We survived Drake Passage!

January 29, 2023

Antarctica is surrounded by water that moves in a circular direction around the continent, in opposite directions – easterly and westerly. In 2021 this water was named the Southern Ocean and officially became the world’s fifth recognized ocean. The two directions meet in an area known as “Drake Passage,” renowned for its infamously rough waters, and part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Drake Passage is a 600-mile-wide body of water that connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. It has an average depth of about 11,000 feet, with deeper areas having a depth of as much as 15,600 feet. Its estimated rate of flow is between 3,400 and 5,300 million cubic feet per second – eight thousand times that of the Mississippi River. Currents at this latitude meet no resistance from any landmass. This, coupled with the area’s propensity for high wind, is what gives the area its reputation for rough seas. The meeting of these waters creates such an extreme current it can sometimes be seen from space.

This picture was taken from the Space Station. Notice the line between the Atlantic and Southern Oceans.

The Passage lived up to its reputation for our sailing. The Expedition team said that on a scale of 1-12 our weather was a 9. We were never in fear of tipping over, but 47 mph winds and 30’ swells make for an exciting ride. We tried taking pictures and videos, but they just didn’t convey our experience. Lots of things going “bump” in the night and more than a few queasy stomachs! Folks with walk-in closets spoke of the drawers of the closet system being strewn all over the floors; one of the suites reportedly had so much broken glass all over the carpet the people couldn’t leave their bed until it was cleaned up. If it was this rough for us imagine what it would have been like for the crew that discovered Antarctica in 1820!