Our first day – Rebecca
We are at sea, motor-sailing under grey skies, from King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, 140 miles SE, to the Antarctic Peninsula! The five guests aboard met early yesterday morning for the easy, two hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George. We are Roswiitha and Rainer from Stuttgart (Rainer sailed from Ushaia to Antarctica on Ocean Tramp, last year with a group of climbers, and has returned with his wife – not a bad endorsement!), Shannon from Atlanta, GA, and Rebecca(me) and Sid from Falls Church, VA.
We circled to land at the Constable Point dirt air strip , and there was Ocean Tramp anchored below in Maxwell Bay. Our Captain, Fede, met us and we trekked a mud path to the beach. As we dinghied out to our home for the next two weeks, about 20 chinstrap penguins flew out of the water into the air, down and up again, coming to greet us!
Yesterday, we unpacked, had our briefings, familiarized ourselves with the well found and thought out vessel and each other. The weather looked good for an overnight sail, once we all had a good night’s sleep. And today, after a pancake breakfast, we have had some lovely sailing, with gentle seas. Sunshine broke through as we spotted our first iceberg, 3 miles on the eastern horizon. Then we spotted Livingstone Island to starboard, black and white peaks jutting out of the sea. We have had one humpback whale sighting and more penguins, just a taste of what is to come.
Right now, we are all settling in, enjoying the quiet of our own little world, a relaxed and amiable group joining an extremely accomplished, as well as accommodating, crew. We are awaiting the unfolding of the wonders of the white continent. I, for one, still cannot believe I am here on a 65 ft sailboat. I feel like a contented kitten!
Rebecca
