Whistling up a storm

Feliz Navidad from the Southern Ocean | Home | Mother Nature takes control

26 December 2005

by Andrew, onboard the Esperanza

Another excellent day on board the Esperanza. We lost one life ring and one of our spotlights to the waves last night, but no other damage to report. This afternoon, our ship continues to pitch and roll. Frequently, we'll lurch a foot or two to the side - it sort of feels like being in a car accident (that happens over and over). However, our spirits are high because the rough weather has also kept the whalers shut down for another day. Woo hoo! Any day without whaling is a good one as far as we are concerned.

After some investigation it was discovered that first mate Paul was seen whistling (badly) on deck the day before last - leading us to conclude this storm is probably his fault. Nice job Paul. Today we continue to egg the weather on with a reckless disregard for our own safety. We are hanging up the coffee mugs facing every which way (to catch the wind), taunting the sea with our last few bananas (it hates bananas), and of course have women on board (notoriously unlucky, at least according to Pirates of the Caribbean).

We also continue to follow the factory ship of the whaling fleet as it heads first this way and then that - describing a course of odd geometric shape here in what the lovely Southern Ocean.

Picture: Slava last night with his Christmas present (painted by Marc), and Mannes with his new pirate hat(made by Holly)

Comments

I have to say the superstition of whistling on a ship and causing a storm is not true. I was on the Farley Mowat in 2002-03 in the antarctic waters for 45 days, and I whistled all the time. We experienced nothing but flat calm the whole time. Maybe my breath isn't magic enough...

----
Andrew replies

Not sure as to the origins of the superstition, but reportedly Paul was whistling pretty tunelessly. Maybe only bad whistling causes bad weather. Our experiments will continue on this subject.

-- Andrew (onboard the Esperanza)

Posted by: David Nickarz at December 27, 2005 2:54 PM

All updates from the Southern Ocean whaling 2007 leg »
All updates from the Pacific transit »
All updates from the Mexico leg »
All updates from the Hawaii leg »
All updates from the Pacific leg »
All updates from the Philippines leg »
All updates from the India leg »
All updates from the Red Sea leg »
All updates from the Mediterranean leg »
All updates from the Azores leg »
All updates from the Pirate Fishing/Africa leg »
All updates from the Southern Ocean »

Avast ye land lubbers! The ocean critters need your help!
Take action today!