Lemaire and Vernadsky

3 February 2014

After our visit to the beautiful Paradise Harbour we depart early in the morning for a nice sailing day. Today Lemaire Channel is on our schedule. The day started out with a cloudy sky but upon arrival at the Lemaire Channel the sun came out. Around the ship icebergs of different sizes drift by with on one a group of penguins and on the other some Crabeaters, there is enough to see and photograph! All of a sudden a group of Killer whales showed up, first we thought that they were playing around but when we came closer we saw that they were eating a Humpback whale. Pieces of meat flew around in the air and there were a dozen birds flying around to eat the leftovers. The Lemaire Channel was breathtaking and we now know why it is called the ‘Kodak Crack’; what a view!
In the late afternoon we dropped anchor near the Ukrainian base Vernadsky. First we made a short landing at Wordie House, a former British base. After dinner at nine o’clock it is time to visit Vernadsky. We were shown around and after the tour it was time to get the passports stamped, to do souvenir shopping, sending postcards and last but not least tasting the vodka they make themselves at the base. In the meantime the ‘Oosterschelde’ was turned into a party location for the pinguin party. It is the most southern point of our expedition and this calls for a celebration! With gluhwein, dressed up penguins and even a Killer whale it was a great night.