South America Feb 15-March 1, 2014

[mobilepals2]

We are sailing with Golden Princess on Feb 15, 2014 . We are concerned about the weather around the horn. We leave Santiago Chile, on feb 15th with ports: Puerto Montt; Punta Arenas; Ushuaia; Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn; Montevideo; and Buenos Aires. Can someone who has made this trip give us personal knowledge of this sail. Is it rough? how cold? Mobilepals2

[cnd crsr]

We did this cruise a few years ago in February. You will have warm to very cool weather so be sure to pack layers. The waters around were smooth as glass when we did it. It is a great cruise. Enjoy!

[skynight]

We are sailing with Golden Princess on Feb 15, 2014 . We are concerned about the weather around the horn. We leave Santiago Chile, on feb 15th with ports: Puerto Montt; Punta Arenas; Ushuaia; Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn; Montevideo; and Buenos Aires. Can someone who has made this trip give us personal knowledge of this sail. Is it rough? how cold? Mobilepals2

 

We did this route mid Feb 2012. Dress in layers. It was cool and breezy in Punta Arenas and the Falklands. We missed Ushuaia due to Argentina political issues with the UK over the Falklands. Rounding the horn it was cool, but the seas were very calm. We were told they could be rough. It will be warm/hot the northern ports, short sleeve and shorts. We brought along a thin "wick away" poly (silk like) long sleeve undershirts which we wore each day down south. Also had long sleeve shirts, hoodie sweatshirts which we lived in and a gore tex wind breaker rain jacket.

[Mr_Astro]

We went BA - LA this past February and the weather was spectacular! Not a cloud in the sky at Stanley, blustery but mostly clear around the horn and clear and calm in Ushuaia and very acceptable in all other locations but always on the cool side.

 

Not the norm, however so, as said above, dress in layers with a good poly inner layer and a wind/rain gear for the outer with a fleece or sweater in the middle.

 

You will love Buenos Aires. I hope you'll be staying there for a few days post trip.

[caribill]

When we did it, there were very calm seas.

 

But, others in the past have reported the opposite, so there is no way to predict what it will be like on this cruise.

 

Others have posted about the clothing needed. I agree with what they said.

[Kinkacruiser]

It was calm going around the Horn. As for temperature, we found it cold and always wore warm coats, gloves etc. on excursions in the Falklands, Ushuaia and Puntas Arenas . That said, we live in the Australian tropics.

[IECalCruiser]

We are sailing with Golden Princess on Feb 15, 2014 . We are concerned about the weather around the horn. We leave Santiago Chile, on feb 15th with ports: Puerto Montt; Punta Arenas; Ushuaia; Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn; Montevideo; and Buenos Aires. Can someone who has made this trip give us personal knowledge of this sail. Is it rough? how cold? Mobilepals2

There can be rough seas along the coast of Chile. On one cruise in 2010 the Star Princess had to take cover in the Chilean Fjords and wait out a very bad storm for hours. We were on the Star from February 18 to March 13 in 2010. During our stop in the Falklands we had calm seas and were able to tender with no problems. However, during the night as we were on our way to Cape Horn the seas picked up. For over eight hours the next day the seas were very rough (13-18 feet) but they calmed down to rough (8-13 feet) for the rounding of Cape Horn. Isn't that the way it should be though ;) That was really the only days with rough or very rough seas for our entire 23 days though.

 

As for weather, plan for warm weather in Santiago and Buenos Aires. For most of the rest of the cruise bring layers including long sleeve shirts, sweaters, fleece vests/jackets, light gloves and a WATERPROOF hooded jacket and waterproof shoes if you have them. It will probably be in the high 50's or maybe low 60s for much of your cruise. It is better to be prepared then to be cold, wet and miserable. During our stop in the Falklands it was raining with a brisk wind much of the day. We were warm and dry and had a wonderful visit to Volunteer Point with Patrick Watts to see the great King Penguins.

 

Rounding Cape Horn:

Edited November 27, 2013 by IECalCruiser

[sawtooth]

We sailed Star in Jan 2012. Seas

were so rough we tried to make the Horn twice but it was aborted. Needless to say we were disappointed but safe. The return trip apparently was calm and the Horn was made

Luck of the draw

[Pam in CA]

I've taken this itinerary twice, once on the Golden and then to Antarctica on HAL. Weather will range from hot and humid to cold and rainy. Both cruises were relatively smooth. However, the HAL Prinsendam cruise before our Golden cruise experienced 70' waves for hours.

 

Pack layers and bring a fleece scarf, hat and mittens. Plan for both calm and rough seas. No way to predict other than when rounding the Horn, it's usually at least very choppy.