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After making a great start to resupply yesterday – we transferred 36 people and the rodent detector dog to station – things slowed down a bit today due to the weather conditions. Low cloud grounded the helicopters and high winds meant passenger transfers by LARC were a no go for most of the morning, until a window opened up just before lunch and we managed to get four people to shore by LARC – Macquarie Island's ingoing doctor, an ingoing electrician, and two round trip project staff who are heading off on a nine-day walk to Hurd Point and back. We wish them safe travels.
The LARCs continued transferring cargo, including the all-important ingoing mail, field hut resupply materials and equipment, 15 of the 34 highest priority 3.2 tonne concrete panels for the MIMP project, a new tractor, and two Polaris (Polarises? Polarix? Polarii?) vehicles from ship to shore but with winds continuing to gust over 25 knots the LARCs couldn't be used for passenger transfers and the very low cloud meant the helicopters also stayed on the helideck.
Those observing operations from the ship were rewarded with the sight of dozens of gentoo penguins scooting through the water. Thanks to everyone for their efforts today, particularly our two forecasters (one based on the ship and one on station), who have had their work cut out for them over the last few days, providing all the details we need to compile our work plan for the day.
REGARDS: Brendan, Jenn, and Nick
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.