Log Entry No 7 - 27th Dec 07. (Discoverer)
FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN
Very early on Christmas morning we edged silently into a tiny sheltered cove
on Enterprise Island to tie up alongside another yacht which was, herself,
snugly secured to an old derelict whaler, the Gouvernoren. Tired, after a
week at sea; but drawn by the beauty of our surroundings, it was difficult
to crawl into our damp sleeping bags below.
Alongside the Gouvernoren.
Allowed a ‘long lie’, we set to after breakfast to dig out the
inflatables and outboards, prior to sending Conor’s geology party off on a
30 mile trip to gather the rock samples that will support his emerging
theories about what happened here some 30M years ago (I’ll spare you the
details!). Everything went as planned even though the sea state was a
little emotional. The team returned later in the evening, shivering but
proudly clutching 5 lumps of rock.
Geologists ashore.
Those who remained on board revelled in their new found space: 16 of us on
a 67 foot yacht demands considerable patience and good humour. Seizing the
moment, we repaired the batten cars on the main sail and, important to the
success of the whole expedition, had a thorough dig through the failed water
maker. After curing the leaks in the low pressure system, the root of our
trouble was traced to poor connectivity in the power supply to the high
pressure pump. Fixed, with the aid of a nail and some Baco foil; we can now
make fresh water again. Phew!
Water fresh from the maker.
In the evening, after Chris and Rob H had taken an icy dip (they smell a
little better now), the festivities began. Sam and Louise had prepared the
most amazing feast, lamb with all the trimmings, greatly enhanced by minced
pies and Christmas cake from those at home. We enjoyed it crammed around the
tiny galley table continuing the motions late into the night until Rob D
saluted the dawn with his bagpipes. As we now have permanent daylight,
it’s quite a challenge deciding exactly when that is.
Merry Christmas!
As I write, we’re sailing through spectacular scenery, picking our way
between ice bergs and islands, down the Gerlache Strait. It’s just over
100 miles to Waddington Bay where, conditions willing, we hope to put the
mountaineers ashore. Yes, it’s cold, very cold: the sea temperature is 2
deg C, and I’m wearing a thermal vest, five fleece layers, and my Musto
oil skins – and that’s with the sun shining!
Passing a bergy bit.
We hope you’ve all had a great Christmas.
Best Wishes
Andy Mills
FROM THE CREWS QUARTERS
Lance Bombardier Grant:
Arriving at Enterprise Island on Christmas morning we were treated to the
most spectacular scenery I have ever seen, standing on deck watching
icebergs with penguins drift past is something I will never forget. After a
few hours sleep we set up the inflatable boats in order to take Conner on
his rock gathering foray. Prior to setting off Rob and I decided to follow
through on an earlier promise and went for a quick skinny dip suffice to say
it was unflatteringly cold! Once we were dried off we departed for the first
of Coner’s objectives. The weather was fine and the sea pretty flat for
the first couple of hours, until on the return to Discoverer the wind picked
up a bit, giving us our second soaking of the day. It was about this point
that we spotted a leopard seal on some pack ice in the lee of Brooklyn
Island, I tried hard to take a picture or two but the water was choppy and
only time will tell if I got water, sky or leopard seal!
The wild life seen so far has been amazing; seals, penguins, albatrosses,
petrels, and even a few whales, one of which followed Discoverer for a
couple of hours (admittedly this was in The Drakes Passage) and the debate
as to its species still rages!
All in all this has already been one if not the most incredible experience
of my life (apart from getting married, Andrea!) and we are only one week
into the trip proper, so here’s hoping the next six are just as good.
Cpl Martin Carey:
Christmas day 2007 started very differently than my regular Christmas’
usually do. I was quietly sleeping in my bunk after thawing out from the
previous watch when Dick announced “mulled wine on deck”. I get up and
pull on my Musto mid layer and soaking sea boots and then join the others
top side, and what a sight. This is the Antarctic Peninsula proper. Smith
Island, which we passed yesterday, was good; but this is some thing else.
There are few clouds and just enough wind to sail, orange light from the
midnight sun reflects off snow covered mountains to the sound of Rob
Duke’s bagpipes. As we drink wine the Antarctic virgins are smiling,
after a month in the Falklands we were beginning to think we weren’t going
to make it but here we are.
What a place; what a trip; and what an adventure!
Entering the Gerlache Straits.
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