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The wind is 20 m/s on our jetty.
It's a lovely clear day and then suddenly there's a gale.
It is 25 m/s at the moment.
It's the morning of 17th December.
We've travelled 29 nm to the Chilean village of Puerto Williams.
We're in Puerto Williams' Yacht Club, the most southerly in the world.
We've filled up with provisions, diesel, food and everything.
We're waiting for favourable weather for sailing to Antarctica.
We cast off from Puerto Williams heading for Antarctica this morning.
We're chugging along the Beagle Channel.
We don't have enough diesel to drive there and back.
You have to travel by motor quite often down there so you use a lot.
You need a lot of diesel for heating too.
We can't motor in both directions. Either we sail there or we sail back.
If you are prudent, it is best to sail there and then drive back.
Is it cold here? We're beyond a latitude of 61.
–Less than a day left. –Can't you see I'm well wrapped up?
I don't have any more clothes in my wardrobe if it gets any colder.
I'm wearing everything now.
We have two large rubber mallets to remove ice if necessary.
The water temperature is 2.8 C.
You have to have huge respect for these waters. They are dangerous.
The wind can pick up quickly to a real gale.
It's cold and difficult to work on deck.
It isn't a playground. It is a place to be taken seriously.
The wind has died down and the small gale at the end has disappeared.
The Melchior Islands lie ahead.
Like everything else down here, they are white and snow–clad.
It's 11.30 on the morning of 23rd December.
We're sailing into Antarctica, Melchior Islands.
An ice continent.
I hope that seal isn't eating up our rope.
What do you think?
It's lonely here, just the animals and us.
–I think it's a fur seal. –It is, isn't it.
You have to be very careful. They can be agressive.
Incredibly clear water. Look down into the water.
It sometimes feels unreal that we have sailed all the way here–
–and found this lovely place.
Heléne is going to change the floating line–
–for a sinking one because drifting ice catches on the surface line.
There is a 200 kg crabeater seal lying there that concerns me.
We'll have to make sure that... Heléne...!
...if you need to get back quickly I can pull you with the rope.
I don't want him to start defending his territory.
It's okay, so far.
Grab the floating line and I'll pull you.
Are you holding the line?
I asked if you were holding the line?
Here she comes, rowing back. The seal didn't move.
Were you afraid of that 200 kg Pedro resting there?
My heart was thumping.
Yaghan's mast is somewhere over there.
We're inspecting the area in our dinghy.
There's is an incredible feeling of happiness being here.
It's exciting all day with the animals and the landscape.
I feel like a guest in nature's kingdom. We aren't in control here.
Others are in control. You have to survive the best way you can.