Sailing round Cape Horn: for many sailors, this is a lifelong dream. Those who do not wish to undertake the long journey to Patagonia under their own steam can book a charter trip instead. However, it appears that not all such offers are operated legally. Chilean authorities have stepped up their checks and, within the space of a few weeks, have once again impounded two foreign yachts.
In early August 2026, the Chilean Navy, customs and criminal investigation department inspected a British-flagged yacht in the Señoret Channel near Puerto Natales. According to the authorities, the boat had been temporarily imported for “non-commercial use”. Nevertheless, it is alleged to have been used for paid charter trips in Chile.
According to [source], there were Chilean Navy Five people from the UK, Italy and Chile. One British and one Italian national are also said to have entered the country on tourist visas and worked in return for payment. The Chilean Criminal Investigation Department has therefore reported possible breaches of immigration law.
According to media reports, a lawyer representing the yacht owner rejected the allegation of commercial use. The boat has been used exclusively for private purposes for the past five years, the lawyer told the regional newspaper *La Prensa Austral*.
French yacht ‘Athanase’ was impounded back in July
The British case came just a few weeks after an inspection of the French yacht ‘Athanase’. The vessel was also inspected in July in the Canal Señoret off Puerto Natales and subsequently detained.
According to the Chilean Maritime Authority It is also alleged that the ‘Athanase’ was used for illegal charter trips, contrary to its temporary private licence. Two French crew members were also reported on suspicion of having worked without the necessary authorisation.
The allegations do not relate simply to the presence of foreign yachts in Chile. The key issue is rather whether a privately imported boat is actually used for private purposes or is used for tourist trips in return for payment.
Checks in Patagonia have been tightened since the end of 2024
The regional director of customs, Reinhold Andronoff, explained in an interview with the regional newspaper *La Prensa Austral*, that eight foreign pleasure craft had been subject to similar proceedings within the space of about one and a half years.
As early as 2025, the Chilean authorities had seized several foreign charter yachts. YACHT reported. According to the authorities, the stepped-up checks are aimed at boats which enter the country under a private licence but are then alleged to offer paid trips.
The authorities justify their actions on the grounds of protecting properly licensed tourism providers. They also point to potential safety risks for paying guests if yachts are used without the checks and licences required for commercial voyages.
Fewer foreign yachts expected
One person who knows the area and the regulatory requirements is the Chilean charter skipper Osvaldo Escobar Torres. He offers sailing trips through Patagonia, round Cape Horn and to Antarctica. According to him, it is mainly German sailors who come aboard his boat. As a Chilean operator, he says he can meet the authorities’ requirements more easily.
Torres, too, has noticed increased checks over the past year and a half or so. “It’s not a new law. It’s just that more attention is being paid to ensuring it is enforced,” says Torres in an interview with YACHT. He reckons that, as a result, fewer foreign operators may come to the region with their sailing yachts in future. In his view, some are likely to switch to other regions.
When does a private trip become a charter trip?
Foreign yachts are generally permitted to call at Chile on a temporary basis, provided they are travelling for tourist purposes. However, according to the authorities, this form of entry does not apply if commercial charter trips are offered. Anyone offering individual berths, entire cruises or other tourist services in return for payment is thereby moving beyond the scope of tourism. This applies in particular where, for example, advertising is carried out online, fixed prices are charged or crew members receive a salary.
It is therefore important for skippers and organisers to find out about the legal requirements regarding import, operating and work permits before entering the country. Simply clearing the yacht through customs privately is not sufficient for commercial voyages.
Fines may depend on the value of the yacht
The financial consequences can be significant. Most cases to date have resulted in fines, which have averaged between 100 and 150 million Chilean pesos. The exact amount depends, amongst other things, on the value of the yacht in question. According to the Director of Customs, if a legally binding fine is not paid, the boat may be put up for auction.
For cruising sailors, this means there is an important distinction to be made: a private trip through Patagonia is not legally equivalent to a paid charter trip. This applies even if the same yacht were suitable for both purposes.
Fabian Boerger
Editor News & Panorama