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Well it seems that only a 10 point turn was required to get the ship turned around and out of Davis but it was certainly bumpy for an hour or so as we carved a large slow motion doughnut into the fast ice off Davis while a fall of snow marked our departure. This morning we are rumbling our way northwards through extensive but not particularly thick ice and are making very good time indeed.
It is still cold enough for new ice to form and last night we found ourselves in a field of new ice perhaps 1 cm thick that was flexed by the ship's bow wave as though the water was covered by a smooth sheet of rubber.
We deployed two meteorological drifting buoys overnight. Each buoy is a sphere about 60cm in diameter with a single stubby antenna that is intended to point skywards for satellite communications. At last sight the first buoy was seen sitting optimistically in some broken ice behind the ship with the antenna lying at a jaunty angle as we left it to face its destiny.
Our thoughts are now turning to krill fishing. The net is ready and the sounders are pinging. All we need now is to reach some open water.
Lloyd and Andrew
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.