Information

Report (sitrep) ID:
18861
Universal time (UTC):
03:00
Australian time (AEST):
15:00
Position:
66° 48′ S, 142° 28′ E
Heading:
N/A
Speed:
0.0 kn
Distance in last 24 hours:
35 NM
Weather conditions:
8/8 cloud. Snowfalls.5kts NE wind.
Air temperature:
1.4 °C
Sea conditions:
Calm.
Sea temperature:
−1.35 °C

Comments

Yesterday evening we cruised south amongst giant icebergs and along the side of the most giant of bergs, B9B. A trawl deck BBQ was enjoyed with this amazing backdrop as the view came and went with low cloud and snowfalls in between. The Commonwealth Bay fast ice is thick and broad and we are now parked some 12nm from Cape Denison in the ice. Last night we enjoyed a fantastic music recital with songs of the Mawson era by our three shipboard entertainers Lance, Wendy and Mark. This morning we awoke to a grey day with no horizon, making a flight to Cape Denison impossible. Instead we have enjoyed a day out walking around on the ice with myriad inquisitive Adelie Penguins, Skua, a lone Emperor Penguin and some seals basking (though not in the sun!) in the distance. It’s 450m of water to the seafloor under our feet and always a little strange to be walking on the frozen ocean. We will wait here hoping for a weather break to allow a fly off to Cape Denison in the next few days. The ship’s library is a hive of activity with food, field equipment and all manner of other things made ready for the chance of a landing. Here’s hoping that the next few days see a break in the weather, the ever present element of Antarctica for both us and Mawson.

REGARDS: Robb, Steve, Barb and Nisha

Map

180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W 60°W 50°W 40°W 30°W 20°W 10°W 30°E 40°E 50°E 60°E 70°E 80°E 90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 80°S 70°S 60°S 50°S 40°S 30°S 20°S 10°S 0°N 10°N 20°N 30°N 40°N 50°N 60°N 70°N 80°N Casey Davis Mawson Macquarie Island Heard Island Fremantle Hobart

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.

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