Very early this morning we crossed the Antarctic Circle and continued as far as 67:50.202 South and 069:03.298 West. This is by far the furthest south any ship in the Lindblad fleet has made it within the past couple of years. There was surprisingly little ice but we definitely saw some massive bergs. Just after lunch as we were on approach to Jenny Island, just off of Adelaide Island, we encountered three playful minke whales. The afternoon activity consisted of an informative nature walk amongst the granite boulders and elephant seals of Jenny Island. The shore was packed with juvenile males waiting to complete their molting before returning to sea. Brown skuas, Weddell seals, Adelie penguins, and blue-eyed shags were all amongst the wildlife spotted. After dinner we headed back north on the east side of Adelaide Island through the stunning narrow pass rightfully named The Gullet.
2/28/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
Northbound Drake Passage, Cape Horn, and the Beagle Channel
This morning, we had a later start than usual after a late night enjoying the crew show. Our galley team gifted us with a fulfilling brunch. We then had a brilliant forum about climate change with the participation of our panel of experts onboard. Afterward, our expedition leader called us to the bow to see Cape Horn, which was only a few miles ahead. The good weather allowed us to have a smooth and fast crossing, allowing extra time to swing by Cape Horn, the most southern tip of the Americas. Over the PA system, Steven provided a very interesting description of the historical importance of this area, then Pablo read a beautiful poem, a memorial to the seaman lost at sea. We could see the monument in the distance, two metal sheets that depict an albatross in flight. During the afternoon, we enjoyed Madalena’s presentation about Women in Antarctica. This was an incredible voyage through the struggles and delays of allowing women to participate in science and logistics in Antarctica. We entered the Beagle Channel around 17:00 and we encountered black-browed albatrosses, cormorants, dolphins, and whales. On our final approach to the beautiful city of Ushuaia, we passed by Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and some of the seals that live in the Bridges Islands Archipelago.
