10 Feb 2017

SHOKALSKIY: Off to Antarctica!

Southland turned on beautiful clear skies and calm weather for expeditioners who boarded Akademik Shokalskiy in Bluff on 'In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton'. We completed our customs formalities once aboard and also briefings from our Expedition Staff to get to know our 'new home' for the next month.  One expeditioner said she could feel the 'butterflies of excitement' that her long planned expedition was finally here! Around 2030 we took onboard the Pilot who safely helped to navigate us out of Bluff Harbour.  The following morning the Snares Islands were as inhospitable and windswept as they look and the planned zodiac cruise was unable to take place due to a heavy swell.  We are currently headed towards Port Ross and Enderby Island, the northernmost locations in the Auckland Islands group and the bar is full of expeditioners who are enjoying a pre-dinner refreshment.