On board the Spanish training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, Princess Leonor and her 75 companions from the Naval School have successfully overcome one of the most challenging stages of the journey: the Strait of Magellan.
The voyage through America has been a great stage for the heiress to the throne, who is now in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas.
Princess Leonor Crosses the Strait of Magellan
According to the ship’s captain, Luis Carreras-Presas, the navigation was “nice and calm”, favored by unusually favorable weather conditions.
“Everyone is feeling great, very well. On board we have a perfectly equipped infirmary and, thank God, we haven’t had any problems during the voyage,” said the commander upon arriving in Chile.
The Strait of Magellan is one of the most complicated sections of the route, not only because of its geography of fjords and islands, but also because of its intense sea currents and gusts of wind.
However, on this occasion, the weather was in the midshipmen’s favor, allowing them to enjoy a voyage that, in the words of Carreras-Presas, was “historic, beautiful and exciting”.
Thanks to the favorable weather conditions, the ship brought forward its arrival in Punta Arenas by two days, originally scheduled for March 20.
“During these last few days, the midshipmen have been making navigation calculations and weather forecasts, and finally they have advised me to bring forward the entry into Punta Arenas,” revealed the captain.
Now, the crew has another major challenge ahead: rounding Cape Horn, one of the most demanding legs for any sailor.
Punta Arenas marks the third stop of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano in America, after its passage through Montevideo (Uruguay) and Salvador de Bahía (Brazil).
During the stay in the Chilean city, the priority will be the supply and maintenance of the ship, although there will also be time for protocol and convivial activities.
A “camaraderie meeting with the Chilean Navy” and a commemorative act in Puerto del Hambre, the first Spanish settlement in the Strait of Magellan, have been scheduled.
In addition, on Saturday, March 22, the ship will open its doors to the public so that citizens can get a close-up look at the vessel on which the heiress to the Spanish throne is traveling.
Princess Leonor’s voyage
The Juan Sebastián de Elcano, which set sail in January from Cadiz, will continue its Pacific crossing with stops in Valparaiso (Chile), El Callao (Peru), Panama City (Panama), Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta (Colombia), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and New York (USA), before returning to Spain in July.