SAA II SITREP Voy 004-024

Hello All

We remained at anchor in front of Transvaal Bay for the evening with a predominant North Westerly wind, but that changed this morning before 06:00 when the winds suddenly backed to the south and we were setting closer to the shore. We recovered the anchor and went further offshore to sit on DP.

During the morning the weather remained between 30 and 40 knots which was unsuitable to start the helicopters for flying.

We then steamed around to Quest Bay to be in the lee and will probably fly the passengers on from here.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-23

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon we used the 206 to fly some of the scientists into the field and started with cargo flying for an hour over lunch back loading 9 lifts and flying off 8. We then went to anchor for the night in Quest Bay.

This morning we weighed anchor in Quest Bay and made our way around to Transvaal Bay for the flying of passengers to the base for the take over function. We then went to anchor in Transvaal Bay and hope to stay here over night.

Enjoy the rugby and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-022

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon the wind turned onshore at Sea Elephant Bay so we relocated to Quest Bay, but could not anchor due to the opposing wind and swell. We remained in the bay on DP for the night.

This morning we were in Transvaal Bay at first light and ready for helicopter operations. A Passenger flight to the island was conducted including some sensitive equipment. We will fly the remainder of the frozens ashore today and start with the back loading. The weather has calmed down to a moderate breeze from the SW which has blown down the northerly swell also...a pleasant change.

Have a good Firday, all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-021

Hello All

We rang end of passage yesterday at tea time as we approached Transvaal bay, but realized that neither there nor Quest Bay would be suitable for anchorage.

We established radio contact with the base and also with the local cray fishing boat the Edinburgh before steaming to a anchorage in Sea Elephant Bay to sit out the approaching storm.

We were initially brought up to 7 shackles in the bay, but overnight the winds picked up to close to 60 knots and our anchor could not keep us in position. We relayed our anchor twice during the day with the wind  gusting up to 85 knots.

This afternoon we had to relocate anhorage to Quest Bay due to the wind backing onshore at Sea Elephant Bay. Quest bay is good for the building westerly winds, but the Northerly swell is running in high into the bay and will not be suitable for anchorage. In the mean time we will sit on DP until conditions change. Tomorrows weather would perhaps allow us to do some island flying.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-020

Hello All

After completing the Glider deployment yesterday after lunch we headed directly for the island with a stop for a CTD last night at 18:00 and another this morning at 06:00.

The island was detected this morning at 3, 69 miles to the north, in very good weather conditions. The island was sighted early this morning and a radio sched held shortly after lunch today.

We are expecting some inclement weather conditions during the course of the night and tomorrow and hope that the island could provide us with a good anchorage to sit it out.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-019

Hello All

We stopped last night for our 18:00 CTD cast with a slight breeze from the North East and half an hour later were confronted by veering wind gusting well over 50 knots from the South East. We had all our days to try and maintain position since the weather came onto the vessels beam. We managed to maintain position while the CTD cast was completed. After the station we headed for our proposed glider deployment position for this morning but after a couple of uncomfortable rolls we decided to hove to for the night and wait for the weather to moderate.

We still managed to get to the deployment area by 09:00z this morning and after several communication test from ashore and a CTD cast we deployed the last of the two gliders shortly before lunch.

Other than the evening and morning CTDs we are making normal passage to the island and will be there by the evening tomorrow just in time to hide away from the approaching weather.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-018

Hello All

We continued on our passage north deploying weather buoys and ARGO floats along the way and this morning at around 3 we altered course toward Gough Island again.

It is rainy outside with a moderate easterly wind pushing us to lean slightly to port and the confused swell making movement slightly erratic onboard.

Enjoy the public holiday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-017

Hello All

Our Southern most leg has been completed as we turned north again after supper last night, but it is only now that we are feeling the latitudes we are in with the barometer dipping to 980mb and the snow fall brought in by the strong South Easter evident to that fact.

We completed two 2000m CTD stations, several buoy deployments and several ARGO float deployments during the preceding 24 hours making use of being in a less traversed geographical location.

We are hoping to get a break in the weather at midday on the 25th to launch the second glider, but from what we can see there is something brewing to the north west that might give us a bit of a hiding on arrival day.

All the best and have a relaxing Sunday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-016

Hello All

The lull in the weather subsided as a small front came though veering the wind around to the SSE with considerable strength. During the very early hours of this morning we recovered the CPR and deployed the first SAWS weather drifting buoy shortly before altering course due west on the 50° latitude.

We will deploy another buoy after lunch today and then later tonight at supper time another one with a CTD station before altering to the north again.

Have a good Saturday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-015

Hello All

The two weeks since departing Cape Town has gone passed very quickly with many things happening.

We are making our way south and would reach our furthest most latitude, for our first buoy deployment, at the very early hours tomorrow before turning west. There is a wary lull in the weather at the moment with hardly any movement on the ship, but knowing that we are in the roaring forties where some of the worlds worst weather conditions occur makes you quite anxious. We will celebrate the good weather and Neptune's grace with a evening braai even though outside temperatures are now well below 10°C...what South Africans will do for a braai is above imagination :-).

Enjoy your Friday and the start to the weekend.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-014

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon we deployed our first float and then a 2000m CTD in the evening.

Today turned out to be quite exiting with us on station to deploy the gliders. The first glider was struck by a wave of water as the vessel slammed down on the stern of which force broke its wing. We then had to deploy our Rescue Boat in marginal conditions to recover the glider again. We reviewed our deployment strategy and deployed the second glider with success. The glider was sent down to depth and return to the surface after communication to it from the shore station. We remained on station to deploy another float and completed a CTD station. We are hoping to deploy the "clipped" glider on the north bound leg again.

Have a good end to the week.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-013

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon all the visiting scientist were flown back onboard before the vessel settled on anchor in Transvaal Bay.

We prepared the vessel for a deep sea passage and rang full away at 08:00 Z  this morning shortly after our radio schedule with the DCO.

We stopped for our first CTD only an hour after departing from the base in inclement weather conditions, but managed to hold station.

Shortly after lunch today we deployed our first ARGO float from the vessel and all went well.

Enjoy the day and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-012

Hello All

After afternoon tea yesterday afternoon we recovered the anchor and steam offshore until a depth of over 500 meters were reached for a CTD cast. The cast went well and we were at anchor again in Quest Bay shortly before supper.

This morning conditions were good and some extra stores were required on the island and a visit for the ship based scientists were made possible. The B206 flew passengers between 09 and 10. We then used the sheltered bay to complete our lifeboat exercise by launching the port lifeboat and giving Officer's and crew familiarization in the boats launching and operation, we did the same for the FRB.

We will remain at anchor until tea time today after which we would recover the anchor and steam to Transvaal Bay for the passenger flights back to the ship. We are planning to leave for the buoy run tomorrow morning.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-011

Hello All

We remained at anchor during the preceding 24 hours. Yesterday we dragged the anchor a short distance when the wind came up over 40 knots, but after paying out another shackle she kept well. This morning was almost windless and we managed to do a helicopter flight to the island to pick up the two SAWS personnel who would be joining us for the buoy run. We are planning to leave Wednesday on the buoy run, a day earlier than scheduled, so that we have more time in the bag for the back loading on our return should the weather be foul.

I hope you had a good start to the week.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-010

Hello All

After completing the fuel pumping yesterday we recovered the open moor and shifted the anchor position a little further offshore with the wind predictions from the NW and SW.

Today we wanted to complete some passenger flights to the island but the gusting wind with occasional rain squalls made flying marginal and it was decided to suspend flights for the day.

If the wind direction remains we will maintain our anchorage here in Transvaal Bay.

Have a relaxing Sunday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-009

Hello All

I apologies for the late report, but my attention was required elsewhere.

As predicted the weather turned out perfectly yesterday and we managed to complete all cargo discharge flights with the exception of some frozens that the island can not yet take until they have repacked their fridges.

We managed to bring the ship up on her open moor and ran out the fuel hoses around lunch time. The first bunch of hoses did not pass the air pressure test, even though they were tested back in Cape Town. Luckily we had our old set from the previous vessel, but it took quite some time to recover the hoses and redeploy before we could actually start the pumping. Once the pumping started it went smoothly and around 60 000 litres were pumped to the island to complete their requirements.

All hoses and boats were recovered during twilight as the dinner bell rang, which came as a relief to many who have been up since the crack of dawn in preparations for the days activities. I commend my crew.

I hope that you had a good Saturday and wish you a even better Sunday.

_________________________

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-008

Hello All

A boot washing ceremony and team leaders meeting was held yesterday afternoon in anticipation of today's arrival at Gough island. We were not quite sure if the weather would be workable, but all stations were on standby if it was.

We stopped for an hour yesterday afternoon shortly before supper to do a CTD cast before continuing on our way.

We were in Transvaal Bay early this morning and decided that it was all systems go with the weather workable. We completed all the passenger flights and changed over helicopters to complete several under slung loads to the island.

With the vessel holding station beautifully on DP it makes life much easier.  We are now preparing for the rest of the cargo to be flown off the vessel.

We have put aside tomorrow to complete the refueling on the island since it is predicted to be a very nice day weather wise, but in many ways the calm before the storm and from what we can see next week will not be workable at all.

Enjoy the weekend and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-007

Hello All

We spent the night around the Southern end of the island in anticipation of the NE'ly winds blowing onshore at Edinburgh Straits. This morning early we made our way to the North  Eastern side of Nightingale Island and were ready for helicopter operations at dawn. Being ready so at first light proved to have  been vital since by 09:00 it was closed up and raining with flying not piossible. We managed to get all 6 passengers and their gear flown onto the island.

We are now proceeding to Gough and will be there at first light. If conditions at Gough are workable we will start with our Passenger Flights.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-006

Hello All

We had quite a full day today at Tristan, hence the delayed report.

All and all everything went very smoothly today with all the Tristanians and there luggage safely ashore. Several others had the opportunity to visit the island for a quick walk around.

The weather was kind to us, which made life easier.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-005

Hello All

We are still pushing our way through strong head seas and large swell, but are making good progress and will achieve our ETA.

The activities are lined up for tomorrow and the day will be full. Luckily the weather prognoses is counting in our favor, but it is looking grim for the day there after. We have to conduct a helicopter drop for 6 people and their luggage on Nightingale on that day and hope that we could fit it in before the front closes in on the 13th...hold thumbs.

If all goes well we would make landfall at Gough on Saturday the 15th, which is looking quite good at this stage weather wise.

We will retard clocks tonight after which ships time will remain on GMT for the remainder of the voyage, before the return leg.

I am sure that there are many eager people onboard waiting on their visit to  Tristan Island.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-004

Hello All

The wind has regained a bit of strength and veered to the WNW after quieting down for a while last night. It gave us the opportunity to gain a bit of distance.

We retarded the ships clocks last night by one hour to GMT + 1 and will again on Tuesday night as we make our way to the west and coming in line with Tristan.

We managed a broken HF radio sched with TDC this morning and will try again tomorrow morning. Our anticipated arrival is building some excitement onboard now.

This morning we spent mostly on ship and helicopter personnel training and testing of the required safety equipment in anticipation of the arrival operations.

I hope you had a good start to the week.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-004

Hello All

The wind has regained a bit of strength and veered to the WNW after quieting down for a while last night. It gave us the opportunity to gain a bit of distance.

We retarded the ships clocks last night by one hour to GMT + 1 and will again on Tuesday night as we make our way to the west and coming in line with Tristan.

We managed a broken HF radio sched with TDC this morning and will try again tomorrow morning. Our anticipated arrival is building some excitement onboard now.

This morning we spent mostly on ship and helicopter personnel training and testing of the required safety equipment in anticipation of the arrival operations.

I hope you had a good start to the week.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-003

Hello All

We have been hampered by quite a strong Westerly wind and swell over the past 24 hours. Out scientific stations are also eating away at our distance run for the day, which means that it would be a push to get to Tristan on time for the morning of the 12th. Tomorrow the winds are said to be veering to north of west, which would allow for some weather routing hopefully.

Today, being Sunday, were more relaxed onboard with a interdenominational church service held for all onboard.

Enjoy your Sunday and the start to the week.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-002

Hello All

Time is flying and so are we with the fair weather in our favor.

Passengers were entertained today to briefings from all the various disciplines and dignitaries onboard, while the ships staff used the time to complete the weekly drills. We did experience one or two light drizzles but not anything to write home about.

We have set and ETA for TDC for 08:00 Z on the 12th of September 2012 and feel confidant that we would make that even with stopping twice a day for a 2000 meter CTD dip.

The drop keel has been lowered to improve the scientists ADCP readings.

Enjoy the rest of your day and the rugby.

SAA II SITREP 004-001

Hello All

Shoe there we go! Our departure from Cape Town yesterday was preceded by a flurry of events, which had all and sundry running around like headless chicken. Luckily we chose the perfect day to sail with many waking to red faces from sun exposure this morning.

We pushed along a bit over night to try and regain the time lost for the few delays we had and managed just that.

This morning we did our first CD cast to 2000m and was pleasantly entertained by a humpback whale flapping its tail for several minutes...show off :-)

Well hopefully the going will be good for the rest of the day as we approach our second CTD cast tonight at 20:00.

Have a splendid Friday. All the best.