Polar Bird, Friday, 30th November 2001

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The weather was a little more subdued today, the wind easing right down to 10 knots after lunch, much to the relief of all onboard. Unfortunately I missed the first sighting of land, the Rauer Group of dry islands south of the Sorsdal Glacier, sleeping in a bit later than usual. The captain witheld moving into Davis due to the uncertainty of the weather and visibility. We spent today preparing for the impending arrival at Davis. After dinner the horizon cleared revealing the whole of the dark Vestfold Hills, beneath the imposing dome of the Antarctic Ice sheet, the peppermint coloured cliffs of the Sorsdal Galcier rising out of Prydz Bay to the south of the Vestfold Hills. The green shed and multicoloured hotchpotch of Davis station could be picked out with binoculars 20km in the distance. Our group was up on the bridge admiring and cheering at such a view, especially so, after 18 days at sea ! Andrew Jenner, the Mawson met man had his birthday today, together with Sophie Constable, one of the Davis Seal team also another year older the previous day. They had a special peppermint cake made up for them. Another big night of daylight. We would be at Davis the next morning.

Position at 24:00 local time (UT +7hr)
20 km SW of Davis

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