Friday, January 6, 2023

Strait of Magellan, Francisco Coloane Marine Park

Throughout the night we traveled NW along the Strait of Magellan and entered the 165,00 acre Francisco Coloane Marine Park. The strait was lined with with towering mountains. Our weather was very dark, blustery and raining. The scenery was so majestic, I had to try to take pictures even in the less than optimal conditions.









Our first glimpse of the Towers of Paine


At one point we had to traverse the "narrows", a graveyard of many ships. Our Captain timed our approach to the narrows to be able to run it at slack tide. Zodiacs with GPS and sonar were sent out to search for any obstructions and gage the speed of the water. Fishing Trawlers coming both directions, waited with us and received our zodiac findings. The narrows would only fit one vessel at a time going through.


The narrows from my cabin deck
The wind became a serious factor as we went through the narrows. At times it seemed I could touch the shore if I leaned out far enough.

looking back

Our position after passing through the narrows.
Onward to Seno Aguila. With so many shallows, fiords, bays and channels, squalls and downdrafts, it is hard to imagine how Magellan was able to find the strait and sail motorless through it.