Day 3 - West Point Island and Saunders Island, Falkland Islands

Date - 18 November, 2016

Weather - Sunny, cold, Maximum 9

Seas - Calm 

We had an amazing day exploring two tiny islands in the north west of the Falkland Islands - West Point Island and Saunders Island. We woke to a calm, sunny day and had good views of our first sighting of land through the window. We could not have had a more perfect day. The ship had berthed at about 3.00am at West Point Island which is located off the most northwesterly point of mainland West Falkland Island. Breakfast was at 6.30am and the first of the zodiacs commenced loading at 8.00am. The ship's passengers have been broken up into four groups for the Zodiacs and our group, the leopards was the third group to leave the ship for a beach landing. 

Henk and I weren't as organised as we should have been and we were the last to join our group. We now have the hang of it as to what we need to take and wear for each landing. All passengers have to prepare themselves to go ashore in the Mud Room on deck four where we change into all-weather gear including our boots, bright yellow coat, long waterproof pants and life jackets. The loading of passengers in each zodiac was very efficient and we were soon at the settlement on the east side of the West Point Island. It has a house and some sheds and has a population of two. It reaches four people during summer. 

From the settlement on the eastern side of the island we walked across three kilometres of the windswept and treeless island to the western side to the dramatic cliffs at Devil's Nose to view hundreds of nesting Rockhopper Penguins and Black-browed Albatrosses. 

As we got closer to the nesting birds we walked through long grass up to our chest and we were amazed how close the path took us to the birds. They seemed very unperturbed at the site of all of us in our bright yellow gear and clicking cameras. A local told us that there is only about two days per month which had clear weather such as we had today so we were extremely lucky. Yesterday's ship was unable to unload their passengers due to high winds.  

When we returned to the settlement there was morning tea waiting for us. A local lady who lives in a very old, corrugated iron and wood house overlooking the bay had made the spread and it was very tempting. 

The Australian CWA ladies would have been completely outdone! She had about twenty-five different biscuits, cakes and slices from which to choose and endless cups of tea and coffee. She said she gets her supplies about every six weeks. 

We returned to the boat just before lunch and the ship set off to Saunders Island which is east of West Point Island. We were on the zodiac at about two forty-five and we were walking alongside large colonies of nesting penguins at three o'clock. It was unbelievable to see so many and so close. 

We walked across the narrowest part of Saunders Island and it only took about ten minutes to get from the enclosed harbour where the zodiac dropped us off to the sea on the other side. There were four types of penguins that we saw - the Rockhopper, the King, the Magellanic and the Gentoo. 

Many were wobbling up and down the beach and jumping in and out of the sea. There were also another large colony of Albatros nesting on the side of a cliff. 

We returned to the ship at five o'clock. The zodiac trip to and fro between the ship and the island was very choppy and we all got wet. I held on tightly to the rope as the zodiac went up in the air and thumped down on the waves.

There was the regular gathering at seven o'clock where nibbles and drinks were served. This was followed by dinner with an a la carte menu which had a wide range of choices. It was an excellent day.