Information

Report (sitrep) ID:
19081
Universal time (UTC):
05:00
Australian time (AEST):
16:00
Position:
65° 53′ S, 79° 28′ E
Heading:
174
Speed:
7.5 kn
Distance in last 24 hours:
244 NM
Weather conditions:
Overcast with improving visibility, light winds.
Air temperature:
−1.5 °C
Sea conditions:
calm
Sea temperature:
−1.8 °C

Comments

The battle between the Aurora Australis and the Antarctic sea ice began last night. We had developed three possible routes into Davis and yesterday we commenced our track along route one. Unfortunately we just couldn't get a cloud free satellite image and did not have the visibility to confidently continue along this route, so at approximately 2200 hours we did a u-turn, back tracked a few miles and then proceeded to follow route 2.

Since then we have been moving along at a steady pace making good progress through the ice. The scenery is absolutely spectacular and there's been plenty of wildlife around, including whales, seals, penguins and snow petrels keeping the photographers busy.

Planning meetings, briefings and quarantine cleaning continue in earnest. Those passengers getting off at Davis are starting to turn their attention to cabin cleaning, well they should be at any rate. I'm reliably informed that all postcards have been written as well.

Cheers,

Andrew and Mark

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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