TDI News Bulletin
Monday, January 1, 2007
Ushuaia, Argentina
Position: Longitude 68 18.5W Latitude 54 48.5S
With calm winds and sea, Corinthian II slipped from its berth in Ushuaia at 22:50. The delayed flight from Buenos Aires thankfully arrived with the last of our complement and some missing luggage. The sun had already dipped but those on deck for the sail away were still able to enjoy the deepening sky, some last views of Ushuaia, and the start of our passage. Greater and Sooty Shearwaters, Dolphin and Kelp Gulls, South American Terns, and Rock Shags were observed following the ship as we continued along the Beagle Channel. In the dim light we could make out the tiny town of Puerto Williams, originally a Chilean Naval Base. It is the southernmost town, though Ushuaia claims to be the southernmost city! We are 108 strong and eager adventurers from the United States, the UK, Russia, and Bangladesh with an age range of 12 to 87 years. Before we sailed, our Expedition Leader, John Frick, introduced the Expedition Team followed it with a briefing about life at sea and made sure we understood about Drake-proofing our cabins. It is expected to be a fair crossing of the dreaded Drake Passage, that narrow body of water separating the Antarctic Peninsula from the southern tip of South America.