We’re Home! (Written on Jan 29, 2014)
Captain Curt brings us home to Fremantle! 4323 nautical miles from Hobart!
Photo credit M. Jenner
At midnight the bright lights of Margaret River were shining on our starboard, “Welcome to WA!” Simon said, as I wiped the sleep away and blinked several times… Lights, people… wow! Cruising along at 9 knots we are making good time with the lively easterly. Lively became bouncy and my usual 2am 40 knot something not a squall, but katabatic winds off Cape Naturaliste, came to visit.
We are almost home to Fremantle! Departing in September we have been away four months and are now a life-time richer! This 31-day voyage has been the most adventurous we have undertaken, despite thousands of sea miles already.
These are some interesting statistics from our journey…
WAVES Expedition Statistics
- Transit 1 = 9 days, Day 1 – Day 9 (Dec 30 – Jan 07) Hobart to Ice Edge
- Ice Days = 9 days, Day 10 – 18 (Jan 08 – 16) Ice Edge
- Transit 2 = 13 days, Day 19 – 31 (Jan 17 – 29) Ice Edge to Fremantle
- First iceberg sighted – Jan 07, 14 @ 620 38.0 S 1390 30.0 E
- Coldest air temp day at the ice – -2.50 C
- Warmest air temp day at the ice – +2.50C
- Furthest South – 640 34.3 S 1230 36.1 E
- Lowest Barometer Reading – 965 hPa
- Coldest Sea Surface Temp – -1.90C
- Coldest Air Temp with wind chill – -160C
- Largest Iceberg – ‘Cream Pie’ at 1.5 nm long that we hid behind
- # Photos Taken – 30,000
- # GB Photos Taken – 263
- # Meals = 31 days x 3 meals x 10 crew = 930
- # Whales Sat-tagged – 5 humpback whales
- # Whales Whale Lander tagged – 1 humpback whale
- # Whales Biopsied – 8 humpback whales
- # Whales Photo-id’id – 50 humpback whales
- # Whale Species observed – 12
- # Nautical Miles from Hobart to Freo – 4423
The EMWC welcoming us home!
Photo credit M. Jenner
As we travelled towards our home town, I cleaned the ship inside from stem to stern, sweeping and vacuuming to make sure Whale Song, our good ship, looked as good as possible. She is a wonderful ship and has cared for us so well. Passing Mandurah, the wind dropped to 5 knots and the sea calmed. A beautiful blue sky and sea was our homecoming vista! ‘We are two hours out and the wind has finally stopped!’ I told Daffy on the phone, amazingly, remembering how to use a phone!
As we prepared to arrive, mixed emotions surfaced. Waves of extreme excitement, happiness, relief and even sadness, washed over me while I swept, vacuumed and tidied up. Not wanting the epic to end, but knowing that it had such a good end, tempered the sad aspect. Being safe and sound after such a possibly treacherous journey brings oceans of relief and happiness.
A sweet welcome home message from Carrie on the inside of our gate.
Photo credit I. Ford
Approaching the rock groins at the entrance of the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, three people shapes were recognisable on the rocks. A scarf waving, hats and the familiar sounds indicated we had the EMWC (Embarrassing Mum Welcoming Committee) to help welcome us back home! This was lovely and with cameras clicking we variously hollered and waved! We are back! Nice messages on fb were appreciated from Rodney, even with a blue whale guard-of-honour on the Marine Traffic map, as well as a printed message on the jetty gate! Thanks Carrie, so sweet of you!
‘Jenner, we did it!’ I grinned as we made our way to the Service Wharf in the Fremantle tying up at 1433 awaiting the Quarantine official and our agent. All went ok and by 4-ish the crew could leave the boat, WE HAVE ARRIVED HOME!
Drinks and snacks and champagne followed with Sam’s family and Rebecca, Rob’s daughter and the tales of our adventure unfolded… The crew wandered over to Little Creatures and enjoyed a wonderful meal and then the rest of the crew partied on in Freo… we did warn Freo that they were coming! All good! The crew have decided with an uneasy equation exists as follows, tequila=trolleys= very sore heads! Sorry Freo!
So when are we leaving next, where from and which tags shall we take? These are the questions and the discussions of the day! Replete in safety alongside, we plan the next adventure!
Mich
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