Open ocean, Storm time - 05:42 am

06 Dec 2008

Nobody got much sleep last night. We hit big seas - very big indeed and were tossed around like dice in a cup. We gave up getting up in the night to close the cupboard doors for the 50th time and woke to a room that was somewhat chaotic. Everything we have was scattered on the floor. We’d spent the entire night holding onto the side of the bed preventing being flung out of our bunks into the opposite wall.

It’s not easy conveying huge seas in a single moment but really...huge!

We’ve hit a massive low depression system causing these huge rolling waves which does make getting around on deck quite tricky. We’re still getting our sea legs and I’m collecting a nice assortment of bruises from banging into things.

Not quite the millpond

Filming is a challenge. Attempting to show a fast-flying bird while you’re on land is difficult enough, however with a combined 50 degree tilting of the ship in these seas, the challenge is definitely on.

The albatrosses need the updraft from the waves to fly and the Southern Ocean certainly gives them that.

The Wandering Albatross, the largest seabird keeps us company on our slow way

Tomorrow we should cross the Antarctic Convergence and things will get colder - we’ll certainly be at sea all day, so there’s time to practice becoming one with the ship. We’ll need the practice just for climbing the stairs carrying a tripod! We spent most of the day out on deck pitching and rolling and slipping, going inside to wrap our chilled hands around steaming cups of tea.

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