Through intermittent bands of sea ice and open water, we sailed south through the western sector of the Ross Sea. Some islands and bays are fully iced in, while others are more open dependent on the wind and current conditions. Snow petrels kept us company for most of the day, and a few seals and emperor penguins were spotted at a distance on drifting pieces of ice. We enjoyed a leisurely day on board, with lectures on marine ecosystems and Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition, as well as plenty of time for reading, photo editing, and boardgames. After an exceptional asado dinner buffet, those who wished ventured ashore at the German Gondwana Station in Terra Nova Bay.