Sobre the sailboat
About Pic La Lune
The Pic La Lune was born in 1996 and, together with its previous captains, sailed through the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and southern seas. In 2017, the Pic La Lune and Diego Quiroga met to navigate the waters of the Beagle Channel (Onashaga) and Southern Seas. Both are based in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Sailing in the Beagle Channel or Canal Onashaga (Yagán language) combines the harshness of weather conditions with a journey through inhospitable and little-explored landscapes.
The frigid waters of the Beagle Channel are a destination for sailors worldwide, either for their proximity to Cape Horn or as a supply port for those who venture into Antarctica.
Where is Pic La Lune right now?
Click here to see the real-time track of the boat.
Technical description
The Pic La Lune is a sloop-rigged sailboat with a forward cabin, an aft berth, and bunks in the main salon. It can accommodate 6 people. It is a comfortable and safe sailboat, suitable for spending several days on board.
It is equipped with radar, satellite communication, internet, VHF, AIS, an autopilot, a liferaft, and a dinghy. It also has personal safety equipment for the entire crew, a fire extinguisher system and fireproof blankets, a carbon monoxide and smoke detector, and a 24-hour charging system for cell phones and electronic devices through USB charging centers or with a 220V inverter/generator.
The rigging and sails it has are cutter-rigged.
- Full batten mainsail
- Roller furling genoa
- Hank-on staysail
- Hank-on jib
- Spinnaker
Electrical Capacity:
- Equipped with a 140 W solar panel
- Two charging alternators, one for each battery bank (service and engine)
- 1 accumulator of 320 Ah for service and 1 accumulator of 145 Ah for the engine
Habitability:
- A forward cabin with a double berth and wardrobe
- An aft berth
- A bunk bed in the main salon
- A bathroom with shower
- A kitchen with sink and freshwater and saltwater taps
- Electric refrigerator
- Three-burner stove with gas oven
- A dinette for 6 people
- Navigation table with instruments: radar, plotter, echo sounder
- 300 L freshwater tank capacity
- A 20 L hot water tank
- Refleks heating stove
Maneuvering and Anchoring:
- Various deck and mooring lines
- 4 manual winches on deck for all maneuvering
- The rudder is controlled by a tiller system
- Equipped with a 10 mm chain, 100 m long, and a 25 kg delta-type anchor, with a Lofrans electric windlass for anchoring.
Work Team
The crew behind the Pic
Diego Quiroga
Founder – Captain
Doctor in Geography, sailor, and musician. He began sailing at the age of 9 in an Optimist at the AFASYN club, practicing windsurfing, kayaking, and water skiing. He is a licensed yacht master for both sailing and motor sports, both recreational and professional (special REY), and has completed STCW courses.
In 2000, he attended his first sailing championship in Puerto Madryn, and in 2001 he competed in the Argentine Pampero Championship in Tucumán. In 2011, he moved to Ushuaia, where sailing became his hobby and way of life.
He started with short voyages and in 2014 completed his first ocean crossing on the sailboat Ocean Tramp from Punta del Este to Mar del Plata. He has sailed through the Fuegian Channels, the Atlantic Ocean, and around Cape Horn. In 2017, he completed his first extensive voyage as captain, from Puerto Montt to Ushuaia. In 2019 and 2020, he transported the sailboat Alma Mía from Buenos Aires to Puerto Deseado. In 2022, he participated in an Antarctic expedition with Selma Expeditions and in 2023 in the nonstop Ushuaia–Piriápolis crossing.
Gonzalo Granero
Captain – Kayak Guide
Gonzalo began kayaking in the river at the age of 6, a passion that quickly turned into a competitive pursuit. He has academic training as a Physical Education teacher and obtained certification as a lifeguard. Additionally, he holds a Yacht Master license for both sail and motor vessels and has completed STCW courses.
His first ocean crossing was in 2018 aboard the sailboat “Caimán,” traveling through Ushuaia, the Malvinas, and Uruguay. He has worked as a kayak guide on Antarctic expedition cruises and has completed several voyages aboard the Pic La Lune as first officer, exploring Cape Horn, the Fuegian Channels, and the Mitre Peninsula.
Carlos Rodrigo Casabella
Captain
Carlos is a Physical Education teacher (Regional UNLP) and a student in the Geography teaching program. His experience spans both water and mountains. He is a kayaker and practices skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, MTB, and trail running, among other sports. Carlos is passionate about the Fuegian archipelago and its history. He is licensed as a Yachtmaster for Sail and Motor (First Class of Skippers from the Pic La Lune Sailing School) and has completed STCW courses. His experience includes multiple expeditions on the Pic La Lune and Ksar to Península Mitre, Cape Horn, and the Fuegian Channels. He currently works as an Alpine Ski Instructor at Club Andino Ushuaia.
Candela Rodriguez
Crew member – Kayak guide
Candela is passionate about kayaking and diving, with solid training and experience in various aquatic disciplines. Among her achievements, she stands out for obtaining the ACA Level 3 in kayaking and her participation in the Double Expedition on the Pic la Lune in the fjords, scheduled for March and April 2024. Additionally, in April 2024, she will guide a trip with Nativo Kayak.
In 2023, Candela is undergoing training with the Naval Prefecture in several areas, including STCW, Nautical Driver, Crowd Control and Management, Risk Management, and as a Rafting/Boating Guide. She is also completing her Kayak N1 certification at the Club Náutico Afasyn.
In the field of diving, Candela holds Open Water and Advanced certifications, allowing her to dive up to 30 meters. She obtained these certifications in Thailand in 2019.
María Babahekian
Crew Member – Logistics – Diving and Snorkeling Guide
María Laura is a freediving instructor (AIDA) and a scuba diving guide (PADI). She also trained as an underwater visual artist at the National University of Fine Arts and is involved in artistic and conservation projects through the Oceanar organization.
From 2009 to 2022, she traveled through Oceania, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, actively participating in various expeditions. In 2019, she was part of the Arctic expedition with Northern Explorers. She also visited Antarctica aboard the Ocean Tramp in 2018 and on an expedition cruise in 2024. She explored the Mitre Peninsula on the Ksar in 2022 and the Fuegian Channels on the Pic La Lune in 2024.
Currently, she works as a travel assistant for life on board and in logistics at different locations around the world.
