Friday evening 5 August Nordenshel’da Archipelago just at the start of the Vilkitsky strait in the South Kara Sea
So lots going on, it’s amazing how you can make yourself busy out of nothing. Same place, same time.
Ros changed the Anchor watch. We are from opposite ends of the spectrum. I am from the Richard Nixon camp, but Ros will tweak until perfect. Which I admire, as long as it doesn’t affect me !!! So last night I thought it was odd when Nikolai was going to bed at 9.30pm. On closer scrutiny, he was on anchor watch at 2.30 am. Russian Capts normally do a floating watch, that applies to dish washing, Anchor watch, cooking and sleeping. So off he slunk to bed, don’t mess with Yorkshire girls.
Well I remember Sir Tom Farmer once telling me, too much information leads to paralysis. We had four lots of information from four separate sources, that could help us make a decision today if we move or not.
Firstly, GRIB weather files. Very accurate. It shows trends, weather now and in a few days on an hourly basis, Strength and direction. So the latest is the 35 knot winds in our cove would reduce later today, finally blue skies and the wind turning to the South on Sunday. Will this be better for the ice for us ? Will it move the ice away from the land, which we need.
Secondly, we had Sergei in Murmansk, he sent through two lots of information. Again, weather information from another source, showing roughly the same as the GRIB files. Calming down and the wind changing direction. Tues is action day on this set of charts.
Thirdly, Sergei sent through a Satellite photo. It showed our position on the photo, but also showed where the ice had crammed into the Strait with the last few days of south westerly winds. It also showed an ice breaker escorting three other ships going East in our direction.
Fourthly, we had our regular Friday Ice Chart update from the boys in St Petersburg. After all of these high winds, it showed a huge difference in just four days. From our charts, as you can see, it looks like we could get up the south coast of the straight and into shelter in the bay beyond. After that, the Laptev sea, whilst hugely opened up, was closed along our route by about 5 miles .So close but so far !
So how can one chart show we can move up the strait next to the shore and the ice breakers having such a hard time of it in the strait. Is it because they can only operate in depths more than 15 m? Nikolai was on the phone to everyone. His wife to start with, then Sergai, then St Petersburg.
So, the conclusion .’Maybe’ The Russians love ‘Maybe ‘ Does that mean before Dennis’ Birthday tomorrow, Leaving before his Birthday, leaving before Xmas? ‘Maybe’
So maybe we will run out of Vodka, then we get going. BUT he is right on several counts. We can move, but then we are blocked. We are safe and sound and in no danger, so why move until we can get a straight passage. ‘Maybe’ thats a good point.
So we will now get daily updates and charts. Not just Tues and Fri. Sergei is not going fishing this weekend, he is going into the office for us, to keep us posted. So,
‘Maybe’
David