We had transited the Southern Ocean and were in calmer waters as our ship approached Antarctica. It was a magnificent creature that stayed near our ship for hours that cold and bright day recalling thoughts of The Ancient Mariner and other encounters.
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariner’s hollo!
Albatrosses are large seabirds belonging to the family Diomedeidae, known for their remarkable wingspans of up to 11 feet and incredible gliding abilities. They are mostly found in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific.
Sailors have always thought that an Albatros was a sign of luck at sea but what sort of luck is open to debate. This large, mysterious, solitary traveler far out on the open sea is often the only sign of life to be seen for days.
Once, a long time ago, my Navy ship got caught in a bad storm in the South Atlantic and it tossed us around for almost two days. When the weather cleared and we got out on deck it turned out we had picked up several dozen birds that had taken refuge from the storm. Many were pretty large, including a lot of gulls, many birds we couldn’t identify and sheltered under the helo deck was a huge Albatros. It took hours to get it out on open deck and once free it just turned itself into the wind, spread its wings and lifted off. After that it stayed near our ship for a number of days…
The Intentional Travelers 