Today is another sea day on the National Geographic Explorer…and a fantastic wind off the bow means it is great conditions for albatrosses. Some curious juvenile royal albatrosses and their more circumspect parents make for a happy day of ‘albatross practice’ photography, and I am reasonably certain that in three visits to the Scotia Sea, this is by far the best quality output I have managed so far. Special thanks to the albatrosses that made several passes around the ship so that I could get their ‘best side’.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for the wind to strengthen, with squalls and 7 metre seas on the agenda. Perhaps the sunset is a harbinger of what is to come…
Seven metre seas are not for the faint-hearted. My cabin is mid-ships and down low, so I expect to see some waves breaking over the porthole at some point. With a bit of luck, there will be waves breaking over the bow, which also makes for good photography, assuming that I can stay upright long enough to fire the shutter on the camera.
We should reach South Georgia Island late tomorrow. If the weather clears in time, we should see Shag Rocks in the Scotia Sea tomorrow morning.
