Day 33 – Sailing the South Atlantic Ocean

Today is the first of two sea days before we arrive at South Georgia, the main island in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. In preparation for our arrival, a mandatory briefing was held for all guests this morning, and attendance was even checked at the door.

The briefing began with a film about South Georgia that was narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Per the local government, this film, “South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide,” is “compulsory viewing for all visitors to South Georgia. Its aim is to inspire visitors to respect and protect the island and its wildlife during their visit. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and produced by leading wildlife film-makers Silverback Films, the story showcases the incredible story of South Georgia’s ecological recovery, and serves as an inspiration to us all to play our part in restoring and protecting the planet.” It was a beautiful documentary, and I can’t wait to visit the island.

South Georgia - A Visitor's Guide

Expedition Leader Olivia followed up with additional information, including the required distance we must keep from animals, the necessity for spotless clothing and equipment, and the gear we are required to wear.

Requirements in South Georgia Are Very Strict, but Necessary

In the afternoon, there was another mandatory biosecurity inspection where all the gear we used yesterday was checked for any foreign matter.

Our stateroom is located just down the hall from Expedition Central, and I make it a habit to check for any new information that may be posted. Today, I noticed a new map that pinpointed the destinations we are scheduled to reach.

Will Conditions Allow Us to Reach All These Destinations?

I’m not sure how high the waves and swells were today, but at least one covered our window. Once again, we were rocking and rolling, but Viking Octantis is designed to handle this type of weather. I’m just happy we are not outside in it.

Scenes Through Our Windows

In the evening, I watched the second of Specialist Loreen’s lectures on Antarctica. This one was about the “Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration,” and she described the attempts by Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton to reach the South Pole. What a fascinating story!

Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration