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We’ve made good progress on the marine science program overnight. Heavy ice prevented us from recovering the southernmost mooring on our first visit to the site. After completing the first CTD station on the transect, we returned to the mooring site shortly before midnight. While the light was poor, the sea ice had retreated just enough to allow us to attempt the recovery. The top buoy surfaced a few hundred metres off the starboard bow (spotted by the eagle-eyed 3rd mate Adam) and the recovery operation went smoothly. We’ve continued to carry out CTD operations this morning on the way to the site of the second mooring. The wind picked up to about 35 knots, with occasional snow and poor visibility, which has so far prevented an attempt on the second mooring in the line. In the last hour, the winds have dropped and veered to the south, so we are hopeful conditions will improve enough to allow us to recover mooring 2 later this afternoon. In the meantime, the weather and sea state are sufficiently good to allow us to continue to do CTDs. It’s been a busy 24 hours, but it’s good to have the marine science program well and truly underway.
Regards, Steve and Barbara
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.