February 27, 2008 - Sailing to Antarctic: Stella Creek, Argentine Islands
by Kate Laird

The morning started warm (for Antarctica) and calm, the water dead flat. The penguins ashore still standing idly around with an occasional hilarious waddle to a new position. Most of the party went ashore to be among them, and to explore two survival huts, one British, the other Argentinian. Roger remained on board, given the rare opportunity to try a watercolor: a study in white on white and subtle shades of gray, turquoise, and neutral tint.

SEAL sailing toward the Lemaire Channel in the Antarctic Peninsula

We began today's journey through mirror-flat water, gradually rippling up, passing through quite the most magical world. The sky cleared of cloud and we could not believe our luck as we motored and then sailed through narrow channels through towering and astonishingly beautiful white, black and white mountains, close by on either side: Neumayer Channel, Lemaire Channel, and Penola Strait to our destination tonight where we are tied up within the Argentine Islands. This is home to the original British research station "Faraday" where the ozone hole was discovered. It is now operated by the Ukraine which carries on monitoring ozone, magnetic activity, and snow melt among other things. The good weather continues to advance south with us while the bad (60 knots of wind!) remains to the north. We're in the right place. (posted by Roger)

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