Almost 2 weeks have passed now since our first hopeless anttempt to get to the Snares. But to get to the Islands with an ordinary boat was definetly a no-goer. The Southpacific featured nasty spring storms that either followed each other on the foot or wreaked havoc together. Today - woo-hoo! - is the first day, that the marine forecast on New Zealand's No. 1 weather service (http://www.metservice.co.nz) does not start with the oh so frustrating phrase: "GALE WARNING IN FORCE". Even better: the sea conditions around Stewart Island are down to 3m swells - and easing! That means we can start our second attempt to reach the Snares. Today we're off to Invercargill and tomorrow we'll be on our way to the Penguins, one way or the other.

Maybe we'll go on the Foveaux Ferry, the boat we actually booked for the trip down to the Snares. However, Mel and I organized an alternative boat, the Marine Contess. Maybe it's just that the Foveaux Ferry makes a good projection screen for all our weather-caused frustration, but the way the guys said "no way, can't go to the Snares, mate" - always two days in advance - did not really convince us that they actually were too keen to get us down there unless the weather would be dead calm for at least two days in a row. And that probably won't happen before November. And just to fuel our suspicions, they told us on Saturday morning that Sunday was definitely a no-goer - whereas the weather forecast told an entirely different story... Anyway, they're the experts, I guess and if it's too rough for them on Monday we'll go with the Marine Contess.

Therefore, see y'all! Next life sign hopefully from the Snares... otherwise an voluminous update in mid-November...