Sail Eagle'sWings - Punta Gorda Life

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Antarctica - Moving South

January 19 - We moved south to a position off ice-covered Guepratte
Island. In the morning we cruised around to get up close and personal with icebergs and enjoy another seal photo op.

The guests are very diverse and the age range seems to be from 30 to 80. Last night we ate dinner with Debbie and Dave from Ithaca, NY, a very nice couple about our age. It seems that this cruise self selects for adventuresome people. Many like us are excited to attain the dream of visiting their 7^th continent. Many have been all over the world and are well traveled. So far, this cruise has been super. It is certainly comparable with Viking but at a lesser price but great value.

After our Zodiac cruise, we moved to a position off Danco Island. Many of the guests climbed a zig-zag trail through snow to the top of the island. Joanne and I wimped out. In the evening we moved along to 64 degrees 49.88 minutes South, 63 degrees 31.36 minutes West where about a dozen guests went ashore to bury themselves in snow for the night. It's called "camping."

Danco Island

Near Danco Island

Campers Dug into the Snow After Dinner

Two Boats Dwarfed by Ice

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Hydrurga Rocks and Portal Point

Mountains of Ice, January 18.

We moved south to Hydrurga Rocks. Landing by Zodiac was easy but the short hike required crossing a jumble of rocks before trudging up a snow covered hill. As I was a little unstable, the guides helped keep me from falling. The penguins had no trouble at all.

I, Joanne, caught a respiratory bug right before leaving home and have been fighting it with some over the counter meds that I got from a friendly pharmacist in Buenos Aires. I needed more rest so for Day Four, Richard went out without me.

Landing on Hydrurga Rocks

Walk on Hydrurga Rocks

I was a little nervous stepping on the towels but these penguins had no problem.

Orange cones mark the way through snow.

Penguins on Hydrurga Rocks

Penguin and Weddell Seal

Later at 2 PM, we both went out together in the Zodiac to cruise around Portal Point but right before we saw a Weddell seal on an iceberg below our cabin balcony.

Weddell Seal

The ship is now in the white snow- capped Arctic and it has stark beauty with the clear bluish water and white growlers and other size icebergs that float by. The highlight was a whale sighting. We heard the whale blow as he swam among the Zodiacs actually bumping the bottom of one. We got some great pictures and were very exhilarated by it all.

Antarctic Shag or Imperial Cormorant

Brown Skua

Humpback Whale

ICE!

Monday, January 27, 2025

To Antarctica on the Atlas World Navigator

To Antarctica on the World Navigator

Our first day involved the mandatory safety briefings and getting oriented to the ship. Our Cabin 504 is lovely with a nice balcony and comfortable bed. We "lifted anchor" about 6 PM to "sail" down the Beagle Channel to the Atlantic Ocean and the Drake Passage.

Cabin 504

Captain Sousa advised that flexibility is the key to this journey. Every day the weather may change and plans must be made “on the spot” according to the weather and wind conditions.

We cruised down the calm waters of the Beagle Channel while we enjoyed lovely buffet and a few whale sightings. Upon exiting the channel into eight to nine foot waves in the Drake Passage, beam seas rolled the World Navigator from side to side somewhat. Walking about required holding onto the rails in the passage ways. Many passengers experienced some sea sickness. As for us, we were fine and got a good night’s sleep.

The following day, January 16, the captain changed course to head for the South Shetland Islands providing for a smoother ride.

By 2 PM tomorrow, we should be in calm waters in Antarctica! Meals on board are great. We’ve particularly enjoyed the Arctic sea bass, veggies and desserts. We are going down for our daily briefing soon on expectations for tomorrow and probably will take in a movie documenting life aboard the Peking, a commercial sailing vessel, rounding Cape Horn in 1929.

We arrived sooner than expected on the morning of the 17th in the Aitcho Islands. The cloudy and sometimes wet weather we experienced crossing the Drake Passage began to clear.

We boarded Zodiacs in the morning to cruise around spotting hundreds of penguins in the sea and on land. While we were eating lunch, the ship moved to Barrientos Island.

Penguin Watching from the Zodiac

Barrientos Island, ice free with a gravel beach providing for easy access from the Zodiacs, hosts hundreds of Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins.

We took a while to get into the drill of donning long underwear, regular pants, waterproof pants, heavy socks, boots, heavy green parkas provided by Atlas, googles, gator (neck covering), hat, gloves and life jacket . W were over dressed! We also had to remember to put our room key into a slot on the life jacket.