We are heading WNW for South Georgia across the Scotia Sea with a strong wind of about 25 to 30 kts on our port quarter helping us along. Sea state quite light and the ship very stable. By evening we were out of official Antarctic waters north of 60 S. The sea temperature is still low – at O°C.
Twenty different birds sighted during the day, including royal (northern and southern) wandering, light mantled sooty, black browed, and grey headed albatross and many prions and petrels down to the delicate Wilsons petrel. A field day for the photographers. Quite a number of whales were sighted, including some fin whales, though many were not always identifiable due to the heavy surf.
The South Georgia environmental briefing was given in the morning and all boots, bags, clothing, and walking sticks washed and sterilized.
Tom Richie gave beautifully illustrated and informative introduction to South Georgia ready for our arrival in two days’ time, and in the early evening Rich Reid introduced a short film about Antarctica’s most famous photographer Frank Hurley.
Michael Nolan revealed some of the early “Photoshop” methods used by Hurley to fill in gaps in his story of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition.
Paul and Ashley did a stage-worthy performance on how to dress for cold water (about -2°C) diving and showed their heating system for the suits which allows them time to stay underwater so long as the air holds out.
Santiago did a rope trick to illustrate the wing span of all the birds we are likely to see with the wandering albatrosses huge 3.5m (12’), the largest span of any bird.
To summarize, you could call today mainly a rest and recovery day from the activities of the Antarctic Peninsula
