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Currently ETA in Newcomb Bay is around 1800 local. If weather permits intend discharging mail, fresh fruit and initial expeditioners on shore via IRB, and hopefully fly aircraft to the station, all before dark tonight. Poor weather at first today with high winds and snow but things improved slowly during the day. Encountered a mass of 50 plus bergs stretched out east-west away from the northern part of the Petersen Bank around the normal position of the outer pack ice band. Most of the bergs are at least a kilometre long but several are around 4-5 km in length which is most unusual for the approach to Casey. Up to nine tenths pack was present in the area of the bergs but passable with patience, opening to 7-8 tenths since then. Had the wind had, or be forecast to have, a northerly component between now and Tuesday, we would not have attempted to push through. While we are confident of pushing on to Newcomb Bay, we do not wish to be in there too long lest the wind change to the north. As a result we are hoping to complete cargo and embark all RTA expeditioners who have no need to stay on station for another 3 days on to the ship on by Monday evening. That will give us the flexibility to move north with the ship at any time we need to. Should that eventuate we would then finish the operation at Casey with a long fly-off. The number of people who would stay at Casey will be kept to the number that can be flown north in one day's worth of flying. Lots of whales, birds, seals and krill over here Steve! REGARDS Martin and Chris --
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.