Storm Day (Written on Jan 02, 2014)
‘Whale Song’, our strong little ship, surges over 6-8m swell on Storm Day.
Photo credit M. Jenner
Having changed watches slightly so that Resty is in full-time care of the machinery and our bellies, Simon has now perfected the art of my wake-up door-knock! Getting into the swing of things for watches again, I woke just two minutes before my reminder and thus was mentally ready to go.
Rain washed the decks at midnight as we were 111.12 nm west of South Tasman Rise and at 6.1 knots we plodded SSE on a course of 169 degrees to our Waypoint 6D 16H (6 days and 16 hours) away. While watching for Simon to return from collecting the thermometer readings on the fly-bridge for me, I noticed the phosphorescence in fist-size clumps and long batons glowing in the sea beside us. The sea is alive! And indeed it is.
Yesterday afternoon while wheelhouse-bound due to rain, the crew voiced their sighting wishes. “I want to see killer whales”, another, “I want to see a blue whale next to an iceberg” and even “I want to see a leopard seal”. Putting in your order is a good thing! Be careful what you wish for! Dreams do come true!
The location we saw the baleen whale yesterday afternoon was similar to the area that “Spot”, the satellite-tagged dwarf minke whale visited while still transmitting a signal. From the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to this wild patch of ocean – this made me wonder where “Spot” is right now…
The first sighting of the trip yesterday was a mystery, simply due to a few physical factors of the whale . The animals’ body size was too big for an Antarctic minke whale, there was no coloration visible on the lower jaw or upper body (perhaps due to the flat lighting conditions) and it was not a Brydes’ whale since there were no rostral ridges or grooves. Additionally, the whales’ head appeared too round for a Sei whale, although perhaps young Sei whales develop a more pointed rostrum with age. Maybe the whale was a hybrid between a pygmy blue and a Sei whale. Photos sent to colleagues will assist with the positive identification. A nice problem.
While on bird watch Inday and Russ sorted out a small, dark bird that appeared prevalent. Taking high quality photos and checking in the id guides, the birds were deemed to be Black petrels. Good work guys, it was good to sort that one out.
Adjusting our course at 2am to bear away from the backing wind, Curt decided we should head more southerly rather than south-easterly. By 0226, the rain had stopped and a comforting blue line of sky appeared between the stratocumulus band at the horizon and the heavy cumulonimbus above. The barometer slowly crept up and at 0242 it was 972, up from 970Hp! Phew, perhaps the worst has passed!
Under the covers I snuggled, as much as you can while emulating a flat star-fish! Pulling my head under the pillow I hoped, between prayers, that if I didn’t look – maybe it would all go away! Eventually the urge for breakfast took over and just before seven I was dressed and ready for the day. The anemometer hovered between 45 and 50 knots and the two swells (one from the SSW and the other from the NW) were 6 m and very confused. Tending to a few chores, such as re-activating Russ’s Satellite Spot Tracker system with the SpotWalla software and moving it from Orca to the fly-bridge, as well as moving mats and securing the flag halyard, Dale, Sam and Russ were all decked out in their outside gear and PFD’s (Personal Floatation Devices). Upon successful completion, Sam and I went to the fly-bridge (also in our gear and PFD’s) to film a few sequences, simply so you can see what this weather really looked like!
Noon Observations Jan 02, 2014
Wind whipping the tops off the waves in the gale force winds of the low-pressure system.
Photo credit M. Jenner
Lat/Long: 480 37.1S 1450 40.2 E
Dry Bulb Temp: 8.90C
Wet Bulb Temp: 8.00C
SST (Sea Surface Temp): 9.50C
COG (Course Over the Ground): 1560
SOG (Speed Over the Ground): 4.7 knots
Beaufort SS (Sea State): 7
WS (Wind Speed): 30-40 knots
WD (Wind Direction): SSE
Swell: 4-6m, occ 10m
Wildlife: Shy Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Great Skua, Short-tailed shearwater, Black petrel, Wilsons’ storm petrel and a Soft-plumaged petrel
WT: FLCSSM – 6.5
Antarctic Fact: A female blue whale caught at Grytviken, South Georgia in the 1911-12 season measured over 33.5 m – the largest animal ever recorded.
Antarctic Slang: Beaker- (American) slang term for scientist.
Lunch of roast lamb, salad, bread and roast potatoes and turning nectarines was delicious! The best lunch cafe around! At 1246 we were at 480 40.8 S and 1450 42.0 E, “Let’s see, near 49 South” said Russ, “We are just at the Canadian/US border at the 49th parallel. We started the trip in Seattle and we have to go all the way to Alaska”. “At walking pace” Curt added. It is funny to see our journey through the eyes of a NH resident. We run out of land must faster in the Southern Hemisphere and just have more water.
At 49 S, very soon, Mr Jenner is promising a Line of Tranquillity… at this stage the waves roaring past my window while I type are still 4-5 m in nature and the wind howls in the rigging at 30 knots, here’s to hoping Mrs. Robinson! I know better than to hope for such a thing, he has been trying to sell me these Lines of Tranquillity for 25 years now! I am happy in any weather, if everyone is ok and the boat fine and this is the case. We shall take what we get, we just have to get south! No free rides around here. Just developing lots of character, that’s all!
The soaring Albatross and dancing Storm petrels are unfazed by the weather. Curt reckons they are actually dying to do something else. He can picture an Albatross sitting at the beach in Hawaii with the winnings from a Powerball, perched on a deck chair legs crossed and sipping a pina colada while smugly uttering, “Uhhh, one Powerball and I got outta there!” Hmm, have we been at sea toooo long already?
By 1500 the barometer had risen 24 points. Mariners like, no love a rising barometer. From the midnight reading of 970, it was 994 and thus 24 Hp up over the previous 15 hours. So it seems we found the middle of the low system, by the canyon drawn on our barograph and within the low we may have found a hybrid whale, go figure! The lengths we go to for science!
Resty and Tas, our Chief Chef and Sous Chef, busily sliced and diced all manner of vegetables for noodles creating Rolling Pancit Canton, which is Philippine Style Chinese Noodles. Another delicious meal from the best restaurant at 48S and 145E!
Guess what? As I finished this blog, the wind has reduced and the swell has eased. We only have 20 knots of breeze and the swell is a mere 2-3m… the Line of Tranquillity is a reality! Well done Mr. Jenner!
Passing 49 south and enjoying our Line of Tranquillity! Storm Day has come and gone…
Mich
No comments yet.