We’re out at sea! Finally.
Yesterday between 10 and 11 a.m., we cast off from Stanley and, after leaving Cape Pembroke astern, set a course for South Georgia.
Unfortunately, we’re running on the engine for now.
The stormy wind of the last few days had completely died down just in time for our departure.
What remained was an unpleasant and choppy sea, which, combined with the long, high swell, caused the Selma to roll heavily and forced most of us into our bunks.
During the first few miles, while we were still close to land, we were accompanied several times by groups of dolphins that dived, leaped, and played in the Selma’s bow wave. Later on, we repeatedly spotted solitary black-browed albatrosses gliding elegantly over the water, small, agile Cape petrels, or large storm petrels.
The day remained gray, and the night was foggy and damp and cold. The rowing watches have been assigned and will be handled for now by those who are able to do so; the onboard routines will have to develop gradually.
Unfortunately, the calm will stay with us a while longer; the wind isn’t expected to pick up until Wednesday evening. The rough seas are slowly subsiding, and we’re motoring at five knots, heading 100 degrees toward South Georgia.
We have 800 nautical miles ahead of us.