18/2/08 11:AM

We left around 9:30.  This time there was no kelp to deal with only a lot of mud, which suggests on this occasion, we didn’t really need the second anchor in tandem with the first. But it was a good exercise. There was no  wind, the sea was like glass with a little bit of sunshine.  The first 5 miles took an hour and a half as we slowly meandered our way through the ice.  We had brief glimpses of several whales and a good look and some leopard seals and the biggest jellyfish I’ve ever seen.

The sun is gone now and there are snow flurries.

13:30

For the first time in a few days we are in really open water.  Its berg free and the wind is ENE 30 knots so we’re having our first taste of true Antarctic sailing. It’s snowing lightly; we have the spray hood down for visibility purposes so it’s a bit exposed in the cockpit.  Its all gone grey again, you learn to treasure the few moments of sunshine down here.

16:30

We’ve moored at Port Circumcision after passing through the majestic Lamaire Channel.  There’s a German cruise ship here with passengers ashore but they will be gone by 1800. The connection has returned so I’ll get this off before I lose it again.

The pictures incluse one Steve took of a local  "auditioning for  "Phantom Of the Opera."