Oct 29 - Bird Island
Date: 29 Oct 2006 Observation Time: 12:00 Local
| Latitude: | 57 44.7 S |
| Longitude: | 50 24.8 W |
| Bearing: | 320 °T, 232 Nm from Signy |
| Course Made Good | Var °T |
| (1) Destination 1: | Science Station 2 |
| (1) ETA at 11.5 knots is | 16:23 on 01 November 2006 |
| (2) Destination 2: | Signy |
| (2) ETA at 11.5 knots is | 20:59 on 03 November 2006 |
| Distance Travelled: | 54 |
| Total Distance Travelled: | 662 |
| Steam Time: | 13.8 |
| Total Steam Time: | 83.6 |
| Average Speed: | 3.9 |
| Total Average Speed: | 7.9 |
| Wind: | Direction W, Force 7 |
| Sea State: | Rough |
| Air Temp: 0.8 °C | Sea Temp: 1.1 °C |
| Pressure: 984.4 | Tendency: Rising |
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| Remarks | |
| 1251 CTD recovered from 4099m 1329-1358 CTD deployed to 400m 1417-1424 Mocness deployed and recovered due to fault 1434-1652 Mocness deployed to 1952m 1744-1756 CTD deployed to 40m 1818-1943 RMT25 deployed to 338m 2031-2338 RMT25 deployed to 1895m 0030-0211 RMT25 deployed to 766m 0303-0334 FRRF deployed to 150m 0528-0805 CTD deployed to 4063m 0814-0841 Bongos deployed to 400m 0850-0915 CTD deployed to 140m 0927-1046 Go Flo deployed to 1000m 1059-1124 FRRF deployed to 150m 1137-1151 CTD deployed to 60m 1158- Bongos deployed to 400m | |
I believe I may have spent some time onboard an alien craft…
18 days remain unaccounted for…my dungarees are missing…but I can now restart the web diary…
Sunday the 8th of October was spent alongside King Edward Point amidst the breathtaking scenery of South Georgia. We arrived as Elephant Seal pups were being born on the beach. Following cargo transfer some of the crew and scientists visited the whaling station at Grytviken, the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and the South Georgia museum. Tim and Pauline, the curators of the museum, gave us a warm welcome, tea, and biscuits.
Memorial to Sir Ernest Shackleton
The prison at King Edward Point
Geordie survival gear
Taking the cargo tender to Grytviken
New arrival at KEP
The South Georgia Museum
I have been to some terrible places in my time, but to spare the blushes of the good people of Sunderland and Southampton I won’t mention any. But nothing could prepare me for a visit to Bird Island. As icy winds savaged the post-apocalyptic landscape of tussock grass, I stood motionless, for fear of irritating the demonic, rabid-tempered fur seals that stalk the island. Armed with “bodgers”, wooden sticks used to tickle the seal’s whiskers and hence prevent attack, we walked up see the nesting albatross chicks. Later in the day adolescent fur seals ambushed us on our way to see the Gentoo penguins, but amidst all this clamage we managed to deliver the fuel, food and other cargo to the base.
Kingy and Helen
The inmates of Bird Island
Mate Tim
You should give these a wide berth
On the 19th there was a quiz onboard, with such questions as;
Which organ would you use to enjoy some late night Mingus?
Which part of the body is affected by “Haddock Rash”?
How tall is Big Bird in Sesame Street?
The winning team consisted of George (Able Seaman), Dave (The Bosun), and Graham (Steward).
Brokeback Iceberg
University Challenge her we come
The following day we arrived at Stanley. Many of the crew went to the “Trough” to enjoy the live music peformed by the “Flying Pigs”.
Beautiful Stanley Harbour
Today the science continues, the next stop in our Southerly peregrination is hopefully Signy, sometime towards the end of this week…..
Buoy used to detect whale noises, deployed by Peter and Andrew the deck cadet
A scientist
A tired scientist
Waves on deck...(click for large animated gif)
Answers
Ears
Fingers
8’2”
