the very early hours of the morning the ship’s motion was visibly different from that enjoyed the night before as we sailed east along the Beagle Channel. By the time we ventured up on deck the ship was well out into the Drake Passage and our only companions were the seabirds who have made these waters their home. The weather today is coming from the east, which is not usual; there is not much wind, but occasional swells are fairly large.
After breakfast there are ample opportunities to become better acquainted with the ship. The first activity for the day is an introduction to the expedition team. A little later on there is a presentation on photography, with lots of helpful advice on getting to know our cameras that will hopefully help us capture great images during our adventure.
By mid-day we are in the middle of the Drake Passage and it is appropriate in the afternoon to hear a presentation on the seabirds. It is astonishing to think that some of the albatrosses, after departing on their maiden flight, then spend years in the Southern Ocean before they reach sexual maturity and head back to their breeding grounds. After the talk there is an opportunity to venture out to the aft deck to watch some of these seabirds and we are fortunate enough to get views of the largest of the flying birds, the wandering albatross.
The air temperature has noticeably dropped and this is an indicator that we are in the zone of the Antarctic Convergence. It is in this region that the warmer waters from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet up with the colder denser waters of the Southern Ocean. The convergence, which completely encircles Antarctica, is considered the biological boundary with Antarctica and its latitudinal position varies seasonally.
After tea we all attend the mandatory IAATO briefing on how we should proceed during our visit to the White Continent.
During dinner we cross the political boundary into Antarctica marked by the 60° South Latitude parallel.
The following seas have meant that we have made good progress throughout the day and if all goes well we will be in sight of the South Shetland Islands at some point tomorrow morning.
