Sailing
cruises Tierra del Fuego - Cape Horn |
Sailing
in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia
Expeditions - cruises on board sailing boat "Le Sourire"
Where to sail ?
Weeks or months could be dedicated to the discovery and exploration
of the Fireland archipelago. Navigation in the open sea close to
Cape Horn or Staten island can be combined with a "quieter" navigation
in the channels.
Cape Horn
- Fireland |
- Cape Horn: To become a "Cap Hornier" and be moved
before the mythic rock, many sailor's dream. Duration: Approximately
one week.*
- Glaciers of the Darwin Range: Navigation in quiet
waters in front of the glaciers between millenarian floes
with walks in an intact nature. Duration: Approximately
one week.*
- Cape Horn and the Glaciers of the Darwin Range:
A combination of two nice navigations giving a complete
overview of Fireland. Duration: Approximately two weeks.*
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Ushuaia - Punta Arenas: Varied navigation with the fantastic
sight of the glaciers and the more humid and desolate landscape
of the eastern part of Fireland. Duration: Approximately
two weeks.*
- Almirantazgo fjord: The impressive fjords and glaciers
in the north of the Darwin Range. Duration: Approximately
two weeks starting from Punta Arenas.
- Staten Island and Mitre Peninsula: Mythic island
for the Yamana Indians, Staten island is an extremely wild
and attractive with an interesting history. Duration: Approximately
two weeks.*
A bit further but very close ...
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas): The patagonian atmosphere
with abundant wildlife and British style farms. Duration:
Approximately two weeks starting from Port Stanley.
- Valdés Peninsula in Patagonia: Breeding place for
penguins, sea lions, elephant seals and above all the right
whales in austral spring. Duration: Approximately two weeks
starting in Rawson, preferentially in October - November
for the fauna. |
Sailing in the chanels in Fireland |
A little longer but more varied...
Apart from navigation in
Fireland, voyages can be organised for mountain or ski or
diving expeditions using the boat as a base. There are possibilities
to combine a cruise with hiking, fishing or horse excursions
or stays in fuegian estancias (farms).
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The
departure point for the cruises is Ushuaia (Argentina) or
Puerto Williams (Chile).
Ushuaia
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When
to sail? Climate
Weather conditions in Fireland allow navigation all year round.
There is very little amplitude between summer and winter temperatures
due to the absence of a warm marine current.
Winter is cold and dry (-5° to + 5°C) with short but sunny and calm
days. It is a bracing cold that often offers beautiful lights on
sunrise and sunset.
Summer days (December to February) are warmer and longer (up to
20 day light hours in December). But the weather is often windy
and unstable.
Spring is a more stable season as is autumn with the outstanding
colours of the forest.
Wind
.
There are 3 high pressure centers of situated in the
South Pacific and South Atlantic oceans and on Antarctica.
Low pressures squeeze between these three and through the
Drake Passage, causing a flow of westerly winds: the famous
roaring forties and howling fifties that made navigation
so difficult for sailing boats that had to round Cape Horn
without modern aids. |
Sunset in Fireland |
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For
more information, send us an email:
lesourire.expeditions@yahoo.fr
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