MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HMS Endurance hosts yachtswoman Dame Ellen

Royal Navy's Ice Patrol vessel HMS Endurance hosted the famous solo yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur after she arrived in the wildlife paradise of South Georgia on board the yacht Tara.

The two vessels encountered each other in the vicinity of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Base, King Edward Point (KEP) near Grytviken. It was a proud moment when the Ship's Company finally met in person the inspirational sportswoman, whose progress they followed with keen interest earlier this year.

Ellen is presently working with a team of BAS and South Georgia Government experts who continue to research the unique habitats of the various seabirds and cetaceans in the area. She has a particular fondness for the Wandering Albatross, many of which accompanied her during her last solo circumnavigation of the Southern Ocean in January. Transferring to the yacht Golden Fleece, Ellen and her colleagues plan to visit Bird Island to the north of South Georgia, where these majestic birds breed.

During her time onboard HMS Endurance she flew a reconnaissance sortie in one of the Mk 3 Lynx helicopters to survey species such as giant petrels, skua and other seabirds, while marvelling at the rugged beauty of South Georgia.

HMS Endurance is currently headed south to insert her final team of BAS scientists for the South Georgia work period. All told 2 teams, each of 2 scientists, will be collocated in Cooper Bay until recovery by RRS Ernest Shackleton in late January 2006. One team is researching the fur seal population and the other investigating the area's geology.

The Ice Patrol is scheduled to sail for the Falklands for re-supply and refuelling before heading into Antarctica in the New Year.