The kids had a blast making holiday cookies with nautical themes, such as albatrosses, ships, anchors and whales!

Expedition Leader Larry Hobbs gave the mandatory IAATO briefing to all passengers who planned to go ashore in South Georgia and Antarctica.

In stark contrast to sunny yesterday, it was a very overcast and foggy day with moderate sea swells.

In compliance with rules to protect South Georgia from invasive species of plants, guests washed their boots and vacuumed their parkas to assure they were not transporting seeds.

Photo Coach Richard Harker gave the Young Explorers tips on photography in his kid-friendly lecture on taking photos.

En route to South Georgia

12/23/2010

 It has been another day at sea as Le Boreal heads towards South Georgia. The weather was rather different from yesterday's: overcast, misty and gray. The wind was unexpectedly stronger, sometimes reaching gale force, and the ship was rocking gently. We are being slowed down because we are in an eddy that reverses the usual west-east current.  

Shipboard life proceeded at its usual gentle pace. Lectures included Patricia Silva (Patri) with "Birds in Tuxedos-Why do they look so different" in which she introduced us to the penguins of the world, and Bob finished with the history of South Georgia and the exploitation of its populations of seals, whales and fish.  

Between, in the morning, Larry conducted the mandatory briefing on the IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) guidelines for going ashore in South Georgia and Antarctica. They can be summarised as: do not disturb the wildlife; do not take anything away or leave anything behind. In the afternoon, the staff helped us comply with the South Georgia Government regulations for preventing the import of alien species by scrubbing boots and vacuum-cleaning backpacks and other bags.    

The foggy visibility suggested that we were nearing the Antarctic Convergence or Polar Front, where warm water and cold water meet. This was confirmed by a drop in water temperature. After dinner, the captain informed us that we were entering South Georgia and would be complying with regulations to prevent seabirds striking the ship, by ensuring curtains were drawn and outside lights turned off.