Leaving the port on a ship is exciting.  In the photo above you can see another United States icebreaker (the Nathaniel B. Palmer) in the port at Punta Arenas.  Everyone on our boat – both the scientists and ship crew – is ready to start our voyage.  The stretch of ocean we are entering is called the Drake Passage, and is known for its storms and big waves.  Hopefully the sea will be calm and the boat ride will not be rough.