Why is cape horn so dangerous




















July 12, JPEG. July 12, TIFF. Before the opening of the Panama Canal in , Cape Horn was a place that gave mariners nightmares. Southwest of Cape Horn, the ocean floor rises sharply from 4, meters 13, feet to meters feet within a few kilometers. This sharp difference, combined with the potent westerly winds that swirl around the Furious Fifties , pushes up massive waves with frightening regularity.

Add in frigid water temperatures, rocky coastal shoals, and stray icebergs—which drift north from Antarctica across the Drake Passage—and it is easy to see why the area is known as a graveyard for ships. In The Voyage of the Beagle , Darwin described the harrowing journey as the explorers tried to round the Horn just before Christmas December 21st.

The area joins the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. The cape itself, which is part of southern Chile, has a jagged rocky coastline with no safe anchorages in most areas. Cape Horn has a long history of stormy weather that often grounds ships on the rocky coast.

Cape horn is known to be dangerous to all kinds of vessels, sailing or otherwise. That said, countless vessels manage to make it around the cape without serious difficulties. The key is to plan properly and choose the best time to sail around Cape Horn.

Cape Horn has a climate that's quite strange compared to most of the world. In Cape Horn, the temperatures, seasons, and weather patterns are essentially reversed. The weather begins to heat up in September and October when temperatures rise to between The hottest months in Cape Horn are December and January, which average between Sailors should be aware of these antarctic 'backward seasons' before setting sail. Pay attention to your barometer when traveling around Cape Horn.

The barometric pressures in the region often dip rapidly, causing an influx of gale-force winds and stormy conditions.

It isn't the temperature that makes Cape Horn so treacherous. It's the wind. The winds around Cape Horn are strong and often violent. Wind can change on a dime in the region, both in direction and wind speed. Winds around Cape Horn frequently exceed 60 knots, and high waves make sailing particularly difficult.

Conditions like these make the Panama Canal look like a particularly attractive alternative. Standard sailing procedures apply when sailing around Cape Horn. It's especially important to stay alert in this area, as wind conditions can change rapidly. Be prepared to reef and trim your sails. Installing a roller furling for your headsail is a good idea, as it eliminates the need to walk across the bow to reef the jib.

Other systems such as electric winches can eliminate more labor, so you can keep your eye on the weather and hands on the helm. The best times to sail around Cape Horn are usually from December to February. Temperatures in the area are warmer during this time, and storm activity is about average. That said, Cape Horn is hazardous year-round. Winter just happens to be the time when you're most likely to make it through without encountering icy conditions or other treacherous antarctic conditions.

Sailing around Cape Horn is challenging and hazardous, but you can take steps to minimize the danger and discomfort of the journey. Here are ten essential supplies to make your journey around Cape Horn as safe and ideal as possible. Lifelines are cables that connect you to the boat.

Lifelines run from a harness on your body to a secure part of the vessel, such as a side rail. Where is the most dangerous place to sail? In the past two years, the Gulf Of Guinea has replaced Somalia for the number one spot as the most dangerous place to sail. The Gulf of Guinea is becoming more dangerous now than ever before. Is it safe to sail around Cape Horn?

The short answer is that there probably is no "safe" hull length. People have rounded Cape Horn and sailed in the southern ocean on all sorts of boats of all sorts of sizes. How cold does it get in Cape Horn? Cape Horn Climate History The terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east.

How long does it take to go around Cape Horn? What is the best time of year to take a cruise around Cape Horn? The best times to travel are December, January and February, when you'll likely encounter average daytime highs in the 80s in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, and lows in the 50s and 60s. But it's only temporary. As your ship makes it way toward the southern tip of South America, be prepared to bundle up.

What is the temperature at Cape Horn?



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