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.

SAA II Delivery - Day 26 / 02 May 2012

Hello All

As my kids said...only one more sleep!!

We came in thick fog yesterday afternoon into the St. Helena Bay anchorage and was actually quite surprised to find a handful of bulkies anchored in the bay, probably waiting on their berths to come available at the iron ore terminals in Saldanha. Well we found a snuggle spot to anchor for the night while waiting on some DEA personnel to come onboard the next morning early to brief us on our arrival proceedings.

We were lucky and the fog lifted nicely to allow us to run our FRB in and pick 3 delegates up this morning. We are also taking out some time to dress up the ship and prepare the accommodation ladder and so forth. We would not want to struggle with any of those things tomorrow.

After our last team supper tonight we will recover the anchor and make for our last leg to the Mother City, hold thumbs for a good weather day, please.

Have a good midweek and see you tomorrow.

All the best.

SAA II Delivery - Day 25 / 01 May 2012

Hello All

Yesterday we got hammered a bit by the north westerly gale, but luckily it subsided relatively quickly. It was difficult to adjust to a comfortable heading with the seas and mayor swell almost apposing.

We made radar and visual landfall yesterday after many days of not having any land in sight, quite a welcoming event. We are slow steaming along the west coast and abeam to Lambertsbay at the moment heading south.

This morning we woke to what we know at sea as "pea soup", thick fog which even closes in the foremast. One has to think of sailors back in the day without radar...sure they had hair on their teeth.

We even had cell phone signal for a short while last night and this morning. Needless to say everyone grabbed their phones to say a quick "hello" before arrival.

Enjoy the public holiday and all the best.

SAA II Delivery - Day 24 / 30 April 2012

Hello All

From a stunning day yesterday to a true South African howling north westerly wind today. We don't mind and feel right at home and was expecting this weather for this time of the year.

We crossed the Namibian/South African seaward border this morning at 02:42 in position 29°37'S 015°03.4'E. The first time the vessel enters her home waters, quite an event.

Well we have decided to hove too the weather for the remainder of the day further offshore to stay well clear of a lee shore.

The weather forecasts are predicting some rain for the next few days and in particular our day of arrival on the 3rd of May...who organised that? ;-)

Have a good start to the week and see you on Thursday.