12 Sep 2021

Wild Weather Adventures in Fiordland

Waking to strong winds, we enjoyed our breakfast with Heritage Explorer on anchor before our expedition team briefed us on Zodiac operations and we checked our equipment and clothing for seeds and dirt as part of our biosecurity procedures. We then lifted anchor and ship cruised up Breaksea Sound into Vancouver Arm. Due to the rain, there were waterfalls cascading down the steep majestic mountainsides everywhere. Our Captain Jim managed to get our bow right in close under one of the more torrential waterfalls splashing straight into the sea. Making our way into Acheron passage it was truly amazing to see the forces of Mother Nature as, out of the blue, we were hit by 70-plus knot winds. Suddenly the fiord around us was a sheet of white water being blown across the surface, with water spouts circling around the vessel. Jim did an amazing job, safely navigating us through to our sheltered anchorage at the head of Wet Jacket Arm.

Image from file © A.Russ, Heritage Expeditions