Photos from Cape Horn

The Yacht Club in Puerto Williams is in the wreck of the "Micalvi." It appears to be about 80 feet in length, resting on the bottom of the Seno Lauro inlet, listing about 5 degrees to port. The bar inside is open to sailors and has a log book for visitors to sign. It has become somewhat of a tradition to write something clever, draw a picture, or otherwise leave your name and some words of humor or wisdom drawn from your journey aboard your charter boat.

Captain Henk, shown taking a picture of shipmate Klaus Herschmeir on the right, suggested that we add our names to the log book. The log book is about 12" by 8" and contains comments from some interesting characters.

I decided to draw a few pictures of Captain Henk chastising us for not turning off our lights (will run the battery down) or not shutting the seacock on the head (will sink the boat). I was flattered to hear that my crude drawings (using pastel pencils) has been "permanently" honored by being placed in the head onboard the S/V Sarah W. Vorwerk. They will remind other passengers what will happen if they fail to be diligent about turning off lights or shutting the seacock on the head.

So, if you take a trip with Captain Henk and see some plastic covered pastels in the head, think of me. Late one night I sat down on the head and my bottom received an ice water shock. It seems the person before had not closed the seacock properly after flushing and sea water had slowly filled the head to overflowing. Thereafter, I checked before I sat down.

I also decided to try to write a poem capturing the sailing spirit of our courageous Captain Henk Boersma. With apologies to poet Robert W. Service (my favorite), here it is ....

Captain Henk

Captain Henk was a sailing man who loved the sea but loathed the land.

He had brine in his blood and salt in his hair,

And he sailed round Cape Horn -- saying he didn't care

If the seas were flat or the wind was gone --

He sailed because the sea was his home! 

But when the wind screamed and the rigging howled,

As the swells grew large and the waves grew foul,

He would stand on the bow and scream at the sea,

"I'm coming for you . . . are you ready for me?"

He would sail round Cape Horn til in the end,

He knew that he couldn't do it again.

For he had run out of wine, and whiskey, and beer,

And the last of his coffee was drawing near.

Then early one morning he looked out to sea,

And he said to himself, "That's where I want to be!"

"But I'm now 94 and the winds are too strong,

The seas are too large, and the days are too long."

"But most of all, the problem I see, is that no one is left to sail with me."

William K. Spence

07 May 2001

A monument to "Cape Horners" November, 1989

 Translation to come

Captain Henk Takes a picture of Klaus, our German shipmate

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Tiffany playing with the Cape Horn puppy ... looking South

SSW view from just outside the Meteorological station. It's hard to appreciate the fury of the seas from up here. However, it is easy to appreciate the spectacular scenery.  Click to see much more detail.

   Tiffany Hanson, playing with a puppy while she enjoys being on Cape Horn. Two hours ago she called this island "Cape Hurl." As we struggled around in 8 to 10 meter seas, she spent the better part of two hours hanging over the port side of the Sarah V as she fed the fish. However, when we put the dinghy over the side to climb up the rickety stairs to survey the top, she was ready and never complained. In fact, she carried a back pack with our cameras etc. in a waterproof pouch -- just in case.

  Note the vertical slab of granite jutting from the ocean to the left of Tiffany. That slab is at least 100 ft high. Now, compare the wave action in the photo below to the photo above ... How high would you say the breakers are? Getting blown ashore is definitely a problem, partly because there is no shore, just vertical rocks.