The feat of Amerigo Vespucci. First time beyond Cape Horn. And sailing

Historic undertaking for the crew of the Navy training ship, Amerigo Vespucciwhich this morning, at around 7 am Italian time, he lapped Cape Horn for the first time in its more than ninety-year history. It is useless to underline the extent of the test, for a wooden boat, which moreover was sailed, without using the engines it is equipped with to be able to navigate independently of winds and currents at a speed of 12 knots. As is known, theextreme strip of land in South America it is in those latitudes the only offshoot of land in the middle of the oceans and facing theAntarcticaprey both to the very strong winds that arrive almost constantly from the West, and to the disturbances generated by the proximity to the Antarctic continent itself.

The whole thing – as explained in a note from the Navy – pushes enormous masses of water towards it Drake Passage, where the seabed suddenly goes from 4000 to 100 meters. Cape Horn and Antarctica, therefore, create a forced passage for wind and sea, resulting in unique weather conditions.

“The passage, which occurred for the first time in the over 90 years of history of the Vespucci – it is underlined – was possible thanks to careful and meticulous planning of the navigation and evaluation of the weather and sea conditions, more essential than ever for the success of the mission. Cape Horn is one of the key moments of the world tour.”

A world tour which sees and will see Vespucci carrying the banner of the Bel Paese for two years throughout the planet, and in particular in lands with a strong Italian emigration, standard-bearer of roots tourism. The sailing ship now continues its journey in the Pacific Ocean. On April 28th it will enter the port of Valparaiso in Chile.