| |
|
 Estimated reading time: 2 min. |
  Karina Jozami |
I was walking along the pier watching the boats stationed on one side. Andrea, from the Tierra del Fuego Tourist Institute, had invited me to a sea excursion and, resting among the modern catamarans, the Barracuda, a picturesque boat from other times, was waiting for me. Danilo Clement was welcoming the tourists by the handrail and inviting them to go inside the boat, where it was warmer than on deck on that windy afternoon.
When we began to get away from the bay, I went out to catch a better glimpse of the portrait of the shore: the Museum of the End of the World, the Marítimo and, behind the hamlet, the majestic Mounts Olivia, Cinco Hermanos and Escarpados. And as we got out to sea, Romina told me the interesting story of the Barracuda. |
 |
The First in the Beagle
Built in 1950 by the Argentinian Fluvial Fleet, it was appointed for navigation along the Paraná River and, once the state-owned company was closed, it passed onto the private hands of a private company called Navidelta to sail across the Buenos Aires delta. But by 1975, she was purchased by don Vicente Pantín, who brought the boat up to Ushuaia. It was the first watercraft in the southern city to take tourists across the channel. Today, after 30 years, it keeps sailing along the same route, under the command of Danilo, who used to be a sailor in the Barracuda in the days of Pantín. Clement modernized all the navigation equipment but he made an effort to preserve every single detail which printed their particular charm on the boat, especially in the dining-room with its lamps made of brass and its wooden benches. |
 |
We were approaching Casco Island, where we slowed down to watch a colony of imperial shags and terns. From that point onwards, the route across the Beagle Channel starts.
According to what we had been told by our guides Romina and Victoria, we were heading towards the Bridges Islands, so-called by the first pioneer in Ushuaia, who named the nearby islets after his daughters. On Alicia Island, we found imperial shags once again and South American sea lions. By the size and characteristics of the boat, we could find privileged locations for bird watching and to make out other kinds of fauna typical of the Beagle area. |
 |
Towards the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
With a gentle swaying, the Barracuda would advance across the sea towards the Southwest at a cruise speed of 8 knots. Maxi, a crew member, would steer the boat towards the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, nestled inside the archipelago bearing the same name. Due to its location, this is he southernmost Argentinian lighthouse and not the San Juan de Salvamento, which has been immortalized by Jules Verne in his work “The Lighthouse at the End of the World”.
Very close, lie some remains of the Monte Cervantes boat, which sank in 1930. Our tour continued towards Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lions' Island) dwelled by these mammals, which would pry around the boat. |
 |
We started our way back, passing by other islands where rock and imperial shags would flutter about in the company of albatross and petrels, among other sea bird species.
Once the sun dared to rise, we were sailing back against the wind through the Chico Pass. As the waves were hitting the bow, we stayed at the dining-room having some tea with delicious home-baked cakes.
Three hours had passed since we left the pier when we were returning from our relaxed ride. Charming Barracuda was mooring on the shore once more after the usual voyage, just like 30 years ago. |
 |
during the season, daily outings at 9:30am and 3pm. |
|
 |
Barracuda
Gob. Gómez 914 (9410) Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego - Argentina
Tel: +54 2901 43-7606 Cel: +54 15-53819
|
|
|
 |
“The boat is full of stories. People who had sailed across the Delta on board the Barracuda or who had enjoyed a New Year party there when it was part of the private shipping company fleet have come to sail in Ushuaia. Once, a tourist was quite moved to confess that she had sailed along the Praraná River, in 1955, when she was a little girl. Others remember having seen it in the River Plate. Everybody is surprised to find themselves sailing across the Beagle on the same boat they saw a long time ago.”
Victoria
Sailor at the Barracuda |
|
 |
