Monday January 23
Temp -2C. Seas 1.25-2.5 metres. Position at 09:16 72 57’ S 170 36’ E. Course 197. Speed 6.2 knots
Clocks wound forward an hour at 2am. Nothing like losing an hour’s sleep when you go to sleep well after midnight!
We opened the blinds and there was no sign of Cape Hallett, or any other land. The whole thing with expedition cruising is that the schedule has to be fluid to cope with the weather and the ice. I’m guessing that there was too much ice at the Cape. There was enough where we were, wherever that was.
Lecture by Peter McCarthy – Conduit to the Heroic Age. Peter’s grandfather sailed on the Terra Nova with Scott and his uncle sailed with Shackleton on the ill-fated voyage of the Endurance. He was one of the crew who then battled on with Shackleton, Hurley and crew to South Georgia. Fascinating lecture. Imagine having family involvement with both explorers!!
Photo Workshops – you take two images and have them reviewed by the photographers. Didn’t get to mine. Not sure if that was good or bad as even the gloves off reviews weren’t as cruel as they could have been. The residents take gazillions of photos as they sail around the world. They should be good!! At the end of the expedition a book of photographs is produced. Some residents were making it very clear it should be 'residents only'. We understand and agree and did not offer any photos for consideration.
Cape Hallett scenic cruising didn’t eventuate as there was too much pack ice in the area. Pack ice is amazing.
We loved it when we up in Greenland but this pack ice is much better because there seals and penguins on and amongst it!
The sea was dead calm, again, as we approached Coulman Island. The expedition team is constantly commenting on how lucky we are with the weather. That they haven’t seen it this clear and this calm. Lucky us!
View attachment 90614