This historic passage through the south of Latin America was carried out within the framework of the Velas Latinoamérica 2022 regatta.
This is the Oceanic Patrol ship ARC 20 de Julio, which from last January 21, sails the waters of the southern cone representing our country in the international Regatta Sails Latin America 2022, with a crew composed of 71 men and women of the sea and 25 Midshipmen, who have sailed the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the ports of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, Montevideo - Uruguay and Mar del Plata - Argentina.
Punta Arenas - Chile is the fourth port of this voyage through Latin America, which involved the transit through the Strait of Magellan, a natural channel in the extreme south of Chile that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
This channel is considered one of the most difficult routes to navigate, due to its narrowness and the climatic conditions that converge in the area, constant tidal changes, winds up to 60 knots, that is, about 111 kilometers per hour and currents ranging from six to eight knots of speed, about 12 kilometers per hour.
The crew of the ARC 20 de Julio prepared for this historic step, in which for about 14 hours they traveled 94 nautical miles, equivalent to 174 kilometers, demonstrating the high level of preparation and training, as well as the naval and technological resources of the this ship built in Colombia.
“We are very proud of this unprecedented step, as we have become the first tactical unit of the Colombian Navy to cross this very complex strait that connects the two oceans,” said Captain Henrry Mauricio Barón Franco, Commander of the ARC 20 de Julio.
It is expected that today the crew and students of the Admiral Padilla Cadet Naval School will arrive in Punta Arenas - Chile, to continue being ambassadors of our Colombian culture and to continue strengthening ties of partnership and international cooperation conducted by the participating Navies.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
