CAPE HORN–CRUISING THRU (2/2/12)

∙ GEOGRAPHY 101
          ∙ About Cape Horn: Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chili, on Isla Hornos – the North edge of the straight between South America and Antarctica (i.e., it's at the bottom of South America!)
          ∙ The Water That Got Us Here: The dividing line between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans is found in these Chilean territorial waters.  Drake Passage is the body of water that separates South America from Antarctica and connects the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.  It’s waters are known to be the roughest in the world – although the waters under Africa are as bad (or worse)!

∙ ITS PLACE IN HISTORY/INTERESTING FACTS
          ∙ The waters around “the Cape” or “the Horn” are particularly hazardous, due to strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs
          ∙ These dangers make it notorious as a sailor’s graveyard - yikes!
          ∙ Sailing around the Cape is widely regarded as one of the major challenges in yachting; several prominent ocean yacht races run through here
          ∙ The need for ships to round the Cape (to carry trade around the world) was greatly reduced when the Panama Canal opened in 1914
          ∙ "Rounding the Cape" is now done recreationally as part of a “circumnavigation” (traveling all the way around) South America, or the globe – as we are doing!  
 
∙ THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
          ∙ We experienced our first rough seas and decided it was time to break out the Dramamine and transderm-SCOP patches!  We never actually saw Cape Horn, though.
          ∙ The conditions were so rough and windy at times that a chair blew overboard.  HAL locked most doors to outside areas, so the tourists wouldn’t blow over, either!  Fortunately, the seas calmed down by late afternoon, and we didn’t get sick.
          ∙ Bill and I are, nevertheless, ready to return to warmer climates.  After the next two “cold” ports, we turn toward the South Pacific – yeah!