After a quiet night spent at Staten Island’s beautiful Bahia Canepa Fjord, National Geographic Orion sailed west toward Beagle Channel and Ushuaia. The decision came down last night, however, that we would sail south to Cape Horn a day earlier, but only once conditions permitted. Waiting out the strong winds under the protection of the Wollaston Islands didn’t much bother us if it meant getting to tour the island at the end of the world (Cape Horn’s nickname) ahead of schedule.
One cannot underestimate the fierce conditions that make up the clime of this area, marked frequently by wind speeds as great as 40 to 50 miles per hour! We find ourselves in the southernmost latitudes to explore anew, to sail the routes of those who came to discover these torrential territories, and to see the legendary albatross gliding in the mist.
By dusk, we can see come in view of the lights of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. As we farewell the officials from Argentina who travelled with us and allowed the visit to the Nature Reserve Isla de los Estados, we are welcomed by officials from Chile. We are in new territory now and will sail into more southern adventures.
