The good weather continued overnight and our trip across the Drake Passage is a dream run. By midday the sea is almost glassy with little swell and a light breeze.
Our first task this morning is to attend a compulsory briefing at 8am about the rules of engagement for going ashore in Antarctica, mainly focused on leaving nothing behind, staying well clear of wildlife (at least 5 m), and staying within areas marked out by the crew at the various locations. It was followed by videos on getting in and out of Zodiacs, dressing appropriately for the weather and safety issues. The presenter commented on today's conditions crossing the Drake Passage referring to it as the "Drake Lake", an expression the Captain reiterated later in the day.
Drake Lake
Following the rules of going ashore, for those who would like to go kayaking, there was another presentation on what this entails covering issues like what conditions to expect, how strenuous it is, donning the dry suits they provide for you to wear etc. Much of this is to cull the group who may be wavering on whether they are up to it or not. If you remain on the list, there is a Kayak fitness test everyone must do to stay on the list. Boarding the kayaks is from a Zodiak, so a mock up has been set up in the "hangar" where all of the toys are stored, and each participant has to physically show they can get from the Zodiac into the Kayak and vice versa. Our test is scheduled for 12.20 pm today.
In the meantime, we spent the rest of the morning exploring the ship. It has some great areas where you can just relax and read, or just watch the World go by. There is so much space nowhere s crowded. There are also plenty of areas when you can get a cup of coffee, a drink of something eat. We went outside for a walk on the deck, but soon retreated as it was bloody cold. Will try again later with another layer or two.
Carole on deck at zero degrees C
Here or some photos of the interior of the ship.
Christmas decorations are on display throughout the ship
This plate commemorates this launching of the ship in 2021
A protected but not enclosed viewing area at the bow
An unexpected discovery was a cosy little area called The Hide, it is a nice relaxing hideaway with a rustic feel about it.
The Explorers Bar at the bow of the ship is a great place to relax, have a drink and watch the sea go by.
There are lots of lounge areas
After completing our Kayak fitness test at 12.20pm we went searching for lunch. The World Cafe was pretty busy, so we decided to have some soup and open sandwiches at Mamsem's which serves food with a distinct Scandinavian flavour
Mamsem's , a small self serve cafe with tasty food
At 2 pm we went to a lecture on the Scientific Work conducted on this ship which employs a team of scientists and has an affiliation with a wide range of International Bodies and Universities.
The amount of work they do and the equipment they have on board is impressive, including a full working laboratory with lots of quite sophisticated testing equipment. We can expect to get some exposure to some of the research they are conducting on this cruise.
Between 2.45 pm and 3.30 pm, we have to go down to the bottom floor to get fitted for expedition boots and wet weather pants. Our complimentary parkas (which included a puffer jacket to wear under it) were already in our rooms when we checked it. Beanies, gloves and scarves etc had to be taken down and inspected by the expedition crew to ensure that they were not carrying any biosecurity risks like seeds or other contaminants. Some precautionary cleaning also took place. It seems we are now finally fully approved to get on with the activities which will commence tomorrow afternoon when we reach our first anchorage.
We crossed the latitude 60 degrees South at around 1530 hrs, so we are now in Antarctic waters, which are still very calm.
At 5.30 pm there was a welcome by the Captain event in the theatre, preceded by entertainment by one of the musician groups on board. The Captain introduced his senior team and the passengers were kept well hydrated with sparkling wine.
They are an impressive team.
It was all over by 6 pm and we had a pre dinner drink before heading off to dinner at the Restaurant, which turned out to be very busy. We we offered a table in the best restaurant on board, Manfredi's, instead. We had a great meal with excellent service.
The snapper was delicious
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