Into the Drake Passage - oh what a night!

Sunday, 6th December, 2009 - refueling in Stanley:  It’s a quiet day and a good opportunity to get to know my way around the ship before we get into rough seas.  This is a big ship, and very different to others I've been on.  It feels far more like a working ship than one set up to take passengers.  But then it has been built as a working icebreaker, and that’s what we are on her to do – break ice!

During the day we gather in the auditorium for the Welcome, mandatory safety briefing and to meet the Team, and this is followed by the muster drill.  

Finally after dinner and a long day doing very little, we leave our protected bay late in the evening, knowing that the wind is blowing at about 40+knots in the Drake, with seas of around 4 meters.  It’s going to be a very rocky night, but it’s good to be underway!  

Monday, 7th December 2009 - into the Drake:  We wake to rough seas, with rain and salt spray.  We’re trying to make headway in 4-5 meter swells – not at all pleasant (the Phenergan is working well).  The rounded hull and high superstructure make this ship roll, and because it rolls, we’re slowing down.  As I write, we’re rocking from side to side up to 25-30o (based on the inclinometer in the Lounge).

I’ve not been to any of the lectures today, so it’s been a long slow day of trying to read and napping, and eating small meals.  I do manage to set up an email account that allows me to send & receive emails to and from John, from my cabin – a real bonus.

Over dinner, Shane tells us that we’re in for a rough night with the wind increasing to 50+ knots (Force 9), with swells of 5+ meters.  Back in our cabin, we make sure that everything is put away and unable to get loose, including ourselves!  

Tuesday, 8th December 2009 - the Drake Shake:  Shane was right.  The ship rolls (side to side) far more than it pitches, and with my bunk being “across” the ship, I find myself sliding forwards & backwards about 20-30 cm in each direction.  It’s also a little alarming to see the horizon disappear as the ship rolls to port – but nice to see it reappear as she rolls to starboard.  Sleep is not exactly easy! 

Then we hear the banging of metal on metal aft of our cabin – something has come loose outside.  Eventually its fixed and the banging stops, but sleep remains brief.  

Through the morning the wind starts dropping although the swell remains and the ship continues to roll.  Wow – as I’m typing this, the cursor flies across the screen from left to right! And now it’s going from right to left.  Although I’m becoming used to this, clearly my mouse isn’t!  Fun at sea on an icebreaker!

At 2:00pm the decision is made to change course to due south – this means we can pick up some speed, and assuming we can hold this course, it will be 27 hours to Neko Harbour.  Visibility has not been good, but at last, late in the afternoon, we’re starting to see the mountains and glaciers of Antarctica - although the immensity and magnificence has not yet revealed itself.

I manage to make it to the briefing in the afternoon on Digital Photography Tips - with the wonderful Sue Flood.  Sadly the Bridge remains closed while we’re in rough seas, but then again, I’m not sure that I’d want to be up that high when we’re rolling like this.

Tonight we put our clocks back one hour – we’ll do this fairly routinely over the coming weeks.