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Cape to Cape

Atlantic ocean

Port William - Chile > South Georgia > Cape town - South Africa

What is a true Cape to Cape voyage

A true Cape to Cape Voyage encumbers all the best of all the Southern Ocean voyages. 

Starting in Tierra del Fuego, you will embark the Tecla in Puerto Williams. The most southern village there is. From here you set off for the Antarctic Peninsula. This means crossing the Drake Passage. A stretch of water, where all the water and weather of the Southern Ocean, gets pushed through a relative narrow part. Wind can be strong as low pressure area’s race by. As far as possible a weather gap will be found to make this part as pleasant as possible. Which could also mean you are sailing in a breeze with all sails set. 

With stops on Elephant Island, passing the South Shetland islands and visiting some of them, this place speaks to the imagination. Explorers have left their footsteps here once. 

Our library provides you with some amazing books on explorers, good for those days out sailing in between your watches. 

After the Antarctic Peninsula we head for South Georgia. There will be some days at sea in-between, so settle into your watch and enjoy the wide ocean views. 

Today South Georgia, like Antarctica is highly protected! It is only permanently inhabited by scientist. This enabled the flora and fauna to start to recover. The Elephant seals  are again king on the beach!

Few places beat South Georgia when making landfall. If the weather is clear the white alpine tops of Mount Paget (2900m) can be seen from miles away. South Georgia lies just with in the Antarctic conversion zone. This means the surrounding waters are filled with ice bergs. Some of huge proportions! The wild live is simply breath taking! It is the worlds most important penguin and sea bird breeding area. Over 7 million pinguins of varying species call the Islands home. Over 25 million sea birds including the Wandering Albatros nest on the cliffs and in the barrows. On top of that there are 2 million fur seals and 360 000 Elephant seals! The many different nesting birds enjoy a rodent free environment. They are the main attraction of our visit.

Our complete voyage takes 52 days. Our 7 day cruise around South Georgia starts at Grytviken. This is where we clear in and do our bio security check. The weather dictates our itinerary, for not all the sites are all weather proof. It is a truly wild place.

Grytviken is the only place where we can visit one of the many whaling factories. It is also the last resting place for Sir Ernest Shackelton. You will find the grave yard amongst the elephant seals and king pinguins! The old church is more than worth the visit as is the post office with the suiting souvenirs!

Cobbler’s cove is our next stop. The Cove gets its name from the white chinned petrels that nest here. They make a chimming noise at night at the entrance of their burrows! A short but intense hike brings us to the Macaroni Pinguin rookery. These colorful clowns put a smile on all faces! From Cobbler’s Cove we set of for Fortuna Bay, the start of the Shackelton walk to Stromness. This 6 km walk is the last leg of the trip Shackelton made when coming from Elephant Island after wrecking the Endurance in the Weddel Sea. 

From Stromness we set of for Prion Island. The boarded walk ashore gives a spectacular view towards the coast as you stroll along the nesting Wandering Albatrosses. If sea conditions allow, we will land on Salisbury Plain. This is the largest breeding area for the King pinguin and Elephant seal! After a night at Rossita harbour we are of for Prince Olaf Harbour, the site of an old whaling factory. Our last stop will be Ocean harbour. Here we will share our anchorage with the wreck of the Bayard who was blown ashore in 1911. The beach is full of fur seals and King pinguins. A magical setting for our last meal on South Georgia!

From south Georgia we will start our crossing of the South Atlantic ocean with one more possible stop before Cape Town SA, the Island of Tristan da Cuna, a tiny dot in the middle of the ocean!

Sailing cruise details

  • Embark
    • Puerto Williams, Chili
    • 09-02-2024 18:00 local time
  • Disembarking
    • Cape Town, South Africa
    • 31-03-2024 10:00 local time
  • price: € 14.560,-
    • price 15-25 years: € 13.104,-

Included

  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Transport
  • insurance
  • Excursions / landing permits


Gesproken talen aan boord: Dutch, German, English

 
Itinerary

Day 1 : Welcome on board in Puerto Williams, at 18:00 local time. First evening will be spend with introductions, to the crew, the expedition members and to safety on board. 

Day 2-6 : Set sail for the Antarctic peninsula, crossing the Drake Passage. 

Day 7-14 : Explore the Antarctic surroundings. 

Day 15-20 : Set sail for South Georgia. Ocean sailing.

Day 16-23 : Exploring South Georgia. 

Day 24 – 44 : Ocean Sailing to Tristan da Cunha. If possible landfall will be made.

Day 45 – 51 : Sail to Cape Town.

Day 52 : Disembark in the harbour of Cape Town at 10:00 local time. 


Tecla

Year of Construction 1915

Tecla

The Tecla is a beautiful sailingship with a tough rig. Together with her crew she explores the remote places. One more accessible than the other. Tecla stands for adventure, nature, wonder and splendor. With this exceptional ship and its exceptional program you are good for a memorable trip.

Sail Training Program

On board the tecla we work with a Sail training program developed by the Dutch Sail Training Association (STAN). This sail training program is not only about learning to sail but uses sailing as a tool for personal development. Trainees on board are encouraged to step out of the comfort zone to experience new things. This applies to all ages! At the end of the trip, long or short, the trainees get a logbook containing the past process and how far they have come. Different skills are developed depending on the length of the trip. These can come in handy in a professional sailing environment as well as outside the maritime world.

Sail training makes sailing that slightly more than an active vacation.