4 ms·

Just add 10,700 miles[1][2][3] (26 days) and sail around one of the most dangerous navigation hazards in the world. No big deal. [1]: Assumes turning around o

by zrail 11y ago

Just add 10,700 miles[1][2][3] (26 days) and sail around one of the most dangerous navigation hazards in the world. No big deal. [1]: Assumes turning around on the Pacific side [2]: Southbound https://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?B=23078&E=20155& https://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?B=23078&E=2... [3]: Northbound https://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?B=20155&E=23504& https://www.searates.com/reference/portdistance/?B=20155&E=2...

dalke 11y ago
No kidding. A map of the shipping routes show that effectively no one takes that route these days, nor is there a 5 day detour for any well-trafficked route. (Eg, see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shipping_routes_red_black.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shipping_routes_red_... .)
WildUtah 11y ago
They say that in Chilean waters past 40º S there is no law. And past 50º there is no God. You have to get to about 57º to pass around the Horn in open water.
- zdkl 11y ago
  I'd be mighty interested in learning more on this. Care to recommend some reading materials?
  - ChristinaM 11y ago
    Cape Horn to Starboard is the story of a guy doing it on a small sailboat: http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Horn-Starboard-John-Kretschmer/dp/1580801625 http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Horn-Starboard-John-Kretschmer/dp... Here's a shorter, more recent report of a rounding: http://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/cape-horn-starboard-0 http://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/cape-horn-starboar... And a series of articles/videos about how it's done on a sailboat: http://www.yachtingworld.com/video/skip-novaks-storm-sailing-techniques-part-1-668 http://www.yachtingworld.com/video/skip-novaks-storm-sailing... Not for the faint of heart. Tradewinds crossings like Mediterranean to Caribbean are much easier since the weather is generally tamer, more predictable and behind you. ETA: The southern 40s are known as the roaring 40s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Forties https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Forties There's not much land to stop the winds from ripping around the planet.
minikites 11y ago
So what happens if there's a 1 year backlog at the Panama canal? Still not worth it?
- zrail 11y ago
  Explain how you expect that would happen. What specific, reasonably plausible events would have to occur? Remember to take into account the fact that the canal will be adding capacity shortly, with the addition of the new bigger locks. What I'm trying to get at is that, unless the canal was shut down completely for months at a time, there is no economical situation where it would make sense to round the cape instead of just waiting it out.

by zrail 11y ago

dalke 11y ago

No kidding. A map of the shipping routes show that effectively no one takes that route these days, nor is there a 5 day detour for any well-trafficked route. (Eg, see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shipping_routes_red_black.png https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shipping_routes_red_... .)

WildUtah 11y ago

They say that in Chilean waters past 40º S there is no law. And past 50º there is no God. You have to get to about 57º to pass around the Horn in open water.

zdkl 11y ago
I'd be mighty interested in learning more on this. Care to recommend some reading materials?
- ChristinaM 11y ago
  Cape Horn to Starboard is the story of a guy doing it on a small sailboat: http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Horn-Starboard-John-Kretschmer/dp/1580801625 http://www.amazon.com/Cape-Horn-Starboard-John-Kretschmer/dp... Here's a shorter, more recent report of a rounding: http://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/cape-horn-starboard-0 http://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/cape-horn-starboar... And a series of articles/videos about how it's done on a sailboat: http://www.yachtingworld.com/video/skip-novaks-storm-sailing-techniques-part-1-668 http://www.yachtingworld.com/video/skip-novaks-storm-sailing... Not for the faint of heart. Tradewinds crossings like Mediterranean to Caribbean are much easier since the weather is generally tamer, more predictable and behind you. ETA: The southern 40s are known as the roaring 40s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Forties https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Forties There's not much land to stop the winds from ripping around the planet.

minikites 11y ago

So what happens if there's a 1 year backlog at the Panama canal? Still not worth it?

zrail 11y ago
Explain how you expect that would happen. What specific, reasonably plausible events would have to occur? Remember to take into account the fact that the canal will be adding capacity shortly, with the addition of the new bigger locks. What I'm trying to get at is that, unless the canal was shut down completely for months at a time, there is no economical situation where it would make sense to round the cape instead of just waiting it out.