JR Update 14th January 2013
14 January, 2013 RRS James Clark Ross
Today did not start well and I was not sure that I would have much to write about this evening. I did consider taking pictures of banoffee pie as the highlight of the day at one point.
In the early hours of this morning the ship took a fairly hefty roll, which seems to have woken nearly everyone onboard…….except for me. I have no idea how I managed to sleep through it but that is what I did. A bit of a shock when I got into the Radio Room to discover my electronic keyer on the deck but it does seem to have survived the fall, thankfully.
The morning continued with some motion, the scientists started their day at 05:00, and by late morning the weather was turning rather miserable with some snow. All in all not a great day.
This afternoon the James Clark Ross approached Elephant Island, which is where Ernest Shackleton landed and started his epic voyage in the James Caird, to South Georgia. This is to be re-enacted, starting on the 20th January. As we got closer to land the weather started to change, the sky cleared and the sun came out.
Wildlife Spotted
Cape Petrel
Humpback whale
Southern Fulmar
White-chinned Petrel
Chinstrap Penguins
Fin Whale
Grey-headed Albatross
Position Report @ 1500UTC
| Latitude: | 60° 12.0 S |
| Longitude: | 055° 06.9 W |
| Bearing: | 170 °T, 522 Nm from Stanley, Falkland Islands |
| Cruise Number: | JR274 |
| Distance Travelled: | 128 |
| Total Distance Travelled: | 588 |
| Steam Time: | 17.18 |
| Total Steam Time: | 86.95 |
| Average Speed: | 7.45 |
| Total Average Speed: | 6.76 |
| Wind: | Direction SW, Force 6 |
| Sea State: | Rough |
| Air Temp: 0.7 °C | Sea Temp: 1.2 °C |
| Pressure: 993.8 | Tendency (3hrs): Falling |
Overcast with occasional showers.
R&P moderately to moderate sea and moderate WSW’ly swell
Latterly encountered strips and small patches of brash ice & light pack ice