5 February 2007
by Thomas Mulcaire SA Agulhas, Position at 21h00 66 deg 20 S 00 deg 48 E
Late last night we broke through into a sea of shattered pack ice. There was a swell running and a very distant looking sunset which made the scene very melancholic. Very few of the passengers were on deck but those who did see it saw the last significant frozen patch of our voyage. This morning I walked up on to the bridge and we had an open sea in front of us on a heading of 20 degrees which would take us across the Greenwich Meridian during the day. After lunch, sitting alone under a leaden sky I think saw us overtake the last iceberg . The whole atmosphere on ship has become introspective, with movies running permanently in the passenger lounge and in nearly every cabin.
Conversation has turned to the weather, remembered moments of the expedition and what time we will get into Cape Town. Some of the more experienced expedition members told me during our lifeboat drill that the swell in the pack ice last night is an indication of a rough passage through the 50 and 40 degree latitudes. We are already rolling on an open sea and some passengers, including Adam and Amanda, have already reached for their sea sickness tablets.
05 February, 2007
by Adam HydeLast night we moved through the last of the ice, it was sad to see the last remnants dissappear behind the ship. While we were going cutting through large islands of soft melting ice the sun gave us a bueatiful farewell sunset. It was so vibrant as to look almost fake.
Today I will sleep a little en leer Nederlands. Its getting a bit of a swell in the sea...I had forgotten how foggy that makes the mind.