Cape Horn…… well not really a cape!

Welcome back to Chile!

A cape is a peninsular sticking out in to the sea, ie on mainland. This is on an island.

It is also not where the Atlantic meets the Pacific as many write ups suggest. They both join the Southern Ocean, aka the Antarctic Ocean. Also, being a collection of islands, there is free movement of water all around, so there is no such meeting of oceans.

This is the furthest south we have ever been, at 56°south, a whole 10° further south than the bottom of New Zealand. Interestingly, it is a similar distance from the equator to Edinburgh, and of course, we have been much further north. 

The weather and waters around Cape Horn are notoriously hazardous, with strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs, and many ships have been wrecked here.

In 1992, a sculpture was created to remember those lost attempting to “round the horn.” The gap in the middle is a shape of an albatross, which are plentiful here. These huge, graceful, soaring birds have joined us all of the way so far.

In vast contrast to its notoriety, we had absolutely lovely weather and hardly any wind or waves.

Apparently, they often don’t get to go to the cape on this cruise. I believe we are only the second time in the season, and we are the end of the season! They also decided to open up the helipad at the front for us to go on to for the view.

Firstly, we fully circumnavigated clockwise, then we came in for a closer view of the lighthouse, giving all areas of the ship a good view.

The rest of the day at sea. Finally a chance to sit down with this one, in a very chilled lounge with a view.

Now we are heading north we are on sunsets from our balcony. Not a bad one to start!

This evening’s show is Salvatore Hasard, a guy from Chile who’s mum was Italian and his Dad French. He plays guitar, piano, sax, harmonica, and drums and sings in english in every range from Tom Jones to Cindi Lauper. His signature piece was doing all 21 voices of “we are the world”. Brilliant! Would love to watch him again.

To finish the evening, a 60s celebration opened by the entertainers with “welcome to the 60s” from Hairspray dancing down the main staircase. Brilliant!