20 Feb 2024

A day of exploration in the Ross Sea

As we headed north, Heritage Adventurer hugged the coast to reach some of the areas that we had skipped at the start of our journey. First up we called into Terra Nova Bay for a ship cruise along the towering Drygalski Ice Tongue. In our normal clear, cold, windy conditions we could see the full extent of this dramatic floating ice cliff and well inland.

Sailing through the Ross Sea’s notorious katabatic winds, we passed the new Chinese research station, Qinling Station. During the gale, we wondered why they would choose to build in an area that they knew was one of the windiest in Antarctica, and thus in the world.

We passed through the wind zone, including Inexpressible Island, while we enjoyed lunch. The conditions at the northern part of the bay were perfect, so we landed on the continent! We were between the small German summer-only station, Gondwana Station, and the South Korean year-round station, Jang Bogo. This was a chance to really stretch our legs and go for a long walk up the hill, or explore along the coast observing South Polar Skua, Adélie Penguins, and Weddell Seals. Because the conditions were so good, Expedition Leader Cheli announced a Polar Plunge before dinner. There was plenty of banter and laughter as one-by-one the brave adventurers jumped into the sub-freezing sea, before returning to the comforts of Heritage Adventurer to warm up.

We thought we had an astounding day, but the best was yet to come. As we headed north, avoiding the expected ice, we re-entered the strong winds. Blow they did, but then they encountered the freezing sea. The thickened surface of the sea flowed in mesmerizing waves. No one had ever seen anything like it before. The sea was a silver satin sheet undulating in the setting sun. It was indescribable.

Images © M. Maloney, Heritage Expeditions