Seal dried out in Caleta Hornos, Argentina - 27 Nov, 2006
by Kate Laird

We came farther up the inlet yesterday morning at high water. We moored up with four lines ashore (no anchor), and waited for the tide to go out before jumping in with wetsuits and booties to give the bottom a quick scrub. We needed to remove the residue of our visits to Las Palmas and Mar del Plata. (The tide here is about 5 meters/15 feet.)

Fortunately we didn't have as much growth as the Dutch ship Hoorn that was careened just south of here (Puerto Deseado) for bottom cleaning in 1615. The bottom was so fouled that they tried to burn the growth off (known as "breaming"), but were overzealous, set the ship alight, and lost it.

Cape Horn was named after that ship, and the Dutch town of Hoorn from whence she hailed - although the name for Cape Horn is now "Cabo de Hornos". We're currently in Caleta Hornos, but that name has nothing to do with the Hoorn, as far as we know - we're pretty sure it is the Spanish word for "oven" (horno) because the inlet is so well protected.

Cheers,
Kate, Hamish, Helen & Anna

You can learn more about the Lairds and Seal at their website www.expeditionsail.com.