Information
Comments
Last evening, against a backdrop of imposing icebergs north of Peterson Banks, the trawl deck of the Aurora hosted a gathering of expeditioners and crew who huddled in the sunshine around a drum fire. Cupping hot chocolates, those in attendance were regaled with tales of Antarctica followed by musical intermissions as Gordon and his band hammered out classic folk and pop anthems... audible above the clanging of the ship and the roar of water thrust out behind the ship against the ice floes, as we retreated South from yet another attempt Northwards, to open water once more.
As the ship turned West, the passing of one year to the next was itself a quiet affair, some of those awake passed the time on the decks, rugged up against the chill, taking in the colours of the near sunset against the blues and whites of the ice, and the wall of berg's falling behind us to the East The crew, in shifts, worked through the night and morning to eke out any point of weakness in the ice to press the ship further North West, so as to take advantage of any weakening due to the mild Westerly winds.
By midday it looked as though their effect had been negligible, and that, in light of forecast Northerly and then Easterly winds for the remainder of the week, we would be here a little longer, a prospect that updates in the satellite imagery only strengthened. Not a massive drama, but to be avoided if possible.
Unperturbed, the crew continued to push North East, and by mid-afternoon, having changed tack to a North West heading it was clear that the winds had worked to our favour, it just required the perseverance and skill of the bridge crew, supported by the engine room. The further North the ship pushed, the easier it became and by early evening we could with confidence anticipate our crossing of the sea ice edge as not long after a dark blue line appeared on the horizon.
And then there it was, a clearly delineated boundary between the frozen white expanse and the deep blue sea.. still but for a slight rolling swell. Accompanied by snow petrels and farewelled by a handful of Adelie penguins, the ship eased through the last floes and out into open water, homeward bound.
Regards,
Voyage Management.
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.