Polar Bird, Thursday, 29th November 2001
Overnight, the weather deteriorated rapidly as a deep low developed in Prydz Bay. By 8 am 60-70 knot gales from the NE were pummeling the ship, at one stage the ship rocked markedly causing some concern to the chopper pilots with the two Squirrels on the open deck. While they were checking the lashings a sheet of steel, a name plate off one of the cranes came free and narrowly missed the aircraft and the lashing crew. There was no possibility of landing off Davis, or flying as the atrocious weather persisted right through the day. Gusts of wind up to 80 knots were frequent, ripping sheets of sea water and ice right up onto the bridge. Large pieces of blue ice scooted past, sometimes thumping into the ship's hull like torpedoes. The view from the bridge was grim indeed with no horizon visibility. All the ship could do was go slow ahead straight into the Force 12 gale, occasionally turning around to avoid getting too close to the Sørsdal Glacier 20km distant. Vidar, the tall Norwegian First Officer was typically "up-beat" about matters, dropping the occasional low octave Arnie type one liners when a piece of ice collided with the bow. The waiting continued as the gale continued right into the evening.
Photos
Antarctic gale
Position at 24:00 local time (UT +7hr) S 68°49'55" E 77°15'35"
41 km SW of Davis
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