Cape Horn, jutting towards Antarctica into the enormous seas and gales of the Southern Ocean, has been a graveyard for centuries for sailors attempting the passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. The author assesses the history of Cape Horn from the days of Magellan and Drake, through the scientific exploration of Darwin, to the development of a commercial trade route in the romantic heyday of the clipper trade, its decline after the opening of the Panama Canal, and its modern fatal attraction as the ultimate sailing challenge for the yachtsman - rounding Cape Horn. The author also wrote The Cape of Good Hope.