to Europe had to face the "Cape" in the condition that it received them.

The Monumental Lighthouse, dated 1902, is next to the Chapel of the Navigators and the helicopter pad. The chapel, with the Virgin of the Navigators, impresses due to its simplicity and places us in how tiny the human being is in the face of the greatness of nature.

Inside the detachment, memories of ships, expeditions and sailors occupy the walls. The rite continues with the signing of the book where the visits are recorded and the famous Cape Horn seal was stamped on books, notebooks, passports and letterhead.