The Falklands

26^th January – The Falkland Islands

So Near Yet So Far

Having left Montevideo we were having lunch when we saw about forty dolphins swimming along side the ship – our first sighting this cruise.

Things then started to deteriorate, the seas got rougher, and rougher and even rougher.  The night before we were to go into Port Stanley we had gale force winds of Force 9, a very bumpy night.

The next morning we were up early at 6.00am to prepare for our shore excursion and we noticed that the ship was sailing away from the Falklands, having made its first attempt to get into our anchorage.  At 7.00am, the Captain announced that she!!! would make a further attempt to get into Port Stanley at 9.00am.  However, as she approached the anchorage she announced over the intercom that she would not be going in as even if she got to the anchorage she would not be able to deploy the tenders to take passengers ashore.  Therefore, regrettably she said she had to abandon the Falkland Islands as a port of call and set sail to go around Cape Horn tomorrow.

Whilst looking at Port Stanley from our balcony we had tantalising views of the beaches and coastline, including many penguins.

Everyone on board was looking forward to calling in to the Falklands and are needless to say very upset that it had to be abandoned as a port of call, but we must look forward to Cape Horn and the transit of Beagle Channel, and perhaps some close up pictures of penguins at Punta Arenas, our last opportunity to see penguins.