Cape Horn, Chile

Rounding CAPE HORN

Saturday 24th March 2012 (Afternoon)

Between 17h00 and 18h00 the MS VEENDAM approached CAPE HORN, which is situated on Islas Hornos in the Les Hermites island group (and a part of Chile), from the east. 

Discovered on 29 January 1615 by Isaac le Maire and the Schouten Brothers, it was the scene of great drama and adventure for Ferdinand Magellan, Francis Drake and James Cook, on those first voyages of discovery, whilst daring to venture this far south.

Out on deck the wind was strong and bitingly cold, almost blowing several people over. But the seas were not as choppy or as rough as was actually expected. 

The weather was relatively kind and although changing quite rapidly from sea mist to sunshine and from rain to hail stone and even a little snow, the views were very spectacular.

Whilst rounding CAPE HORN (which is 2,407 kilometres or 1,300 miles further south than the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, at the tip of the Africa), the ship blasted its own horn a single time, not just indicating this special moment to us. 

But also telling us that we had reached the most southernly point of this cruise journey and time for us to look towards the (the sixth and so called white) Continent of ANTARCTICA.

Maps from the stateroom TV showing the location of the MS VEENDAM at CAPE HORN, the most southerly point of "The Americas".

After going around Islas Hornos and passing Isla Lennox and Isla Nueva, the MS VEENDAM then entered the BEAGLE CHANNEL, heading overnight for USHUAIA in Argentina on the island of TIERRA DEL FUEGO.