24/2/08 21:00

Late this afternoon, Nik and I went on a dinghy exploration for an hour or so in the icy rain, with cameras.  For some reason no one else wanted to come.  When you approach the glaciers up close you realize just how enormous and beautiful they are.  This would be a phenomenal place to visit in half decent weather, which is not alas in our cards.

We have repacked the spare dinghy which was living on the foredeck and is now back in my cabin. Before we go we will remove the long line reels from the foredeck; a big wave in The Drake would simply rip them off. We will also stow the tandem fisherman’s anchor in the lazarette. Steve had to change a generator alternator fan belt. The rudder stock seal is letting in a bit of water again but nothing the bilge pump can’t handle.

Alarms are set for 4AM tomorrow morning.

25/2/08 12:00 Noon

We got up more or less at 4AM and by the time we’d stowed everything and motored through the rocks for the last time in was 5:30.  By 6 we were clear and sailing.  We were hurtled out of the Melchoir Islands in a SW Force 6 on a beam reach at 9-10 knots.  Then Gods are mocking us because as dawn broke there was hardly a cloud in the sky.  When I went back on watch at 9:30AM I had to wear my sunglasses for the second time since coming down here. As the morning wore on the wind eased and by 11:30 we were motor sailing.  We need to maintain a minimum of six knots and when the sailing speed drops below that we add the engine to the mix. 

Although clouds have appeared the sun is still actually shining.  I’m afraid there hasn’t been time to prepare any pictures today.   I will see what I can do later.