Sailing voyages

Day 1: Via Santiago and Punta Arenas you arrive at the starting point of your sailing adventure in Puerto Williams. From Punta Arenas, you will fly either with the twin-engine Twin Otter or the new BAe/RJ aircraft of DAP Airline over the breathtaking Darwin Range to the remote Beagle Channel, where you will reach the starting point of our expedition. Puerto Williams, with a population of around 2,300, is located on the island of Navarino and is considered the southernmost settlement in the world. Here we are at the last frontier of civilisation. On arrival, we settle in on the yacht. The berths are distributed and the luggage stowed away. The yacht's cosy cabins will be our home for the next fifteen days. The yacht offers protection and security as we venture into the unspoilt wilderness. We go through the technical installations and safety equipment on board. Everything is thoroughly demonstrated and explained to ensure safety throughout the journey. Puerto Williams is located in the northern part of the island of Navarino. The last descendants of the indigenous people, the Yaghan sea nomads, live on the island in the small settlement of Ukika. During our stay, we have the opportunity to visit the regional museum "Yagan Usi - Martín González Calderón". It gives us an insight into the local environment and the culture of the indigenous people. The museum focuses mainly on the historical aspects of the Yaghan, nomadic canoeists who were the original inhabitants of the region. In the evening, we meet at the "Casa Kloss" for a traditional Tierra del Fuego asado (barbecue). We enjoy the perfect end to our first evening with a glass of pisco sour.

Day 2: Let's go! We set sail and head eastwards down the Beagle Channel. We pass picturesque estancias and the remains of a small, stranded freighter until we reach Puerto Toro. A century ago, Puerto Toro was intended to be the administrative centre of the southern part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. But after the gold rush, Puerto Toro fell into oblivion. Today, the local fishermen use the harbour as a safe haven.

Day 3: Today we cross the Bahía Nassau in one long stroke, over 50 nautical miles. We venture into the heart of the Wollaston archipelago, which ends in the south with the notorious Cape Horn. The Santa Maria Australis drops anchor in a sheltered bay and waits for favourable weather conditions. Caleta Maxwell serves as an ideal starting point, only 15 nautical miles from Cape Horn.

Day 4/5: We take the first opportunity to round Cape Horn. On this leg, we sail about 30 nautical miles across the open waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Weather permitting, we will make a stopover in Caleta León, located at the foot of the cape. The dedicated Chilean lighthouse staff stand guard here. If conditions permit, we will pay a visit to their remote station. In the modest, windswept Stella Maris chapel, we pause to pay our respects to the countless sailors who bravely faced the elements and lost their lives in this stormy place. A monument in the shape of an albatross towers high in memory of their sacrifice. As night falls, we drop anchor in Caleta Martial, where we will gather for a captain's dinner near Cape Horn to celebrate our journey so far.

Day 6: Heading north, we cross Bahia Nassau to reach Lennox Island. We find a safe anchorage on the sheltered side of the island. About a century ago, this area experienced a gold rush similar to that in Alaska. Remnants of this era can be found in place names such as Caleta Oro, which remind us of the past.

Day 7: We sail to Isla Picton and anchor in Caleta Banner. This picturesque bay has a moving history: missionary Allen Gardiner once tried to familiarise the Yaghan natives with the teachings of the Bible here. But faced with aggression from the natives, Gardiner was forced to retreat. Tragically, he and his men later starved to death on the opposite side of the Beagle Channel.

Day 8: We set sail and follow our route back to Puerto Williams. We return to the village at dusk. At the Micalvi Yacht Club, the new Cape Hornians gather to raise their glasses and toast the successful circumnavigation of the Cape, celebrating our remarkable journey.

Day 9: The second leg of our journey begins today! We sail westwards up the Beagle Channel, past small estancias set against the imposing mountain range of the Cordillera Darwin, until we reach Puerto Navarino. With every mile we cover, the snow-capped peaks rise higher and the channel gradually narrows. Beautifully nestled and sheltered at the foot of the mountains lies the old, now abandoned Estancia Yendegaia. The sight of its abandoned houses and dilapidated facilities gives us a glimpse of the eroded peaks higher up and the channel gradually narrows. Beautifully nestled and sheltered at the foot of the mountains lies the old, now abandoned Estancia Yendegaia. The sight of its abandoned houses and run-down facilities gives us an insight into the remote and unpretentious life that still characterises this area today.

Day 10: Today we immerse ourselves in the peaceful solitude of this remote mountain range. We anchor in Caleta Olla, where a white sandy beach at the foot of the magnificent Mount Frances glacier awaits our arrival.

Day 11: We set off on a hike through the unspoilt wilderness to the glacial lake. Numerous beaver dams stand in our way. We then continue our journey along the Beagle Channel. Glaciers plunge directly into the sea here. Our exploration takes us to the majestic Pia Fjord, where we take a walk to see the glacier up close. The fjords are filled with floating glacial ice and the howling of a seal colony echoes in the distance. We have reached the westernmost point of our journey and spend the night here.