Captain Hugo ALSINA
Active Member of the Chilean Section A.I.C.H.

Cape Horn is renowned by sailors worldwide for its violent and feared storms. In 1978 it became necessary to install a small naval presence there to avoid surprises.  Veritably the Lighthouse at the End of the World, with apologies to Jules Verne.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean a small and insignificant dot can be observed. It is the yacht of a lone French sailor who is nearing the frightening Cape Horn where he intends to arrive the next morning. At dusk he set the wind vane on course and retired. On the following day he needed to be very alert to see and cross the much awaited Cape. Unquestionably the winds and currents were stronger than expected and the fragile yacht sailed faster and also off course a little to the north.

Around 4 A.M. the Frenchman was awakened by a terrible racket and much shaking. He picked up his small waterproof case where he kept his documents and money, and went up to the main deck where he realised that the boat had smashed against the coast which could not be other than that of Cape Horn. The yacht was destroyed.

He dove into the water and swam in between the rocks, in the dark, luckily arriving to the shore alive without having been badly injured. He looked around until he managed to see a tiny light. He thinks that it is his salvation, since the light can be nothing other than the Cape Horn lighthouse. With tremendous effort he begins to ascend the steep cliff in order to arrive at the awaited lighthouse. Upon arrival his hopes are shattered. The light house is automatic, there are no personnel or houses nearby.

The cold is paralysing, even more so as his clothes and shoes are wet. The wind further reduces his body temperature. He sat under the lee of the ligthouse and lamented his fate. But divine providence had not abandoned him. Quieter and with his vision more accustomed to the dark he could see a weak ligth in the distance. He decided to walk in that direction, and in spite of the darkness after taking a few steps he found a footpath. He followed it and after a long walk arrived at last to the house where the ligth was. He knocked hard at the door asking for help.

The reaction inside the house was tumultuous.  The marines of the garrison jumped out of their beds and grabbed their weapons.  The seamen on guard extinguished the weak light and watched through a small window. After a while the door was opened and the shipwrecked sailor appeared.  He was half frozen and more frightened than anyone else.  The lights were turned on.   Coffee and "chica" (the Naval ration of aguardiente maintained for such situations) was prepared to comfort the guest.  Rapidly as in such situations, they became old friends.  After a warm bath and a vigorous body rub down with dry towels he fell into bed with several blankets.

The yacht was a total loss. A naval patrol vessel camb by in a few days to pick up the French sailor. The French Government, and later the Navy, sent thanks for the help given by the Chilean Navy to their subject.