The Drake shake...on the Drake Passage
Date: 06-02-07
From: Ushuaia To: Aitcho
12:00 Position 56˚43’8.S 065˚55’1.W
Weather:
As fore casted with increases
Wind: SSW5 till S8
air temperature: 6
Stormy days at sea, we run trough the tale of the passing system, confused sea, heavy head winds and no wind in the sails to stabilise make it a uncomfortable ride, with cold waves rushing over the decks and every now and then even hitting the wheelhouse.
A lot of seabirds are following the ship. We spot a Southern Royal Albatross, only breeding on the Islands near New Sealand. More regular sightings of this afternoon include Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Black Bellied Storm Petrels, Soft-Plumaged Petrels, White-Chinned Petrels, Antarctic Prions and Southern Giant Petrels, and of course some mollymawk (Black Browed Albatross), one Grey Headed and some Wandering Albatrosses are also seen.
Date: 07-02-07
From: Ushuaia To: Aitcho
12:00 Position 58˚03’5.S 063˚41’9.W
Weather:
Wind and swell decrease during the day every now and than some rain
Wind: SSW6 ltr SW 3
Air temperature: 7
Port and starboard watches working hard to sow the ripped sails. Sebastian and Mike bringing the mizzen back in to place.
There are not many people on deck. Most of them suffering from ‘mal de mer’. On the Drake Passage we see besides the birds that we saw yesterday also some penguins, a mere 200 miles from the nearest piece of land!
with a steep drop in sea water temperature we know we have passed the convergence zone. On chart the in the deckhouse we see the white continent coming closer.
