25 December 2005
Feliz Navidad from the Southern Ocean
by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza
File this one under the, "be careful what you wish for", heading. At the end of yesterday's update I said I hoped for the weather to get, "better or worse" so we could either effectively protest the whaling, or the sea would be too rough for the whalers to hunt. Well, my wish came true, and with a vengeance. We are in a full on Force 10 storm. Winds are at about 50 knots (57 mph/92 kph), gusting up to 60, the waves are easily 12 metres (40 ft) high, and our ship is rolling heavily with a shock like motion - lots of tilting with sudden lurches. So much of the water's surface has been stirred into frothy foam that outside it is a proper white Christmas.
While on the subject of Christmas, I want to take the opportunity to pass on our heartfelt holiday wishes to family and friends back home. On this day, we are all especially missing you. Also, a very Merry Christmas to all of our fellow sailors out here, enduring this storm: to the crew of the Arctic Sunrise (I hesitate to even think about how hellish today is for them); to the crew of the Sea Shepherd ship Farley Mowat (which arrived on the scene late last night); and even to the whalers - may they return safely to their own friends and families (though preferably without any more whale meat in their hold).
As for us, we continue our pursuit of the Nisshin Maru. Red and white Christmas hats are in good supply, Christmas music can be heard over the ships speaker system, and a truly heroic effort is underway in the galley (by Charles, Holly and a gang of helpers) to cook a holiday dinner that I suspect will be as tasty as it is memorable.
Best of all, it is yet another day without whaling. My new Christmas wish is for more weather just the same tomorrow (maybe even a bit nicer, no worse please, this is plenty rough enough thank you).
Peace,
Andrew
Comments
Merry Christmas to all ocean defenders, thinking of all you guys at sea and what you are doing.
Eric & Wendy
Posted by: Eric at December 25, 2005 10:38 AM
Merry Christmas to all aboard the Esperanza and Arctic Sunrise.
Thank you for the sacrifice you are making of being away from your friends and families at this time of year. Hope you can keep your Christmas meal on the plate long enough to eat it in those waves!
Sending our best wishes at Christmas and for the rest of the voyage.
The Cook family, England.
x
Posted by: MartinC at December 25, 2005 12:44 PM
Hey Andrew
and all onboard the espy and sunrise, best christmas wishes from all of us back in Amsterdam and all over the world.
A truelly noble effort to defend the whales.
I wish it could be christmas everyday for the whales, and that next year we can all spend christmas with our families and friends, including the whalers, beacuase there wll be no more bogus scientific whaling or any other kind of whaling.
Just in case you guys wondered it is a beautiful blue sky day here in Amsterdam -- cold and clear and stunning and not an iceberg in sight.
take care and keep up the good heart!
mike
Posted by: mike townsley at December 25, 2005 12:59 PM
Hi Andrew...,
Just wanting to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and to let you know we're thinking about you today. I'm sorry the weather has turned for the worse, ...and even worse, the fleet has not returned to Japan yet. But I know you guys and girls are made of stronger stuff. God bless you this day as you rise above the storm with this miracle in your hearts. Thank you with all my heart. But please, ...it is a life and death struggle. Let logic prevail, ...above all please be careful. Love to you all, ...Wes
Posted by: Grateful Child at December 25, 2005 1:38 PM
Merry Christmas to you all guys.
Thank you very much for everything you do to secure the future of our mother earth.
May God Bless you always.
Posted by: rolly at December 25, 2005 2:16 PM
Hi Guys!
Thanks for the update! Great to see the spirit of reconciliation. It inspires me to send you these quotes from the Iching book...
59. HUAN: DISPERSION WIND ABOVE WATER BELOW.
BE CAREFUL AND PROCEED SELFLESSLY. ENSURE THAT YOUR ACTIONS AREN'T SELFISH AND REMAIN HONEST. IF YOU WANT TO ATTAIN YOUR GOALS YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF OTHERS.
When the creative work we face is more important than oneself, one must let small personal goals melt. Growing beyond self the great work is done.
The work calls you to rise above personal friendships. The view must be wider than any one group. The goal appears beyond the personal. Giving in this way calls for great loss, but carries back to us all we gave, with blessings. Glory!
AND: HEXAGRAM EIGHT
PI (PRO: BEE) - UNITY
There is contact with one who is central to this issue, a leading figure. Do not hesitate to express your feelings of support openly. But remain true to oneself also.
Unite with those who come of their own will and accord. Let pass those who have no will to join. This leads to a fuller commitment and unity.
Julius and I are with you in thoughts and hope the weather will ease-up on you.
Be safe, take extreme care,
With love,
C&J.
Posted by: Corinne at December 25, 2005 2:31 PM
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Love your work,
kfj
Posted by: kfj at December 25, 2005 4:02 PM
Andrew - 40 foot waves - it makes my heart stop. I hope that all of you will be all right. Please take care.
Posted by: K. Davies at December 25, 2005 7:56 PM
Merry Christmas (and happy Hanukkah) to all of you!
Posted by: Alina at December 25, 2005 8:17 PM
Happy Christmas to all of you and my fondest wishes for a safe and joyful new year.
Thank you -
Kim
Posted by: Kimberly at December 25, 2005 8:59 PM
I'm sitting at the in-laws thinking how we have to do this for the sake of the family and then I snuck off to check on you all. I'm reminded how far from home and isolated everyone onboard is at this very moment. Please know that we are all thinking of you and wrapping our collective arms around you this season. You are so very important to us and to everyone that believes in the dream of making a difference in this world. Your selfless gift is the best thing we could find under our trees. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Love, Lisa
Posted by: Lisa at December 25, 2005 9:41 PM
Merry Christmas to you and to all the minkes!
You have kept the harpoons away from them this Christmas and inspired many around the world with your actions.
We're with you in spirit and look forward to welcoming you into the Med next year.
Best wishes from me and the team at GP Med...
Ahmet Bektas
Posted by: GP Med at December 25, 2005 10:56 PM
Merry Christmas to all of you down in the Southern Ocean!
i hope the weather settled down enough for you all to have your Christmas Meal without having to chase it round the mess.
I particularly hope Kate's had her Spam, and tell her i'm playing Dolly Parton Christmas tunes in her honour.
You guys are doing an amazing job down there, in conditions few of us envy, and at a time of year that's difficult to be away from home. But you're making a difference, and that's what matters.
Happy Holidays
x
Posted by: Willie at December 26, 2005 12:02 AM
Great job!
Keep doing like this, fight for justice!
[]s
Posted by: marco at December 26, 2005 12:14 AM
Merry Christmas - my thoughts are with you.
Your work is an inspiration to us all!
I thank-you for enduring such hardship for this great cause.
Best Wishes. Take care!
Posted by: Leyton at December 26, 2005 12:15 AM
Merry Christmas and thank you to all of you on the Esperanza and on the Arctic Sunrise!
I'm sorry because my english isn't that good :-(
But i would like to wish you all the best for your campaign.
Thank you very much for your actions against the whalers.
Thanks again and good luck!
Konrad Huelsmann
Posted by: Konrad at December 26, 2005 2:40 AM
merry christmas shane, andrew, lally and everyone on board the espy and the sunrise. thinking of you from sweltering hot new south wales, australia xxx
Posted by: Adele at December 26, 2005 6:58 AM
I support your efforts wholeheartedly & the conditions in which you're prepared to go in gives me more pride in my having been a member for the last 5+ years. Fantastic.
Posted by: NIck Crawford at December 26, 2005 9:34 AM
JOYEUX NOEL ET HEUREUSE ANNÉE!
merci d'être là-bas, au grand froid, au bout du monde, à déployer tant d'efforts dans la lutte pour la survie des baleines!
la ville de Sherbrooke vous salue... et spécialement charles-antoine, votre cook sur l'esperanza, qui nous manque à tous ici...
bon courage! et que l'année 2006 vous donne encore la force de convaincre le monde entier de l'urgence des actions à continuer!
béatrice migneault, sherbrooke (québec)
Posted by: beatrice m. at December 28, 2005 5:10 PM
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