December 24

Today is Christmas eve but it does not really seem like it. The sky is blue with puffy clouds. The temperature is 13C (55F) with winds of 20 kt.

Last night we had a last opportunity to have a meal ashore. As we left the ship, we set up our group picture by the bow of the ship.

     John, Pierre, Marco and Suriyan (left to right) look ready for the trip.




Our next duty was to ask for a good trip across Drake Passage, which is thought by many to be the roughest water on the planet. Waves can be a few feet high with moderate winds (10-20 knots) or they can be 40 feet with 60 kt winds. Conditions can change radically from day to day so who knows what we will experience.

So, we follow an old custom of rubbing the toe of the indian in the statue in the main square of Punta Arenas (it is shiny from all of the rubbing). This is said to grant a good passage. I do not know the origin of this story.  I don't believe in luck, but like any agnostic, I see no harm in following the ritual. It can't hurt, right?

Last night was my first night on the ship. The cabin is nice. It is a two person cabin but I am lucky enough to have it to myself. It is the benefit of being one of the older members of the science party.

The room is a bit small although there is a desk and a television along with two bunks and some storage space. There is a bathroom to the left just out of the picture. The TV connects to the ship's video system which shows navigation information, weather information, the plan for the day, and views from various cameras around the deck. However, I will use the cabin mainly as a place to sleep. Most of my waking hours will be spent in the dry lab (our work space). More about the dry lab later.

Today we clear customs and depart. All of the groups are securing equipment. We have set up our work places in the dry lab. Most of the equipment that we need is already on the ship so we don't have too much to do yet.

We got away around 10:30 am. Most people who are not working are on deck. Even though we are still in sight of the port, we are now a ship on the ocean. We have left land behind and are our own self-contained world.