Noleggio barche Antartide e Capo Horn - Antarctica

When to go: December through March

Suggested tour: Ushuaia-Puerto Williams-Cape Horn-Antarctic Peninsula and back

Mileage (approx) :ver 1200 miles

Cruise length: minimum 4 weeks

Difficulty : high

Weather: extreme

General: Sailing to Antarctica and South Georgia or exploring the Patagonian Channels is worth a decade of hard toiling behind a desk. These restless seas provide a romantically immense, barely explored and immensely challenging 'strange coasts where ventures under sail can seek those first experiences, and try to feel as felt the earlier men in happier times, to see the world as they saw it’ (Hilaire Belloc). In the old days of sail, the windjammers had no choice but to round the cape, irrespective of the season or weather conditions. Due to the primitive navigation instruments, lack of precise charts and limited maneuverability of the vessels, it was impossible to safely seek the protection of the land against the high winds. It was therefore necessary to give the dangerous coast a wide berth, which meant the ships often had to spend extended periods of time out at sea. This of course increased again the chance of running into bad weather and encountering problems. All this is different nowadays. Modern satellite navigation and weather forecasts, daily radio contact with other ships and the Chilean Navy have greatly enhanced safety while navigating these waters.

Preparations:a voyage in these waters must be thoroughly prepared and strenuously desired, because a positive attitude makes all the difference between the adventure of a lifetime and an endless nightmare. Read more about an adventure in these waters in our Travel website, PlanetNomad.org . Here, more than anywhere else, every journey must be organized upon strict safety requirements, so please contact us to request your private itinerary. All our voyages in these spectacular surroundings leave a very low carbon footprint.

Antarctica. A sailboat voyage to Antarctica is quintessential exploration, a must for every true adventurer, the meaning of a decade of life. Vessels leave from Ushuaia, sail by Cape Horn when condition allow, cross the famous Drake Passage to the 'calmer' water of the Antarctic peninsula, where you will remain for a couple of weeks discovering icebergs, laying with penguins, admiring killer whales and humpbacks, perceiving the sound of a frozen desert and joying for the sensation of being on the only continent where a passport is not required.A cruise to Antarctica requires motivation and attitude, and a certai level of discomfort must be expected. But great are the rewards for the courageous. Season: cruises generally start in the first days of January. The latest leave late February. Weather: extremely cold and windy, temperatures down to minus 20 and less. It is the only continent left that is largely untouched by man. This is mainly due to the extreme climatological conditions, in which during millennia of isolation the animal and plant world were allowed to adapt to the adverse conditions. Essential condition for this precarious survivalis however that the biological chain is not broken. Since it is extremely difficult for living beings to survive in such a harsh climate, the biological chain has remained small and each link is closely dependent on the others. Because of this the flora and fauna of Antarctica is in a state of only frail stability. All human activity should for these reasons be regarded critically, as it might disrupt this fragile chain. Fortunately a treaty for the protection of Antarctica was signed in 1991 by almost all countries the world, limiting human interference in this delicate environment. By way of international conventions one hundred locations were designated as protected areas (SPA, SPS, SSSI) in order to protect their biological, scientific or historical values. Because of it, visitors now know how to conduct themselves, thus limiting the negative effects of their interference. On the basis of scientific data, and of the talks we had with station personnel, we have come to the conclusion that the form of tourism we propose does not have any noticeable detrimental effects on the natural life of Antarctica. Proviso is of course that everyone sticks to the rules. One of those rules is that what you bring in, you will also bring out again. Furthermore, we will take garbage (such as used engine oil) of defunct stations with us on our way back to the South American continent. In this way we can contribute a bit to keep Antarctica clean. "On the United States' Palmer Station, Anvers Island, an experiment was concluded last summer that aimed to test the negative influence of tourists on a penguin colony. For this experiment, a penguin colony was divided in two with a fence. One halve was left in peace, as before, while the other halve was on a regular basis visited by tourists. Upon the conclusion of the experiment, it was found that the "disturbed" penguins were even less timid than their fellow penguins on the other side of the fence. No other behavioral disorders were found. Cape Horn and Patagonia Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, Magellan Strait, Staten Island, Beagle Channel.... these names made the history of exploration, discovery and sailing. Rounding Cape Horn is by far the most rewarding achievement for a sailor. Sailing the Magellan or the Le Maire Strait possibly the toughest test to any boat and hand. Exploring the glaciers appearing one after the other along the Beagle channel like Jewelrys along Bond Street is something to look forward for a whole year. Sailing silently among ice floes is exceedingly funny... Season: Cruises around Cape Horn and Patagonian Channels can be arranged between Christmas and Easter. Weather 1 to 7 Celsius, extremely windy at times, often wet, seldom calm. Long daylight with sunset at 2100. Although at the Cape Horn the average wind speed is not higher than at for instance Plymouth, it is still clear to everyone what made this cape so infamous. The winds and weather systems reaching the areas from the west can do so unhindered. None of the other continents extends farther south than 40 degrees South, while Cape Horn is located at 56_degrees South. thus, unobstructed by landmasses, lows can chase each other around the world. When they hurl themselves on the Andes mountain range, and find they can't pass this 2.5 mile high obstacle, they will press south and squeeze through the Drake Passage. Because of this geological situation, a curious weather exists: 3 days of gales are often followed by 45 days of windless weather. Likewise it is possible that it is a bit windy with 60 knots at Cape Horn, while at Puerto Toro at 25 miles distance there is no wind at all (or vice versa). Around the Beagle Channel a mild maritime climate prevails. In summer average temperature during the day is 11 degrees C. Yearly precipitation is on average 75 mm. The channel never freezes in winter, and there are no icebergs (except in the immediate vicinity of glaciers). The Antarctic Peninsula is situated south of where the depressions rage through the Drake Passage and remains largely unaffected by their high winds. The winds are therefore gentle, often from the east. During summer one can expect to enjoy long periods of calm with lots of sunshine. The annual average precipitation is around 50 mm, whilst temperatures vary around 5 degrees C.