We woke up to a clear day with remarkable blue skies on the Drake Passage. The gentle conditions combined with the capabilities of National Geographic Resolution made for a smooth sailing across this famous body of water. Crossing the Drake has become a rite of passage that sets the tone of our adventure exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. In the morning, we met the expedition team and learned about the birds that we hope to see on our voyage. After lunch, the photography team presented two interesting talks with tips and useful information that helped us prepare for capturing the best moments of our upcoming experience. At the end of our day, expedition leader Dan gave us an overview of our first day of operations in the South Shetland Islands, followed by Captain Heidi, who warmly welcomed us all to the ship and introduced us to the crew. We are all looking forward to our first sightings of the White Continent and are more than ready for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.
1/19/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
The Drake Passage
As we navigated north across the Drake Passage, conditions gradually improved and blue petrels and black-browed albatrosses graced our journey as visitors. John Pailthorpe delivered a captivating retelling of Shackleton's attempted crossing of the Antarctic continent, recounting the trials faced by those rugged men who cared little for comfort yet had a penchant for taking mortal risks. Following him, National Geographic Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins shared some of the many future exploration options available to our guests through National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. As we approached Tierra del Fuego, the seas calmed. Although the skies remained overcast, wildlife became increasingly abundant as we neared the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Captain Martin presented a fascinating overview of the construction of MV National Geographic Resolution and her impressive capabilities. As we entered the channel, we were greeted by hourglass and dusky dolphins while enjoying empanadas for teatime. Once we entered the Beagle, sailing was smooth all the way to Ushuaia.
