Quote:
Originally Posted by Fore and Aft
EL Pinguino just curious what the issue is with going west through Magellanes in a small boat? To big a distance between anchorages or just bad conditions against the prevailing weather? Is the strait La Maire/Beagle channel the easier way if you are heading to the horn?
Cheers
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The tides, the prevailing
wind, and the lack of safe and sheltered anchorages are the problem.
Once you cross Banco Sarmiento and pass Cabo Dungeness you have about 50 miles to make to windward to get up to Punta Delgado. No anchorages along the way and a strong tide.... so if the
wind and the tide are against you you are going nowhere.... if the tide is going your way but you have a fresh SW'ly you will be working into short steep seas and abject misery shall be your lot.
Having got up to Punta Delgado you can get safe anchorage east of the lighthouse by the pilot boats. You now have to deal with the Primera and Secunda Angosturas...the first and second narrows... and the bit inbetween.
Here the tide runs from slack to slack - by memory - at about 8 knots so no way you are getting through there in any sort of westerly weather. A few boats get through both narrows in one tide... most don't.
Once through the narrows you then have - I think - about 30 more miles down to Punta Arenas - still tidal for much of the way - and PA is wide open from south through east to north.
The entire area in the pic below experiences strong tides.....
I've done it once the other way with no issues.
Now, if you carry on down to Staten Island you can
anchor at Puerto Hoppner, wait for a good weather window, pick your time for a run through Le Maire - tide is only an issue over a relatively short stretch - and be in Williams in time for tea..
Well not quite ... but with a dawn start from Hoppner you can be in Williams the following afternoon... and there are a number of good secure anchorages along the way on the Chilean side.
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