Around the Corner
27 November 2010 | 54 50.32'S:36 00.67'W, Larsen Harbour, South Georgia
Chris

Sorry there was no update yesterday, but we didn't do anything or go anywhere so you didn't miss anything. There was quite a strong wind all day, but what stopped the kayakers from moving was the large swell offshore. The swell was coming from a low pressure system a long way south of us and not generated by the local winds. The local winds on top of the swell made made conditions too rough to proceed. Pelagic rolled uncomfortably in her anchorage all day. In the evening we went ashore for a walk along the beach. The beach was covered in Elephant seal weaners (which are harmless) and pretty much free of fur seals (which are not harmless) so that was nice. On a tussac headland were a lot of breeding birds; giant petrels, cape petrels, various prions, light mantled sooties, south georgia pipets, south georgia pintails, among others.
This morning the wind, and swell, had gone down enough for the kayakers to make a move by midday and the left Ranvik. We left Trollhul just as they passed and caught them up to follow, and film them as they rounded Cape Disappointment. Cape Disappointment is named because it is the point where Captain Cook realised that he had not found the southern continent that he was searching for but an island instead. The breeze was strong and the sea turbulent as they rounded making for some exciting conditions. The kayakers finished for the day in Smaaland and Pelagic continued on to Larsen Harbour.
Cape Disappointment is a huge milestone for kayaking circumnavigation attempts here as it means that the exposed and tricky south western coast has been completed. Big smiles all round at the end of today. Hopefully it means that we won't have a rolly swell filled anchorage tonight!
The plan is to put in a long day tomorrow so it's an early start for all.
Photo: Can you spot all four kayakers below Cape Disappointment?