Day 29

Another quiet day of work, more painting.

 The second mate and I have begun to create the passage plan to the ice. Unlike most passage plans, which are fixed the route could change dramatically depending on ice conditions. The most direct route has impenetrable ice between us and Halley, one option is to steam East to approximately 30° then south to cut through the thinner ice and hug the coast round. Although the thick ice, directly in the way could break up within two weeks which would let us through.  So we really have to play it by ear and make a plan as late as possible.

The Ice report picture above is the only information we have. It is a daily satellite image, the different colours denote the ice thickness dark purple thickest, the grey is Antarctica itself. The ship cannot cut through the dark purple regions.

Approximate current location 12° 25’ S 001° 00’ W