02 Dec 2020

Taming the Roaring Forties

With wild weather on the way and no chance of a Zodiac cruise at The Snares, Spirit of Enderby sailed straight through to the Auckland Islands. With 6-7 metre swells in the open sea, we were happy to reach the haven of ‘Sarah's Bosom', as the early sailors called Port Ross.

The winds continued above 50 knots for the next 24 hours. Spectacular explosions of spray from waves smashing on the northern side of Enderby Island shot high into the air above the island, visible from our anchorage.

The Captain Aleks nosed the ship into the lee shore of the main Auckland Island, enabling us to make our first landing at Hardwicke, the township of the failed Enderby Colony. The site has now been reclaimed by twisted rata forest, but the piles of chimney bricks, rocks from the old carriageway, and a cemetery containing the remains of children who died at the colony are poignant reminders.

Image © H.Dohn, Heritage Expeditions