Objective:
Cape Horn
At the end of the world and of achievement
Mythical, legendary, staggering: Cape Horn is a monument in the world of sailors. Passing it is always an achievement. So imagine the adventure of 2 men dreaming of being the first to cross it on a Nacra. Yes, a flying catamaran! Among these two sailors, Yohannes, 100% amateur and winner of the Julbo Session, a unique event that offers to share a dream at the end of the world skiing, cycling, running with a Julbo team athlete. To succeed in the Horn challenge, not just any sailor, but Franck Cammas, a monster of the seas. Back to this unique adventure!
THE MEETING
Franck and Yohannes, an expert and an amateur united for an extraordinary project
Yohannes WIEBEL
Born in 1979, he is an architect by profession… but an adventurer by passion! Having grown up near the lakes of Bavaria, he has always liked taking on challenges, on the water as in the mountains. Accomplished sailor, he has already competed in different disciplines: 49er, Dart F18, Tornado. Being present at the Julbo Sail Session selection in La Rochelle was already a dream. But winning brought him great pride.
Franck CAMMAS
Born in 1972, member of the Julbo team since 1988, Franck is the most titled sailor in multihull history. He has won the Route du Rhum, the Volvo Ocean Race, and the Little America’s Cup. Franck is also at the head of the French challenge Groupama Team France for the 35th America’s Cup which will be held on 48-foot foil catamarans in Bermuda in 2017.
When I saw the Julbo project, I couldn't get it out of my head.
USHUAÏA
Where the adventure begins
After a flight from Buenos Aires, the whole Julbo Sail Session team arrives in Ushuaia for customs formalities where one must always be patient. Then, it’s boarding Xplore, a superb 20 m boat that will serve as floating base camp for the whole adventure. Xplore heads to Puerto Williams. Arrival in this town of 2,500 inhabitants happens in the middle of the night. Upon waking, it's time to begin formalities with the Chilean Armada – responsible for Horn passages – and to start preparing the Nacra.
FIRST SAILING
Into the thick of it
Yohannes and Franck leave at 6 a.m. for Puerto Toro, 25 miles away. Conditions are ideal with flat sea and 15 knots of well-oriented wind. Our two adventurers enjoy themselves and don’t take long to fly! 3 hours later, they enter Puerto Toro. A dock, 18 inhabitants, a school of 4 students: the southernmost village in the world is a magical place! The 4 children who are happy to welcome them also find them a bit crazy to want to go to Cape Horn with such a boat.
HEADING TO THE HORN
Welcome to hostile seas
After Guanaco Point, it's the entrance into Nassau Bay, a place feared by all sailors. The situation is tense and it’s really rough. Yohannes and Franck know they must move forward no matter what, because the weather window is very short if they want to accomplish their feat. They often surf, but continue progressing at good speed. In the pass between Wollaston and Feycinet islands, the sea calms spectacularly and the Nacra starts flying. They arrive at the Herchel anchorage: a vast beach of fine white sand. Less than 9 miles from the Horn, they know they will be able to face this mythical rock!
Tierra del Fuego is a mystical place with impressive landscapes and incredible climate changes.
THE ACHIEVEMENT
They did it!
After 3 days of waiting due to wind up to 50 knots, the team prepares for the final assault. At 7 a.m., it’s departure. At 9 a.m., Yohannes and Franck face this 400 m almost sheer cliff, covered with vegetation. As a cherry on top, the sun rises and they manage to make the Nacra fly. It’s done: they are the first to have flown in front of the Horn on a catamaran!
I have three dreams, the first was to win the Volvo Ocean Race. Done. The second was to pass Cape Horn on a flying catamaran. That’s done too. Now, onto the third: take part in the America’s Cup. And I will work actively on that with my team.
The closer you get to the Horn, the more impressive it is. It's a true colossus!
FOILING CAPE HORN
Adventure with a capital A
Sailing under such latitudes with crazy winds, raging seas and a hostile climate is never easy. But doing it flying with a Nacra on seas as hostile as those of the Deep South is an incredible adventure! An adventure worthy of this extreme island, beaten by wind and waves. The Atlantic to the east, the Pacific to the west. And everywhere, wild landscapes unlike any other. Beauty, pure and raw.
XPLORE
Our floating base camp
True safe haven of the adventure when the storm was the fiercest, Stephen, Annie and Tobias’ Xplore was a superb base camp. In addition to having been a great help throughout our journey, Stephen, its captain, is also a top-notch cook who made us rethink our opinion of the English and cuisine: a big thank you to him and his crew!
SAILING TEAM
Facing the Horn in these conditions and with such a boat is not something you improvise. With a team like that, we could have moved mountains!
Thanks to Franck Cammas for his presence and his knowledge.
Thanks to Yohannes Wiebel for his passion and commitment.
Thanks to Dino, Jérémy, Seb and Thibault for their beautiful images and technical support.
Thanks to Louis and Francis for having taken such good care of the Nacra during the trip.
Thanks to Serge Ouatchée, our valuable support on site.
Thanks to the whole Xplore team.
OUR PARTNERS
TEAMWORK
Much more than a partner
For 10 years, TeamWork has supported projects around sailing, out of love for adventure both sporting and human. When discovering the Julbo Sail Session project, this global solutions provider was immediately seduced, as it reflects its own values: surpassing oneself, sharing experiences and discovering unknown lands. Without TeamWork and its support, the Cape Horn feat would have remained just a dream. A big thank you to them.
