Log Entry No 8 - 31st Dec 07. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

We left our snug mooring alongside the Gouvernoren on Boxing Day, in order to get down to Waddington Bay (65 deg 15 mins South), where we hoped to put the climbers ashore.  What a trip it turned out to be.  You won’t want to read my views about the fantastic scenery, about the fun we had picking our way through the blocks of ice, nor about the whales penguins and seals we saw en route; instead, just enjoy Steve’s photographs:

Extreme mooring!

Louise takes in the Yankee.

Not too sure about this!

Doc fends off ice.

Arriving at Waddington Bay the following afternoon, we were amazed to find that we could just squeeze in to the bay, between the brilliantly blue ice bergs and beneath the towering peaks of the mountains above.  Once in, too deep to anchor, we killed the engine and drifted about between the bergs, fending off from those that came too close, whilst inquisitive penguins and hunting leopard seals weaved around the yacht.  OK, let’s do it!  Climbers off! 

Four hours later nine climbers (Rope 1: Richard C, Martin, & Chris.  Rope 2: Dick P, Steve, & Louise.   Rope 3: James A, Connor & Geordie T), were ready to hop ashore with enough gear to sustain Ropes 1 & 2 for the next 5 weeks. There was scarcely time to say “Good Luck” because the barometer was falling and the bay was already filling with ice behind us.  Whilst Ropes 1 & 2 aims to climb up onto the plateau (no easy task) and push on Northwards, I’ll try to recover Rope 3 (the geology party) on New Year’s Day.

The rest of us (Meryon, Sam, Rob D, Rob H, Jamie D & the Doc), then nudged our way back out to sea to head across the channel to the Argentine Islands where, once again, we have found a terrifically snug anchorage where, with 3 anchors and 2 lines ashore, we’re bomb proof.  Our neighbours are the incredibly hospitable team at the Ukrainian Vernadsky Polar Base. A little surprised to see us, they immediately invited us across for welcoming vodka. And, yesterday, we were instructed to enjoy the delights of their sauna; a shocking experience, in which warm spells at 95 deg C are rudely interrupted by quick dashes into the ocean which is now - 0.9 deg C. The Doc’s not entirely convinced that the human body is designed for such activity. As I write, the yacht party are exploring a nearby ice cave.

We have daily contact by satellite phone with the mountain party, so I will relay their progress as things develop.  From here, it looks an ambitious project; the mountains are colossal and the weather changes by the hour.  This morning we had thick snow, inconvenient for us, but distinctly tiresome for the mountaineers.

With thanks to all our friends and backers and, if we don’t manage another blog beforehand, very best wishes for the New Year.

Andy Mills