There's not a definitive time that's better or worse for crossing the Drake Passage. Some sources say the beginning and end of the summer season can have stronger winds and rougher seas, so this would typically be in November and March. I've also read that December and January can be calmer months for the crossing.
How treacherous is the Drake Passage?
The Drake Passage (even today) feared by sailors is known throughout history as one of the most treacherous and dangerous bodies of water in the world. How would it treat us? It was an ominous sign of things to come when we boarded the ship (Ocean Nova) in the howling wind and freezing rain.
Why is the Drake Passage so bumpy?
With no land surrounding the latitudes of the Drake Passage to break it's flow, combined with strong winds and unpredictable weather, Drake Passage sea sickness is often an inevitability. The Drake Passage can experience up to 15m swells and winds reaching Beaufort scale 10 (hurricanes are scale 12) at its peak.
How many boats have crashed in Drake Passage?
The choppy waters of the Drake Passage, named after English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who never actually traveled through the waterway but sailed close to the location in 1578, are believed to have caused more than 800 shipwrecks.
How rough does the Drake Passage get?
Why is the Drake Passage so choppy?
The Drake Passage, the body of water between Cape Horn in South America and the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica, is where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern seas converge, and because the currents here meet no resistance from any nearby landmass, they're some of the choppiest waters in the world.
Does Alaska cruise go through Drake Passage?
Almost all Antarctica cruises have to traverse the infamously choppy Drake Passage, and Alaska cruises must emerge from the sheltered Inside Passage into the rougher waters of the Gulf of Alaska or the Pacific to reach their homeports.
What is the best month to cross the Drake Passage?
While there is no such thing as the best month to cross Drake Passage, we were crossing the passage during the Antarctic summer (from October to February) when the Antarctic weather helps create calmer seas.
Why are the waves so big in the Drake Passage?
The Drake Passage is situated at the point where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. This means that it is a massive convergence of waves, wind, and currents.
Is Drake’s passage scary?
It is important to remember that the fearful reputation that the Drake Passage has mainly stems from the dangerous crossings that sailors made in wooden ships, without the aid of GPS and weather forecasts. What is this? Yes, the seas can be rough. And yes, some people get sea sick.