The Drake Passage: A Journey to the Wildest Waters on Earth
The Drake Passage, a 600-mile stretch of water connecting the southern tip of South America with the Antarctic Peninsula, is a daunting challenge for even the most seasoned sailors. With its treacherous waves, unpredictable winds, and icy shores, it’s no wonder that it’s often referred to as the “most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe.”
But what makes the Drake Passage so infamous? According to oceanographer Alexander Brearley, it’s the unique combination of geography and meteorology that creates such rough conditions. The passage is squeezed between the Antarctic Peninsula and the southern tip of South America, creating a “funneling effect” that intensifies the storms as they come through.
The winds in the Drake Passage are notorious for their strength, with gusts reaching up to 100 knots (115 mph). This is because the winds are able to blow west to east, unhindered by any landmasses, allowing them to gather speed and momentum as they traverse the globe. As a result, the waves that form in the passage can reach heights of up to 15 meters (49 feet), making it a truly intimidating experience for even the most seasoned sailors.
But despite the challenges, many travelers are drawn to the Drake Passage because of its reputation for being one of the wildest and most extreme places on Earth. For those who make the journey, the sense of accomplishment and adventure is unparalleled.
For Captain Stanislas Devorsine, a seasoned sailor who has crossed the Drake Passage multiple times, the experience is not just about overcoming the challenges of the passage, but also about the sense of camaraderie and shared experience that comes with navigating such treacherous waters.
“The Drake is a place where you have to have a healthy fear,” he says. “It’s something that keeps you focused, alert, and sensitive to the ship and the weather. You need to be aware that it can be dangerous – that it’s never routine.”
But for those who are not used to rough seas, the journey can be daunting. Seasickness is a common problem, and many travelers bring their own anti-seasickness medication to ensure they can make it through the passage without getting ill.
To combat seasickness, many ships offer ginger candies and acupressure bands, while some passengers swear by acupuncture or even scopolamine patches. Whatever the remedy, it’s clear that the journey across the Drake Passage is not for the faint of heart.
Despite the challenges, many travelers find that the experience is well worth the discomfort. For Edwina Lonsdale, managing director of Mundy Adventures, the sense of accomplishment and adventure is unparalleled.
“If you were going to the moon, you’d expect the journey to be uncomfortable but it’d be worth it,” she says. “You just have to think, ‘This is what I need to get from one world to another.'”
For those who make the journey, the sense of pride and accomplishment is well worth the challenges of the Drake Passage. And for those who are drawn to the wild and unpredictable waters of the Southern Ocean, the Drake Passage is a journey that is truly once in a lifetime.