Calm Day (Written on Jan 03, 2014)
At midnight we were at 49055.0 S 145042.8 E, our COG (Course Over the Ground) was 1840,our SOG (Speed Over the Ground) 6.9 knots and with a SW wind of 15-18 knots we were able to fulfil the briefing – “make to the south without hesitation!” The BOM forecasting is very accurate and we are grateful to Scotty and Bill for their Customised Vessel Tracking forecast information, supplied daily by sat email. Additionally, Neal has been providing ice data using the SeaView Tool created by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre and the Australian Antarctic Division, which will prove very useful in a few days and over the next couple of weeks. We are glad for the expertise being shared and also enjoyed visits in Hobart from our new found weather-friends. Lives depend on this type of detailed information and we have appreciated the interest several groups have taken in our expedition.
Looking into the eye of a mature Wandering Albatross – what a treat!
Photo credit M. Jenner
There are two bands of westward moving fronts which one must negotiate to get to the ice-edge. We found and in fact, most likely went through a low-pressure system yesterday and now with calmer weather last night and today we have determined to get as far south as possible before getting walloped by something in next more southern band. It’s all a game of calculated risk and chance, quite addictive really!
Nectarines bought in Hobart that are becoming over-ripe needed some quick attention and I remembered a delicious dessert a dear friend once served at a dinner party. A quick email to Pam and viola we have the know-how to make Baked Nectarines Southern Ocean Style! Vanilla beans – check, Amaretto – check, we are all set for a scrummy dessert prepared by Tas, our Whale Song Sous chef! Thanks Pam!
News from afar via Micah about her swish new black car, Skippers’ adventures catching rats and the rescue of the folks from the stuck Russian ship, filled our conversations for hours. Great relief has descended on board Whale Song, as the calm weather pervaded and we have resumed our normal observations for critters from the fly-bridge. A building project to make a wind block on the fly-bridge, using the lid of a sonobuoy crate proceeded between 11 and noon, as the sun and blue sea took over our vista.
Pam also added to news given by Micah, regarding the one by one rescue of the Russian ships’ personnel yesterday. We were relieved for them, especially as one of the crew members is the daughter of a colleague. Risk-balancing, is part of the attraction of travel in this part of the world, be it scientific or for pleasure. I can also see the “I want to come back” nature of the quest. For me, it has been 20 years since I was last south – I am thrilled to be back! The air temperature at midnight was 7.50 C, getting a tiny bit cooler for a vessel of tropical birds, but we are ready for the chill!
Just before 6 when I came out of a deep sleep, “pop, pop” I heard Curt pulling the labels off his new clothing. Being from the cold (though now well-adjusted to warm climes) he hasn’t had to wear any of our new warm Eddie Bauer gear yet. “Is it nice?” I mumbled without opening my eyes and was happy with the answer, “Yep, sure is”. My solid sleep of course, was the key that it was nice. Somehow, it felt as though one might have thought, “Let’s go to bed and see if we can have a nice day when we wake?” or even “ Let’s try another brochure!” Well, bad passes and good comes and this was the story of today – Calm Day.
The smell of fried rice drifted into the wheelhouse attracting would-be breakfasters into the main saloon. Consulting his list, Resty cooked eggs to each crew members liking, fried or scrambled, sunny-side-up or flip-flop, to don a mound of fried rice – Nasi Goreng! The breakfast of champions! Yum, this was a great start to the day!
Noon Observations Jan 03, 2014
Gliding over a glassy sea, we can identify a Black-bellied Storm Petrel with its’ unique markings.
Photo credit M. Jenner
Lat/Long: 51012.5 S 1450 32.2 E
Dry Bulb Temp: 9.40C
Wet Bulb Temp: 9.30C
SST (Sea Surface Temp): 8.70C
COG (Course Over the Ground): 1820
SOG (Speed Over the Ground): 7.1 knots
Beaufort SS (Sea State): 0
WS (Wind Speed): 3-4 knots
WD (Wind Direction): SW
Swell: 1 m
Wildlife: Shy Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Short-tailed shearwater, Black petrel, Fairy Prion and Black-bellied petrel
WT: TNWPN – 7
Antarctic Fact: The Antarctic Convergence or Antarctic Polar Front is an area that differs seasonally and longitudinally where a great mixing occurs as the northern and southern waters meet and is a very productive region. Generally, north of this seasonally and longitudinally varying line, the summer surface temperature is about 7.80C, while south of it this, it drops to 3.90C.
Antarctic Slang: Boffin- (Australian) slang term for scientist.
Our lunch today was hot, steaming cumin pumpkin soup with warmed baguette and oodles of noodles! Thank you Resty, for filling our bellies and fuelling us for the Southern Ocean!
As we progressed southward, the wind eased even more – just after lunch and with the noon weather obs we had a veritable glass-off… How could such a difference exist between yesterday and today? “Location, location, location” – is not just the real estate agent’s answer!
Albatross skimming over the glassy sea looked wonderful and we were all amazed at the glorious weather. Our first sonobuoy deployment revealed 8 acoustic detections of varying frequencies, one sound possibly a seal. Even a possible sighting of perhaps one or two blows got us interested with the binos momentarily, but alas no blows were seen.
A three o’clock raspberry crush carefully made by Tas and served in glasses refreshed the crew while the sun warmed our faces on deck. This is a Caribbean cruise, we like this brochure! But another low is on the way with a central pressure of 956… we have blinkers on and are heading south asap… there is no room for complacency here.
Scotch fillet steak bbq’d by Dale with mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and fresh garden salad by Resty are delicious, eaten under a blazing sun and a glassy Southern Ocean. The aroma and then taste of Tas’s, well actually Pam’s, Baked Nectarines brings low frequency hums from the table among much scrapping of bowls to get every last skerrick of yumminess. Served with cream and chocolate ice cream, we fought over how many halves we were allocated! We celebrated being just under halfway to the ice-edge, simply since we needed a reason to celebrate!
With a grey sky, grey sea and misting wheelhouse windows as the outside temperature drops to 6.0oC,
Mich
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