Straits of Magellan

Day 26, 30 January

We had entered the Straits from the West before sunrise so when I finally peered out at 0730 we were flanked by islands. It was gray and cool but we bundled up and took a walk around the ship on the upper deck for the vista then around the lower Promenade Deck to watch for sea life. Then to the 12^th deck enclosed observation room (Crow's Nest) where we could sit with a 180° view ahead. Several sea lions were observed off our starboard side and a few penguins porpoising. (We saw none of this). Back to the cabin to observe the vista passing by, sea lions emerging now and then and an occasional work boat or ship passing. Now and then in the distance snow capped mountains would appear. It rained.

Noon report: 53° 18.52'S, 073° 07.54'W. Wind NW 22k (6), Seas 5. Noon to noon 397nm. Total voyage 6,513nm. Sunset 2153 hrs. 

 

At 1500 the ship slowed for an hour as we passed an area of whale activity. The bridge reported whales spouting but from our vantage point they had sounded by the time the ship reached that point.

At 1720 (5:20pm) we passed, on our left, a promontory topped with a huge frame of a cross. This, the bridge announced, was the Cross of the Oceans and marked the Southern most point of the continent of South America. All land formations to the South of us are islands.

Cross of the Oceans (on upper right)

About 2100 we anchored off the city of Punta Arenas. Once a penal colony, this settlement became the major refitting and repair port for ships passing the Straits or Cape Horn prior to the construction of the Panama Canal. It still has some ship building and repair facilities, has both naval and air-force stations and a modern airport. A new hospital was opened just 2 years ago. 

View of Punta Arenas and MS Antarctic Dream