Polar Bird, Wednesday, 5th December 2001
The terrible storm of the previous evening had passed by by the early morning, the crew finally getting to check the lashings on the cargo at 6 am. Rositio, the Filipino 2nd Officer said that in 25 years at sea that was the worst storm he had seen. After I retired to bed the previous night the storm had deteriorated even more to the extent that, as the ship was being launched off a wave it was being caught by a gust and blown sideways. Even though the ship was full ahead, it was still being blown astern ! The crew showed that sense of relief that is common with anybody who has evaded peril. During the day we prepared our cargo, radios etc.. for imminent arrival at Landing Bluff. The weather remained foggy with a snowfall later in the afternoon. Rookie the comms officer popped on a classic video of a 1920's 2000 ton (with 6000 ton cargo)sailing clipper, the Peking negotiating wild storms around Cape Horn. How things have become soft and cushy since then ! By evening we were still heading NE close to Davis, very frustrating that we seem to be going around in circles only 150km from our destination !!
Photos
Antarctic gale
Position at 24:10 local time (UT +7hr) S 68°48'32" E 76°21'41"
Prydz Bay, 70 km SW of Davis, 148 km NE of Landing Bluff
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