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All Day 5 PCR tests came back negative. Voyage Leader Sam announced the happy news at the nightly 7pm meeting. With our masks removed and social distancing no longer required, we had an enjoyable evening playing cards. Two separate card games were played in the mess and it was lovely to hear everyone laughing.
The seas are slightly calmer today, but you still have to be careful not to leave your cup of tea unguarded. Almost all of us have now adjusted to life at sea and the days are starting to tick along. The jigsaw puzzle was completed for the second time this morning and there always seems to be something screening in the lounge. Two groups of AAD expeditioners will head down to the depths of the ship this afternoon for a guided tour of AIVIQ's engine room. The ship may feel small and slow at times, but the immense size of the machinery down there is a stark reminder of how powerful and complex this vessel really is.
Later tonight, Team Green and Team Red will race each other in the first edition of the AIVIQ Grand Prix. To clarify, this is a remote-controlled car race and there is a very minimal risk of injury. The results will be announced in tomorrow's Sitrep.
Planning for Mawson refuelling continued today and everything is tracking well. Tomorrow we will go over our contingency plan. Refuelling at Mawson ordinarily occurs from within Horseshoe Harbour, which, as the name suggests, is a horseshoe-shaped natural harbour. AIVIQ can sit in this harbour using its Dynamic Positioning System, making refuelling a relatively simple process. If, for some reason, we cannot enter the harbour, we must refuel from outside the harbour. This is what we will discuss tomorrow.
REGARDS: Sam and Anthony
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.