We are back in Freo! (Dec 09, 2015) The last few days have been a whirlwind of paperwork, and reuniting our family and now more planning for the next year ahead. The excitement of exploring new places, as we just did on our return journey from Cocos Keeling Islands via Ninety East Ridge and Naturaliste […]
Sea Lanes & Land Lanes (Nov 30, 2015) When I came on watch at midnight the chart, as always had lots of news. Among the myriad of information displayed, the details I noticed involved the water depth. We were 42 nm from a 5000 m contour, at the time in 5259 m, but this […]
Homeward Romp (Nov 29, 2015) With lots of paperwork regarding our return home crossing the Masters’ desk and general shipboard preparations including regular inside/outside cleaning, sorting of equipment and crew packing, Whale Song is quitely abuzz. Preparing for being “stripped to coastal” by AQIS, means that we have been eating as much as possible of […]
Fin Whale Finale (Nov 27, 2015) “Mich, I’ve got a blow and I think it’s blue whale!” Wow, that is the only alarm clock I like! It was 0640 and in one giagnatic movement I leapt out of bed, sort of passing myself coming as I surveyed and began doning suitable attire. In under […]
Cool enough for Albatross (Nov 27, 2015) With only relatively light winds (12-15-18 knots) and a few white caps, the view on deck is quite tempting, especially with the light-toned sky. The bit that is not tempting, however, is the cool air! It feels as though we are heading to the Antarctic again… now, that would be tempting! […]
Beautiful Chance Sighting (Nov 26, 2015) With no sperm whales seen in daylight and no sperm whales detected on the array last night, it is now perfectly clear that we had a beautiful, chance listening encounter with sperm whales the night before last. This makes sense. The open ocean basins are deep water extending for […]
We’re Surrounded! (Nov 25, 2015) “Click, click, click, click…” we have had continuous clicks since dinner. At 12, midnight when I came on watch, Resty has had a busy night. During the last three hours he has had noisy, noisy whales filling the wheelhouse speakers and the map is covered with cross-bearings. “It was very […]
Clicks On The Bridge (Nov 24, 2015) “Click, Click, Click” continuously in multiple lines across the screen means we are recording sperm whales hunting! The Midnight edition of the Deep Sea News has news! What great news! The deck is cold underfoot and the air coolish, but a sea without white caps (the first time […]
Pictures of Sound (Nov 22, 2015) The first thing I saw on the nav screen as I stumbled into the wheelhouse for my watch, was an AIS signal of a ship with its’ near-future track line crossing our bow. At 15nm away, just under an hour, if we both proceed at the status quo, there […]
Where Are Those Rascally Whales? (Nov 21, 2015) Revving of the engines woke me from a deep sleep. Are we chasing something or being chased? I wonder. No, the guys are sorting something out below – I convinced myself. I rolled over. By 8am, the boys had been busy debunking a mystery in the engine-room […]
