The Drake Passage (northbound), 12/1/2023, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Antarctica
The sea gods were kind to us today for our northbound crossing of the Drake Passage. We woke up on the gently rolling waves and icy blue waters of the Southern Ocean, and the still line of the horizon surrounded us as we were treated to an amazing brunch. The conditions were perfect for observing wildlife; throughout the day we spotted fin whales, humpbacks, many kinds of seabirds and albatrosses, and even two errant icebergs!
Guadalupe was born and raised in the Argentine pampas, but she could never resist the call of the wild and the sea. After graduating from the University of Buenos Aires, she went straight to Southern Patagonia to work as tour coordinator.
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Guests on board National Geographic Resolution awoke to a bright morning, with glorious sunshine glittering off the icebergs that surrounded us in the Weddell Sea. Near to the ship, juvenile emperor penguins warmed themselves and stared at the jagged cliffs of James Ross Island, indifferent to our presence. Sailing north, past Nordenskjold’s hut on Snow Hill Island, we approached Cockburn Island. Named after the First Lord of the Admiralty when it was discovered by James Ross during his 1839-1843 expedition, the island appears as a giant cliff rising out of the sea. Taking to our Zodiacs, we headed out among the ice floes surrounding the island, spotting emperor and Adélie penguins and admiring the icebergs intricately carved by the sea and wind. After a heartening BBQ lunch prepared by National Geographic Resolution’s outstanding crew, we maneuvered to a nearby patch of sea ice. At 14 meters thick, this patch was more than strong enough to support our guests, and we disembarked eager to explore these transient habitats. After we had our fill of the sea ice, we re-embarked the ship for dinner, but found Antarctica was not finished with us yet. Orcas popped up close to the ship, passively exploring the waters around James Ross Island, unperturbed as we glided by.
This morning National Geographic Resolution entered the Weddell Sea after transiting the Drake Passage yesterday. We arrived at Devil Island just after lunch. This is it, our first day ashore on the white continent. Devil Island offered us two different excursions: a Zodiac boat ride around the island and through the ice, or a steep hike up to the top for a beautiful view of the horizon. There was an Adelie penguin colony on the island, and we were excited to get our first glimpses of these “tuxedo”-wearing birds. It was a great start to our epic expedition. And to finish off the evening, we witnessed an incredible sunset as the sun slowly dipped behind the ice.
A day at sea crossing to Antarctica is a unique blend of awe and anticipation. National Geographic Resolution cut through unbelievably calm waters, surrounded by a vast horizon. A calm Drake Passage presented itself with the sky a pale blue and the ocean shifting from deep navy to frosty white. As we approached the convergence, the fog came in and the air became chilly as we got closer and closer to Antarctica. The temperature dropped, the winds picked up, and the beauty of the pristine landscape ahead kept spirits high, offering a glimpse of the frozen wilderness to come. We had a few presentations throughout the day, and we learned about IAATO and the protection of Antarctica and were introduced to the outstating teams onboard. Our day ended with a warm welcome by Captain Martin and the senior officers of National Geographic Resolution .
