At Sea, the Southern Ocean
This afternoon was stunningly sunny as we continued on our course to South Georgia Island with a following wind and sea. We are in the furious fifties and sailing in the West Wind Drift, or Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This is the one place on earth where the wind and water can flow all the way around the planet unimpeded by land, so both the wind and the current really get going. But for us the day was a mellow one as we enjoyed the smooth rolling motion of Endeavour running before the wind.
All day we were surrounded by the wonderful soaring birds of the Southern Ocean; wandering albatross, southern giant petrels, white-chinned petrels, smaller prions and tiny storm petrels flitting about above the wave crests.
We periodically checked the seawater temperature to see whether we had crossed the Antarctic Convergence, the boundary of the Southern Ocean. During the day the temperature dropped from 8°C to less than 5°C, because the boundary is at this time of year is quite diffuse and is spread out over perhaps a hundred miles. Before we reach South Georgia we will see water of less than 3°C and we will have truly experienced Antarctic conditions.
This afternoon was stunningly sunny as we continued on our course to South Georgia Island with a following wind and sea. We are in the furious fifties and sailing in the West Wind Drift, or Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This is the one place on earth where the wind and water can flow all the way around the planet unimpeded by land, so both the wind and the current really get going. But for us the day was a mellow one as we enjoyed the smooth rolling motion of Endeavour running before the wind.
All day we were surrounded by the wonderful soaring birds of the Southern Ocean; wandering albatross, southern giant petrels, white-chinned petrels, smaller prions and tiny storm petrels flitting about above the wave crests.
We periodically checked the seawater temperature to see whether we had crossed the Antarctic Convergence, the boundary of the Southern Ocean. During the day the temperature dropped from 8°C to less than 5°C, because the boundary is at this time of year is quite diffuse and is spread out over perhaps a hundred miles. Before we reach South Georgia we will see water of less than 3°C and we will have truly experienced Antarctic conditions.
