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This morning, at 1036hs, the Aurora Australis reached its set down point approximately 80 metres into the fast ice 734 metres off French Dumont d'Urville station. Our wholesale optimism.. combined with some very accommodating pack ice, the navigational savvy of our crew, and a lot of open water has brought us ahead in both space and time, at least 36 hours of the latter in fact.
And what was achieved with this newfound time? Quite a bit. After almost a week of meandering sea time, our French expeditioners awoke to a busy schedule. Helicopter briefings, cabin cleaning and baggage drops, were all completed with good humour, expertly stage managed by our watercraft team and budding concierge Rich. Our two Canadian helicopters took to the skies for a technical flight before returning to the nest, each plucking in turn four of our French friends and spiriting them across the brilliant blue expanse of sky to the station, whilst their station leader and senior logistician journeyed to the ship for a productive discussion about the resupply operation.
With the stern of the ship nestled into its own little slot in the fast ice, looking left and right from the bridge one can see the edge of the fast ice extend for kilometres on either side, its crisp white lines occasionally interrupted by the splash of water and the appearance of Adelie penguins propelling themselves mid-air up onto the ice before linking into flagging lines of their land bound companions, interspersed with the larger Emperor penguins. The monkey deck of the ship as always proved an excellent vantage point from which to view the station and its array of antennas, buildings, depots and airstrip.
As helicopter operations commenced once more we farewelled our French guests on board before watching the personal baggage of our guests be heli-slung (that is suspended on a long sling line from the helicopter in large bundles) across to station.
This initial cargo operation wrapped up neatly at 2000hs this evening thanks to the efforts of the pilots and ship's crew, ending a productive day in which we developed the strategies, processes and lines of communication that we hope will see us through this same-same but different resupply safely and efficiently.
Regards,
Leanne and James.
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.