Noir Island

Cabo Noir (sometimes called "Cape Noir" in English) is the southwestern cape of Isla Noir. The island reaches a height of approximately 180 metres (600 ft).

Noir Island

Native name: Isla Noir
Noir Island Noir Island, a outlying island of the Tierra del Fuego labyrinth
Geography
Coordinates	54°29′S 73°02′W / 54.483°S 73.033°W / -54.483; -73.033
Archipelago	Tierra del Fuego
Adjacent to	Pacific Ocean
Highest elevation	183 m (600 ft)
Administration
Chile
Region	Magallanes Region
Province	Punta Arenas
Commune	Punta Arenas
Additional information
NGA UFI -893783

Cape Noir plays a crucial role in a dramatic episode in Patrick O'Brian's novel, The Golden Ocean, which is based on the historical events of Commodore George Anson's circumnavigation of the world. In the story, a squadron of ships believes they have successfully rounded Cape Horn westwards and reached safe waters. However, upon sighting Cape Noir, they are confronted with the shocking realization that their longitude reckoning is grossly in error.

The episode is described by the chaplain of the Centurion:

It was indeed most wonderful, that the currents should have driven us to the eastward with such strength; for the whole squadron esteemed themselves upwards of ten degrees more westerly than this land, so that in running down, by our account, about nineteen degrees of longitude, we had not really advanced half that distance. And now, instead of having our labours and anxieties relieved by approaching a warmer climate and more tranquil seas, we were to steer again to the southward, and were again to combat those western blasts, which had so often terrified us; and this too, when we were greatly enfeebled by our men falling sick, and dying apace, and when our spirits, dejected by a long continuance at sea, and by our late disappointment, were much less capable of supporting us in the various difficulties, which we could not but expect in this new undertaking.