Life on a floating roller coaster

So, why are we going to the Southern Ocean? | Home | Black and white dolphins

31 January 2007

Posted by Melanie, on the Esperanza

Sloping horizon
© Greenpeace/Walsh

The seas have picked up significantly since yesterday and the ship is rolling about 20 degrees to port and starboard, sometimes more. I'm psyched that I haven't had to take any seasickness medicine at all, and while I have a constant lowgrade headache and a tinge of nausea, I'm certainly nowhere close to how sick I've been on past expeditions on the Arctic Sunrise. This ship is so much more stable than the Sunrise, and I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to make it through the entire expedition with my stomach contents intact.

And just as I finished typing that paragraph Captain Frank took the wheel and the ship started rolling more than 30 degrees. My chair slid on the floor all the way to the port side of the ship, but Sara was between me and the wall so the two of us jumbled up in a pile. But just for a moment, because then the ship rolled to port and we slid in a heap into Sakyo at the other end of the office. All the while trying to keep our chairs from flying out from under us, clutching our laptops and trying to prevent notebooks and other office paraphernalia from sliding onto the floor. The office we work in is on the same deck as the bridge, which is about ten metres/33 feet above the water. So when the ship rolls, it's amplified up here. The best place to be is as close to the water as possible where the movement is least severe.

Word of mouth is that the maximum roll on this ship ast year was 40 degrees (compare that to the Arctic Sunrise whose maximum roll was 70 degrees in the Southern Ocean last year), so I figure we've already experienced 3/4 of it. It's a bit novel right now since it's our first day of big seas, but I know in a few short days (or by the end of today!) we'll grow tired of this game of 3-dimensional Twister on a roller coaster.

The only good thing about the rough seas is that it forces the whalers to take a time-out. Hopefully these conditions extend all the way to the whaling grounds and has put a halt to the killing of whales.

More soon,
Melanie

Hernan and Nienke in the sloping mess
© Greenpeace/Beltra

Comments

well melanie, can't say I envy this particular life on the ocean wave. Bit intrigued though....is it not the responsibility of the bosun to make sure that everything is stowed in such a way as to minimise the degree of roll? I think we should have a detailed technical explanation from said crew-member on what has been done to protect you all from the rigours of seasickness...

Posted by: paulo at January 31, 2007 3:11 PM

I'm sure that in the Southern Ocean conditions no matter how well everything is stored on the ship it is going to roll... The enormity of the seas down that way! Yick! I actually hope in a way that the seas are rough all season so the Japanese boats go home empty handed! (Hopefully around the Esperanza there will be an air of calm though!) Nature should fight back!
Anyway you guys have a safe trip and find those whalers! Keep up the good work!

Posted by: Heidi at January 31, 2007 11:02 PM

Hi Guys , i just stumbled on this site looking for mike the electrician! but anyway it brought home to me what poeple like you are doing for the world and i am here sat in the comforts of home ... Well done and keep it up, i will certainly be donating to you.

Posted by: Tony at January 31, 2007 11:29 PM

It looks like such a lovely boat and looking at this photo makes me wonder how well my stomach could handle something like that. You guys are great and I agree with what Heidi posted, I hope the Japanese boats go home empty handed. I don't want for anyone to be hurt and I don't want there to be one single whale missing from it's rightful place in the water. Be safe, take care and I will follow along as best I can and am very happy to have finally found something to think about other than the wars and riots that happen where I live. Thank you for your dedication and efforts to save an animal that does not have a voice. Thank you for being their voice. :o)

Posted by: Aaliyah at February 9, 2007 12:26 PM

I do envy you because nothing ever happens to me. But I don't fancy being sea sick.Ugh!

Posted by: Esylt at February 22, 2007 5:07 AM

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