49 degrees South

We awoke today, Friday 7th December, to a mist-filled ocean, quite a contrast to the sunny day yesterday yet still quite calm. Another good day for relaxing and reading, interspersed by meals. We passed through 49 degrees South (and 145 degrees 46 minutes East) around 6am today. In open ocean we are traveling at 12 knots, so we can expect to move about 4.5 degrees further south each day until we reach the sea ice. Commonwealth Bay is 67 degrees south, near the Antarctic Circle, so we still have several days travel ahead.

On the satellite photos Commonwealth Bay appears to be clear of ice, in contrast to the French base at Dumont D'Urville, where the ice extends tens of kilometres from shore. There's a great sense of anticipation.