Our cruise director has told us several times already that where the ship will stop down in these parts is governed by the unpredictable weather. And so today (20 Jan) we are at Enterprise Island, in Foyn Harbour, not far from Mikkelsen Harbour.

It was not originally planned to be here but we are trying to dodge the sleety/snowy and windy weather in a safe area for exploring around in the zodiacs and other craft.

Enterprise Island was a centre for whaling in the period from the mid 1910s through to 1930. There was a mishap here in 1915 when the floating whaling station ‘Governoren’ caught fire and was grounded on the shoreline. It is thought that the crew were having a party below deck, celebrating the end of a successful whaling season, when a candle (maybe) was knocked over starting a fire. The many gallons of whale oil on board soon ignited causing the ship’s destruction. The crew were all saved by a nearby vessel. The rusting hulk still survives in the water. This seems to be the attraction for our stop here.

We had two excursions here. The first was mid morning in a Special Operations Boat (SOB). A big speed boat with about twenty onboard.

One can imagine this vessel being used by commandos to storm ashore in a beach landing. But not in the gear we are wrapped up in!

Sighted some Weddell seals and a lone Gentoo penguin aboard icebergs in the bay.

Good experience bumping along on the slight swell in between ice bergs and the steep shoreline.

In the afternoon we were out in a zodiac to check out the rusting hulk of the ‘Governoren’.

Three yachts were closely tied up to it for weather protection. Stoic sailors!

Spotted some birds, including a colony of cormorants and a lone Kelp Gull beside the seashore.

We returned to the warmth of the Octantis a bit chilly. Great day out checking out the White Continent. Enjoyed a nice dinner in Manfridi’s, the Italian restaurant onboard.

Not sure where we are headed next, but the weather looks to be on the improve. The sun sets at 10.59 tonight and rises at 3.41am, four and half hours in the dark.