February 25, 2008 - Sailing to Antarctic: Arrival in Melchior Islands
by Kate Laird

64:19S 62:55W. We've arrived in the Melchior Islands. An amazing end to the passage - we had almost continuous gale force winds from either the west or northwest the whole time, turning to SW and clearing this morning. It was a splendid landfall, first Mount Francais peeking through the clouds and then gradually the shape of Anvers and Brabant Islands coming clear. We sailed almost all the way in - we'd made nearly the entire distance under sail apart from a few hours of motoring the first night - probably a record for us! We built the dinghy while coming in and anchored and put two lines ashore and then had lunch in the cockpit.

We're now disinfecting gear and getting ready to go ashore for the first time. There are fur seals on the beach, but they are very sleepy and relaxed, very unlike the ones we last saw in South Georgia.

For more about Seal see http://www.expeditionsail.com.