Another day at sea...crossing the region to be known as one of the stormiest areas in the world. Westerly winds and the associated Antarctic Circumpolar current cause massive amounts of water to move constantly from west to east all around Antarctica. We were fortunate enough that we were sailing with the winds and besides some steady motion the National Geographic Explorer was moving swiftly towards South Georgia.

It was a day to relax and recover from the intense days around the Antarctic Peninsula. Also, we had the opportunity to enjoy the various presentations on board. Erika Larsen, National Geographic photographer, shared with us her assignments with the magazine covering stories of people, wildlife, and how they related to their environment. Dr. Rodolfo Werner shared with us the history, current situation, and challenges of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), especially when it comes to the management of the krill fishery in the Southern Ocean. Peter Wilson presented interesting facts about the life of Tom Creen ("The Irish Giant"), and Jason Kelley gave us a very interesting presentation about the winds and currents of the Southern Ocean.

Second day at sea...the perfect day to reflect on our experience on the White Continent. Deep in our hearts we will remember the long sunsets, the endless skies, the vastness of the sea ice, the majesty of mountain peaks and hanging glaciers, the brightness of the ice, the sinuosity of channels and inlets, the tranquility of bays and coves, the delicate beauty of floating icebergs, and the rich diversity of marine fauna in Antarctica.

Antarctica is like an eternal spirit and we are certain that we will not be the same after having being on the White Continent. Antarctica makes us think about how we relate to nature in general and the responsibility that we have to protect the ecosystems that keep us alive. This is the perfect place to commit ourselves to do our utmost to preserve our planet. We are sure that Antarctica will remain in our minds and hearts for years to come…South Georgia is now waiting for us…