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: We'll take the first opportunity to round Cape Horn. On this leg, we'll sail some 30 nautical miles across the open waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Weather permitting, we'll make a stop at Caleta León, situated at the base of the cape. Here, the dedicated Chilean staff of the lighthouse stand guard. If conditions permit, we will pay a visit to their remote station.

We pause in the modest, windswept Stella Maris chapel to pay tribute 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 rises high and commemorates their sacrifice.

As night falls, we drop anchor at Caleta Martial, where we will gather for a Captain's Dinner near Cape Horn to celebrate our journey so far.

Day 5: We will sail to Isla Picton and anchor in Caleta Banner. This picturesque bay has a moving history: missionary Allen Gardiner once tried to familiarize the Yaghan natives with the teachings of the Bible here. But confronted 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 6: We set sail and follow our route back to Puerto Williams. We return to the village at dusk. The new Cape Horners gather at the Micalvi Yacht Club to raise their glasses and toast the successful sailing around of the Cape, celebrating our remarkable journey.

Day 7: Today marks the beginning of the second leg of our journey!
We will sail westward up the Beagle Channel, passing small estancias that lie in front of the imposing mountain range of the Cordillera Darwin until we reach Puerto Navarino. With every mile we travel, the snow-capped peaks rise higher and the channel gradually narrows.

Beautifully nestled and protected at the foot of the mountains lies the old, now abandoned Estancia Yendegaia. The sight of its abandoned houses and dilapidated facilities gives us an insight into the remote and undemanding life that still characterizes this area today.

Day 8: Today we immerse ourselves in the peaceful solitude of this remote mountain range. We anchor at Caleta Olla, where a white sandy beach awaits our arrival at the foot of the magnificent glacier of Mount Frances.

We will take a hike through the pristine wilderness to the glacial lake, encountering numerous beaver dams along the way.

Day 9: We will then continue our journey along the Beagle Channel, where glaciers plunge straight into the sea. Our exploration takes us to the majestic Pia Fjord, where we take a walk to get a close-up view of the glacier. 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.

Day 10: We will make our way south through the Thomson Channel. Arriving at the end of the channel in Bahía Cook, we will encounter the long, rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean. We will now turn east into the Brazo Suroeste of the Beagle Channel. Here we will discover numerous enticing bays waiting to be explored.