08:00 (am) 57 degrees 36.54' South/65 degrees 00.86' West, sunny at first, overcast and prolonged showers later. Wind force 5 West, Air Temperature 5oc, Water Temperature 4.10c.
Cape Horn
After a rough night on the Drake Passage with winds reaching force 9 we crossed the Antarctic convergence and this morning it was much calmer and the spectacular show of birds we had yesterday had completely disappeared. The sea this mornng was like a desert apart from the odd Giant Petrel and Cape Petrel and the occasion Wandering Albatross. One came along side the ship and its immense size was very clear. They look like they have been burdened with their huge wings and sometimes look like they are only barely managing to control them. It is as if they are not control. We sighted Cape Horn at about 4pm. It is an island off Tierra del Fuego and I recited the poem to passengers which is on a plaque on the headland dedicated to all sailor who have lost their lives at sea. Their is an old sailors tale which says that albatrosses carry the souls of drowned sailors. 100,000 albatrosses are killed each year by long-line fisheries. 00:31 (27th Dec) 54 degrees 48.01' South/ 68 degrees .17.82 West, cloudy but dry, Wind force 2 Southwest, Air emperature 8 oC, Water Temperature 8.2 C
Wild life seen today.
Mammals
Peale’s Dolphin 7+
Birds
Wandering Albatross 6+
Royal Albatross 1
Giant Petrel 40+
Black-browed Albatross 20+
Grey-headed Albatross 3
Cape Petrel 20+
Unidentified Prion 5+
Blue Petrel 30+
Great Shearwater 100+ (at Cape Horn)
Sooty Shearwater 300+ (approaching Cape Horn)
White-chinned Petrel 5+
Wilson’s Storm Petrel 10+
Brown Skua 1
Imperial “Blue eyed” Shag 1
Note: A + sign after the counts indicates that we saw at least that number but more may have been present.
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