ELSEHUL

54^o01'S 37^o58'W

Chart 3585, Elsehul

This bay is at the W end of South Georgia and provides good protection from the sea in the inner part. Although it appears to be open to the NW, by tucking into the W side of the inner bay, shelter from the NW can be found.

Anchor in about 6.5m, outside the kelp, off the beach. The bottom is fine sand and provides exceptionally good holding.

When we visited, we anchored in the E side of the inner bay, outside the kelp in 8.5m, thinking to shelter from a NE gale. The whole bay was subject to hurricane force gusts from the N, with a big swell setting in. The anchor to which we were lying did not budge an inch. In retrospect, we would have been better off anchored on the W side: the gusts were as violent, but there was much less swell.

An old BAS hut, used for seal studies in the past, stands on the beach on the W side of the harbour. It is in a rather poor state, but still habitable. Next to it, are three old trypots. A short walk over the low ground at the head of the bay, takes you to Undine Harbour on the S coast.

Water can be obtained from a stream at the NE corner of the inner bay.

ELSEHUL, LOOKING SE

BIRD SOUND

54^o00'S 38^o01'W

Chart 3592, Bird Sound

The Sound has shoals and the Hornaday Rock in the middle of the passage. There are two passages through the Sound, to the N or to the S of the shoals. The N passage is narrower, but by keeping close to the shore of Bird Island, it is straightforward.

On the day that we passed through the Sound, the shoals were breaking heavily and creating a very confused sea. I suspect that the wind normally blows either up or down the Sound. Sailing through, except with a following wind, would usually be extremely difficult.

Treat Bird Sound with respect.

BIRD ISLAND/JORDAN COVE

Bird Island is a SSSI, hence visits to the island are not allowed unless special permission is obtained through the Assistant Commissioner to South Georgia. BAS have a base on the island at Jordan Cove, where birds and mammals are studied. Three people winter over and up to eight people spend the summer there.

JORDAN COVE

54^o00'S 38^o03'W

Chart 3592, Stewart Strait

At the W end of Bird Sound is a well-protected cove, with two arms. The approach is through a fairly narrow lead between kelp banks and rocks on either side, leading in a NE direction. The entrance itself is very constricted, with rocks on the W side and strands of kelp right the way across.

The north arm of the cove is the most protected, with swell rarely reaching in. The depth is apparently only 1.5m in the middle (less than is shown on the chart). Jérôme Poncet laid a mooring for his 50ft Damien II in 1992. It consists of 250kg of anchor and chain. The orange mooring buoy gets lost from time to time, so if you are planning to use the mooring, you may have to drag for it. It is not known how often the mooring is inspected. If you are not planning to use the mooring, it may be worth having a trip line on your anchor. There is not sufficient swinging room to lie to a single anchor and Damien II always has a line ashore to the jetty.

The W arm is bigger and deeper.   Anchor in the middle in 2.75m, where there is sufficient room to lie to a single anchor. This arm is apparently subject to some swell in gale force winds.

JORDAN COVE, LOOKING SW, DAMIEN II ON HER MOORING