Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey continues across the Drake Passage, heading out of Antarctic waters into more temperate conditions. The sea is surprisingly calm but we make fast progress to avoid a big storm coming to the south.
Today's Journey
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Heading up on deck in the early morning after a sleep in, there is nothing but sea all the way to the horizon in all directions. We are well above the Antarctic convergence zone and all the mist is long gone with the air and sea being a similar temperature. It is still cold, but significantly milder than it had been down in the peninsula. |
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Looking forward towards South America, which we are not likely to see today. We are heading as fast as we can to avoid a big storm soon to brew here. Despite that the sea here is surprisingly calm with almost no rocking. |
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The sun hangs limp in the sky, but you can just feel it's warmth today, and it is higher than it has been in recent days on the peninsula. As I continue travelling north through the Americas, the midday sun will get higher. |
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Around midday there is still no sign of the approaching storm. A little breeze has picked up creating small white caps on the little waves, but nothing compared to the massive swells of up to and over 12 metres raging here in the legendary Drake Passage. |
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I head to the observation lounge to see where we have travelled up and down the peninsula and where my future travels through Patagonia will go. |
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The ship churns up the cold water of the Southern Ocean with Antarctica long gone and South America still far away. |
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High cloud forms bringing the first signs of the approaching storm. |
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Hours pass and the blue ocean remains calm with only a slight swell. |
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The sun sets as some mid level cloud covers the sky to the south, bringing the storm. We are already north of the passage of the storm, so we will be safe in calm waters for the rest of the voyage. |
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Returning to the deck in the evening as the sky darkens. The water remains flat. We are only about 200 nautical miles from the entrance to Beagle Channel and have slowed down to a crawl as the pilot leading the ship through the channel cannot board until tomorrow morning. |
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