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It was the calm before the storm…
We were packed up and underway by 1400 yesterday, completing what seemed like a 100-point turn to get us facing out the way we had come in, before charging out of the fast-ice through the icy rubble path that defined the “road” we had made in to the position we have occupied for the last six days. The sky to our west and north looked ominous as we made our way back to open water, passing the beautifully arranged cluster of bergs marking the ice edge. The barometer plummeted, the wind increased, and all of a sudden, it wasn’t “nice” anymore. The wind became a constant 50 knot howl, with gusts to 65 knots, and horizontal snow began to plaster the ship. The swell increased to a short, sharp six metres, on our beam, making the ship roll uncomfortably. Not a pleasant evening at all.
This morning, we are in the centre of the intense low-pressure system that hammered us last night, and making good progress through the heavy zone of ice we transited on our way to Davis. If anything, the storm has probably opened the ice up a bit. We’re hoping that our reception from the other side of the low will not be as brutal as last night…
All the best, Doug and Dave
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.