Thursday 31 January 2013

Thursday 31st January 2013

This morning we sailed back to Davis in 3o knot wind and by the time we got to Davis the wind had dropped enough to drop anchor and resume un-loading cargo.

This morning was one of those days you wish you never got out of bed. Everybody was spitting the dummy as they couldn’t make phone calls either to Davis or to home. We are on the very fringe of satellite operation here in Antarctica and it’s hard to explain to people that it’s a miracle it’s working at all. We have four satellite paths to chose from which can give us telephones and Email, and while at Davis we have another radio link to shore that can give us a slow Internet connection, yet if we get congestion on the phone circuits or degraded satellite links somehow it’s my fault. We are only a mile off Davis station, yet our phone calls go via two satellites over a distance of 100,00km++ round trip just to get there. I have suggested to head office a simple radio telephone or a private channel on VHF marine radio used as a hot line would solve all these operational issues, but they don’t want to listen.

Satellite systems on board Aurora Australis;
1)      INMARSAT Fleet Board band (Two independent systems, one on the starboard side and one on the port side and we can select either digital VoIP or analogue circuit) $0.38/m

2)      IRIDIUM ($1.20/m)

3)      INMARSAT ($3.58/m)

4)      Least cost route through wave rider 2.4GHz link to ANARE satellite at Antarctic stations ($0.20/m) 
I’m on the roster as coxswain tonight at 18:00, so I’m looking forward to getting out on the water again. Let’s hope some ice berg’s blow in and some elephant seal come around and make it an interesting evening and not too cold. After sorting out all the technical issues I spent most of the day updating my blog.
Water temp -0.3 degree
Air temp -0.25 degree
Wind W @ 5 knots
Lon 77.93E & Lat 68.57S
 

Working as coxswain on an IRB at Davis station

10 comments:

  1. ha ha ha a are you comfortable in that antartica suit???

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    Replies
    1. Its very hard to dress correctly. Some days you are too hot while other times you get cold. The Mustang suit I am wearing has built in buoyancy so it acts like a life jacket if I fall in. Under the suit I am wearing thermal top and bottom and polar fleece top and bottom. While getting dressed I am sweating and when I go outside the sweat freezes giving me ice dread locks.

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  2. well all those people at the ship should appreciate it that still email and phone !!!! spoiled !!! imagina when Bill's time NOTHING THERE !! if it was my way this people will have none !
    dont worry babe try what you can and don't let those thing ruining your day !

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  3. Hallo Mr. Hayhow,
    Sorry, my english is not very good. I have seen your blog. It´s interest to work on Aurora Australis. My son Steffen is working by airpower enercon and today on Station Davis and after that with Aurora Australis to Mawson. Greetings to the team and to Steffen Himsel from Schopfloch, it is a little village in Germany.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Christoph,

      I know your son, he is a very nice man and we have talked a lot during the voyage. I will pass on my regards. Enjoy reading my Blog.

      Regards,

      Craig

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    2. Hello Craig, thank you.
      I hope that this is a nice experience for all and I wish everyone a good voyage and a safe return. Best Regards,
      Christoph

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  4. G'day Craig,
    Really enjoying your blog, first activity every day is to read it, just like when Jess Watson was at sea. Great pics love the penguins hitching on the duck berg, keep em coming.Stay safe,
    Cheers L&B

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    Replies
    1. Hi L&B,

      Glad you like my Blog. I also enjoyed reading Jess Watson's Blog.


      Regards,

      Craig

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  5. Hey Craig,
    Good to see the rabbit hat come out and make an appearance.
    Those bergs in the photo's look huge! And if thats just what your seeing up on the surface? Not like the waters at San Remo then Huh?And like L&B wrote, enjoying the blog and it's also the first thing to read in trhe mornings.
    All the best, Jarvie.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Trev,

      Glad I bought that rabbit hat, although I have a few other hats yet to try out :)
      Some bergs are as big as a small European country !! and every one is different.
      Enjoy the Blog,

      Craig

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