11-Dec-2003 --
I hesitated a long time if I should post this incomplete visit, because it is more than 10km away from the actual confluence point. Now I post it, because this CP is on water and the view from my position should not differ much from the "real" point.
This "visit" is a result of coincidence: on the morning of 11-Dec-2003 our ship sailed into the natural harbour of Deception Island. After visiting this island our ship headed west-north-west to sail between Snow Island and Smith Island. After a while of sailing an announcement was made that whales could be seen. Immediately all passengers rushed on deck to see three Humpback Whales approaching the ship. They came closer and swam beside and under the ship. What an excitement!
At this time, I shot two photos, with the whales and Deception Island in the background, where Stonethrow Ridge and Mount Kirkwood can clearly be identified. Due to the excitement I forgot to take the GPS position, but I estimate it was 62°55'S,061°10'W, hence the distance to the CP was 12km.
Deception Island is a very special island. It is a sunken volcano and the crater forms a ring, filled with water. There is a small inlet, called Neptune's Bellow, which connects the ocean with the splendid natural harbour Port Foster.
Nowadays Deception Island is still an active volcano. The last eruption happened 1970, which forced the British and the Chileans to abandon their stations. Near the beach there are hot springs and passengers of the ships can easily take a bath in this otherwise freezing cold ocean.
The explorers Smith and Bransfield sighted this island fist in 1820. From 1910 the island was used as a whaling station. The harbour was a perfect place to unload the whales and prepare the products made of them for the transport. Some of these huge tanks can still be seen. The remains of the whales were thrown into the bay, which must have been a horrible view.
Fortunately this time is over and after saying good bye to our Humpback Whales we continued our journey north towards Cape Horn.