After a long day travelling down to the ship it was good to have a day at sea to unpack and take in where we were and where we were sailing to. After breakfast the day started with an introduction to the expedition team covering specialities from birds to whales and scuba diving to photography. We then had a presentation and breakout session to help with photography during the trip with an aim to help people figure out their own specific settings and which settings to use for specific situations. Lunchtime followed and then the busiest part of the day: the Antarctic briefing and decontamination. This is done to avoid introducing invasive species and bacteria to the area. We then had a presentation on the Antarctic treaty – one that has allowed Antarctica to stay as a continent for international cooperation and science. The finally we got to meet our captain of the voyage during his hosted cocktail session in the evening. First day of the trip here! At sea but still plenty busy!
2/27/2022
Read
National Geographic Explorer
The Drake Passage
Almost home. Land is in sight as we complete our crossing of the Drake Passage and draw within view of Cape Horn. As sunrise begins to illuminate the clouds, we see the blinking light of the Cabo de Hornos lighthouse. Expedition leader Lucho tells us about the poignant albatross sculpture dedicated to lost mariners and reads us the associated poem in Spanish and English. We are sailing in sheltered waters now, and the sea has reached the balmy temperature of more than 7° C. The seabirds we have learned to recognize in the open ocean–albatrosses, petrels, and prions–are now joined by others, such as imperial shags from Patagonia. Fur seals are once again frolicking near the ship. With formalities complete, there is time for a last series of presentations from our expedition staff, including: a lively account of the world-defining voyage of Ferdinand Magellan by naturalist Madalena Patacho, intriguing ‘Behind the Scenes’ insights into the life of an undersea specialist from Brett Garner, and more about the famous Endurance expedition under the leadership of Sir Ernest Shackleton. After making time for some excellent afternoon Swedish pancakes, we sailed the remaining stretch along the Beagle Channel and came at last to port in Ushuaia. We gathered in the lounge for farewell cocktails with our captain. We celebrated the wonders we experienced over the last ten days, the good friends we traveled with and with whom we shared our discovery of the Antarctic, and the glorious land of Antarctica–the seascapes, history, and wildlife. Where will we travel next? Photo caption: An avian harbinger of the coming day. Photo by Steve Backus