Day 7: No sign of land

Alan here: Lat 63.13 s 63.32 w (Put into Google Earth as s63.13,w63.32)

Remember yesterday I said it was a long way to Antarctica, well we had hoped
to be sighting land by now. Current estimate is around 8pm tonight. Can't
believe that in over a week we still have not got there. That's half a
normal fortnight's holiday. Crazy. Another thought has been bugging me but
can't quite nail the author of the quote, which says something along the
lines of "it is not the destination that's important its the journey"...
Well 4 days in a rolling yacht in a huge expanse of ocean with nothing to
see but grey blue sea and overcast sky, the joy of the journey is
diminishing. In fact Chris just said to me... if anyone ever suggests to go
on a trip on a yacht again I'll *******!! So no need to read between the
lines there. Chris spent most of the morning in bed but I have just taken
him some toast with cheese which was sufficiently tasty for him to bounce
(ish) out of bed and get some more to eat. He is slowly getting over the
seasickness but poor lamb he is the worst on the boat. Interestingly, only
Chris and I have been physically sick and we are the only one's on Kwells
anti-seasickness pills. So here is one tip from the (feeling much less than
intrepid) duo - don't use Kwells the next time you sail to Antarctica!!!

It is hard to believe how differently folk react. Last night most of the
rest of the boat, watched 2 DVDs and drank beer.... I am afraid Chris and I
must be the Fintry Wimps...

I spent most of this morning in the wheelhouse playing with the various
instruments, GPS, map plotter and radar. We actually sighted land on radar
but too far off to see with the eye. We are using the radar to look out for
icebergs but nothing yet. May not see any until close to land as the current
northerly wind direction will be pushing the bergs southwards back to shore.
We know we are in berg country because the sea temperature is just 2 degrees
C. No skinny dipping likely without loosing your tackle!! ; -)

The only wildlife we have seen today is a Cape Petrel which has a very
unusual mottled white and black colouring across the top of its wings.

All things going well we should get to the Melchior Islands and anchor
tonight. They are at s64.19,w62.58. It will be good to be anchored for many
reasons, getting us a chance of stretching our legs tomorrow, seeing
penguins, seals etc. But the best reason is that the rather benign weather
we have been having looks likely to break with vengeance. There are 3 deep
lows lurking about 200 miles west of us and their track is uncertain. So we
might just get somewhere in time for a full on storm.

Anyway, food and company is good and who said adventuring would be easy....

Thanks for the donations, keep them coming and thanks for the notes of
goodwill. All appreciated.