Drake’s Passage
Guests aboard the National Geographic Explorer awoke to a beautiful morning in the Drake Passage on their way to the Antarctic Peninsula. The Drake was in a relatively calm mood, presenting small gentle swells – a relief to many passengers whom anticipated a much rougher passage across the fabled body of water.
Southern giant petrels glided thru the air at the back of the ship, swooping low over the water in a wondrous ballet while a wandering albatross would occasionally make its appearance. Much lighter in color and with a wingspan of nearly eleven feet, this large avian would at times ride the wind alongside the ship, providing us a close-up view. Cape petrels also made their appearance, darting from side to side at the stern in a ballet of movement.
Guests enjoyed introductions to the naturalist staff in the morning, followed by presentations on photography in Antarctica, geology of the Peninsula, and birds of Antarctica as they prepared for the next day – where they would first go ashore in the South Shetland Islands.
Preparations for New Year’s Eve are well underway aboard the ship….. and anticipations are high for the expedition ahead!
