Guests started the new year off right by exercising in the Le Boreal’s well-appointed gym!

A gorgeous Cape Petrel follows alongside the ship as we sail across the Drake Passage.

Cruise Director Jannie Cloete and Captain Jean Philippe Lemaire (on left) welcome guests to the Farewell Cocktail party.

Some of the Young Explorers presented the year 2011 during the Captain’s Farewell speech.

New friends reminisce about the trip and enjoy dinner together in the La Licorne Restaurant.

Drake Passage

1/2/2011

As the day progressed the unwelcome swell gradually subsided and Le Boreal ploughed across the waters of the Drake Passage. It was a relief to find that Le Boreal rides easily over the swells of the open Southern Ocean. The sun was trying to break through the clouds and encourage us onto the decks to admire the synchronised flying of a large flock of cape petrels and others seabirds that were gliding alongside the ship.  

Photo coach Richard Harker gave his final and useful talk on 'Photographing Antarctica: Making a good shot great!' When we get home we will be able to transform our hundreds of digital to look really impressive.  

Later in the morning, husband and wife team Marco Favero and Patricia Silva took a look at the disastrous effect of longline fishing in 'Albatross – We have a problem!' Longlining claims the deaths of thousands of albatrosses and smaller seabirds every year and some species will become extinct if the deaths are not checked. The birds seize the baited hooks and are drowned as the lines are dropped over the side of fishing vessels. There are ways of preventing this slaughter and the Save the Albatross programme is working to have them implemented, with the support of Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.  

The afternoon's lecture was by Bob Burton on 'The Antarctic Treaty: Successful Cooperation'. Bob showed how the original explorers were hoping to exploit the newly-found continent and established territorial claims. Despite these claims conflicting, the Antarctic Treaty evolved to make the entire continent a place of peace and cooperation in scientific endeavor.  

During the day there had been opportunities to join the expedition naturalists on the pool deck and spot seabirds and whales.  

Then it was time for Captain Lemaire's' Farewell Cocktail Party in which thanks were given to the many members of the crew who have worked to make the cruise such a success. This was followed by the formal, and delicious, Captain's Farewell Dinner, which turned out to be a lively affair.