Foundation Netherlands' Cape Horners

International Cape Horners meeting in Chile attended by our treasurer Mr. John Planken.
On the occasion of the bicentenary of the Republic of Chile the Chilean Cape Horners Brotherhood organised a meeting of international Cape Horners and Friends of Cape Horn from the 14th to the 22nd of April 2010. The Foundation of Netherlands Cape Horners was represented by the treasurer Mr. John Planken.
107 persons had accepted the invitation, but, unfortunately, due to the earthquake in Chile, 37 people decided not to go. The programme included:
•    Arrival and welcome at Hotel Neruda in Santiago de Chile
•    Official flag ceremony at the “Prat” terminal in the port of Valparaiso
•    Visit to the Naval and Maritime Museum with a separate Cape Horn chamber
•    Harbour cruise and excursion to the “tall ships” moored at the quayside  and participating in the regatta “Velas Sudamerica 2010”
•    Visit to the Chilean naval training ship “Esmeralda” (tall ship)
•    During the return trip from Valparaiso to Santiago a visit to the vinyard “Estancia El Cuadro”
•    A visit to southern Patagonia and the “Torres del Paine” national park, including a view of the “Glacier Grey”
•    A visit to Riesco island
•    A farewell dinner at the “Club Lo Curro” in Santiago, situated at the foothills of the Andes, with around midnight the whole company joining in the singing of the shanty “Rolling Home” ; until we have the opportunity to meet again in the spirit of Cape Horn.

A short cruise on board the naval vessel “Aquiles” from Punta Arenas to Cape Horn had to be cancelled because this ship was required elsewhere to assist in the earthquake relief effort. In spite of the turbulent times in Chile the organisers succeeded in offering us a good programme. The visit to the national park “Torres del Paine” came in place of the cruise with the “Aquiles”. After our visit to the park I can affirm that this was a good choice.
To meet again:  on the horizon the participants already could see two events coming up: (1) the first race around Cape Horn island from Saint Tropez starting the 13th of October 2013 and (2) the commemoration of the discovery of Cape Horn 400 years ago by the Dutch expedition of  Le Maire and Schouten in 2015/2016.

John Planken

General information
Cape Horn is the southernmost tip of the American continent, stretching far into the stormy sea area known as the Roaring Forties, because of the thundering west winds.  This cape was on the last route that was still viable for sailing ships carrying cargo, such as grain from Australia and nitrates from Chili to Europe.  On these trips rounding the Horn was at one and the same time the blackest hour in the already difficult existence of the crew and the high point of their seamanship.  

Sailors who have rounded the Horn feel united and in 1937 this led to the founding (in France) of the “Amicale Internnational des Capitaines au Long Cours Cap Horniers”.  After the Second World War, when sail had disappeared, sections of the Amicale were set up in several countries.  After a time membership was opened to every one of all ranks who had sailed on cargo ships round the Horn.  The society of Dutch Cape Horn Sailors (De Vereniging van Nederlandse Kaap-Hoornvaarders) was set up in 1959.  At the invitation of the municipality, Hoorn was chosen as the registered office as it was from here that the discoverers of the Horn, Le Maire en Schouten, sailed in 1615.

The Society flourished, with a membership of almost 100 still living Cape Horn sailors, and it had its own magazine in which member’s experiences were published. The last reunion was held in 1979 and in 1985 the dying society became a foundation which aimed at keeping the memories of the great days of sail
– particularly round Cape Horn – alive.

The Foundation Netherlands' Cape Horners now (in 2008) has almost 500 contributors or « participants », most of whom are interested in the history of seamanship in the wider sense.  None have actually sailed around the Horn on cargo carrying sailing ships. The last member who actually did so, Captain Pieter G. van der Hoek, died on the 13th of June 2008 at the age of 92. On the other hand, the number of members who have sailed round the Horn in charter ships and yachts during the last three decades is growing.  Hoorn awards to the captains of these ships a special trophy, whilst the Foundation awards the crews with a medallion.

Every autumn a get-together for contributors and “participants” is held in Hoorn, with a talk and meal.  In the winter talks are given elsewhere as requested.  There is also a documentation commission busy with research, which often leads to the publication in the spring of a booklet about one or more memorable voyage under sail.  In the summer the antiquities’ room of the foundation, Achterom 17, is open to the public on Wednesday afternoons.

The great voyages under sail around Cape Horn play very little part in Dutch maritime history as they were too international and the presentation in museums is minimal.  To many, however, from the point of view of seamanship, the Cape Horn voyages are the most impressive in the history of sail.  The memories of these nautical achievements need to be preserved and the Foundation has pledged itself to do just that.  They hope for your interest and support.

Also check out www.caphorniers.cl

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