Antarctica 2
Images taken on the journey south.
In Antarctica there can be no set itinerary or timetable, the direction and pace of travel is dictated by the environment and the ingenuity of the crew and expedition team to review and re-organise plans as they go along. We found it amazingly relaxing to wait for things to happen!
Delayed by the stormy weather in the Drake Passage, we arrived in the Antarctic Peninsula some 12 hours later than hoped. We sailed along the Gerlache Strait in beautiful sunshine, made our first landing at the penguin rookeries on Cuverville Island and arrived in Paradise Harbour, truly one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.
Alerted by another ship, sailing southwards ahead of us, that the ‘Gullet’ was ice-free, we headed south, hoping to sail through this narrow sea passage between Adelaide Island and the Arrowsmith Peninsula. When the Gullet is ice-bound, which is often, ships have to circumnavigate Adelaide Island to reach Marguerite Bay, an open-sea crossing that takes some 16 hours longer. We were really lucky to find the Gullet open on both our southbound and return journeys.
We entered Marguerite Bay and crossed the Antarctic Circle in morning sunshine, while enjoying the on-deck Jacuzzi, and arrived at the most southerly point of our voyage, Stonington Island and Neny Fjord, 68?20 mins S.
In Antarctica there can be no set itinerary or timetable, the direction and pace of travel is dictated by the environment and the ingenuity of the crew and expedition team to review and re-organise plans as they go along. We found it amazingly relaxing to wait for things to happen!
Delayed by the stormy weather in the Drake Passage, we arrived in the Antarctic Peninsula some 12 hours later than hoped. We sailed along the Gerlache Strait in beautiful sunshine, made our first landing at the penguin rookeries on Cuverville Island and arrived in Paradise Harbour, truly one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.
Alerted by another ship, sailing southwards ahead of us, that the ‘Gullet’ was ice-free, we headed south, hoping to sail through this narrow sea passage between Adelaide Island and the Arrowsmith Peninsula. When the Gullet is ice-bound, which is often, ships have to circumnavigate Adelaide Island to reach Marguerite Bay, an open-sea crossing that takes some 16 hours longer. We were really lucky to find the Gullet open on both our southbound and return journeys.
We entered Marguerite Bay and crossed the Antarctic Circle in morning sunshine, while enjoying the on-deck Jacuzzi, and arrived at the most southerly point of our voyage, Stonington Island and Neny Fjord, 68?20 mins S.