Time on the Water

Guvernoren Harbour, Enterprise Island (64° 32' S, 61° 60' W) - 10/1/18

This blog covers the last few days. As planned we picked up the kayaks
in Deception Island the day after visiting the chinstrap penguin colony,
and after setting them up (they are brand new) we took them for a short
spin around Whalers Bay. We also walked up to Neptune's Window, a
collapsed part of the volcanic cone that allows you to look out from
inside the island to the sea. The steam rising off the beach is a
constant reminder that this place is a geothermal hotbed.
After our kayaking test-drive we had to hoist the boats aboard and stow
them away. The weather forecast was a bit wild overnight and the next
day so everything was lashed down tightly in preparation. It's great
seeing our seven bright yellow kayaks lined up either side down the deck.
Early the next morning (on the 9th) we set sail through the Bransfield
Strait headed down to Enterprise Island. We had grotty weather as it
snowed all day, but good wind behind us. Searching ahead for icebergs in
visibility of <1km can be scary stuff. We have the radar to help but it
doesn't always pick up the bergs – they can be peculiarly shaped, and
some of them stealthily stay off our screen. The only solution is to
constantly have a few sets of eyes looking ahead.
We made it to Murray Harbour at Bluff Island for the night. Nestled in
behind a little island off to the side we had good protection from the
wind. We kept anchor watches throughout the night for 90 minutes each as
precaution against wandering icebergs. Even at 2am the light here is
still plenty to see by, and we checked up on the large iceberg to the
north every so often to make sure he didn't get any ideas!
The plan was kayaking or hiking the next day if weather permitted, but
it didn't, so we continued south to reach Enterprise Island. Our mooring
here is our most solid yet – we are tied up in a little nook against a
wrecked whaling boat from 1915 (the Guvernoren) and the shelter provided
is excellent. We have company as well, two Austrians who have been
sailing for the last EIGHT years together. Having them over for a
barbecue dinner and listening to their tales was the highlight of the day.
The weather forecast is looking better for the next few days and we are
in an area with lots to see and do, so we are expecting more time off
the boat and less sailing in coming days.
Liam
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