© Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac

How/why did you get involved with Greenpeace? I used to be a journalist, but then I ran away to sea and Greenpeace. I want to stand up and be counted for my political beliefs rather than spend my life reporting someone else's.

Why is this expedition important to you?
There are few places on Earth where raw power and absolute fragility collide, to bring such beauty in one spot. The winds are so strong they can literally take your breath away, the waters sometimes crashing over the very top of the ship are so cold that nothing decays, towering icebergs beyond the ability of the best architect drift past in a once in a lifetime display and then are gone, not only from sight, but melted back to the sea. And all nature that is there is at one with every contradiction of it - Antarctica is unique and should be protected from all environmental destruction

I love the Southern Ocean- this will be my second trip and I fully recognise what a privilege it is for me to be able to go there. But I would rather the reasons for the expedition where different. Whaling is one of the worst examples I can imagine of the way we are killing our oceans - over fishing, pollution, climate change impacts are all wreaking havoc - to add whaling into that unholy brew is an insanity that simply must end and I want to do my bit to make it happen.

And I also want to be able to jump up and down and the bridge in really rough weather, praying for bigger waves and shouting at Frank to go faster, just to annoy him!

When at sea, what do you miss the most from home?
Gin and tonic and my 1.80 metre long bath (preferably at the same time!)

Anything else you would like to say?
I know the Fisheries Agency of Japan reads our weblog and one of the reasons that they continue to whale is because they are afraid of losing face. Real honour can only ever come from having the courage to admit when you are wrong. Have courage.