| Voyage
6 to Macca.
Voyage
6 is the last voyage for the 2002/2003 season, The
Aurora Australis undertook the re-supply of Macquarie
Island, retrieved summer personnel and completed the changeover
of winter personnel. Departing Hobart on Thursday the 20th
of March 2003, the trip of 1532 km took around 4 days, arriving
in the early morning on Monday the 24th. The voyage was a
bumpy ride, with the first 2 days and nights being particularly
bad, it was a workout just trying to hang on to your bunk
the first couple of nights as the ship pitched and rolled
to the Southern Ocean swell of up to 12 metres.
The
Southern ocean has a reputation of being one of the roughest
oceans in the world, the 40deg and 50deg South latitudes are
commonly referred to as the roaring 40's and the furious 50's.
Macquarie Island is located at 54deg 30min South, so the trip
there can at times be extremely rough, and in comparison to
some voyages it could have been much worse.
| |
|
The
Aurora Australis |
Bret
and Clint get excited as we depart Hobart |
|
|
The
Aurora Australis pitches and rolls in the Southern Ocean. |
Our
first view of Macquarie Island |
|
|
Macca
view from East coast (top) / Close up of Station on
the isthmus (bottom) |
|
|
The
King Penguins come to greet us as we Anchor in Buckles
Bay |
Shortly
after arrival things swing into action and the re-supply
starts |
|
