Log Entry No 5 - 20th Dec 07. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

And so the long wait is finally over; thanks to the support and help of so many people, Discoverer has an adequate set of working instruments and later today we will slip for the Antarctic.

Its not always hard work!

It is somewhat later than we had hoped but the weather forecast is favourable with the prospect of a white Christmas in the South Shetlands.    There is of course now an air of excitement moderated by nervous reality and the odd butterfly stomach but that is to be expected; the talking stops and the actuality hits home.   Of course another emotion runs deep.   All of us have left loved ones and families at home and not withstanding our own excitement you too are very much in our thoughts.  We will retain the capability to keep in touch with you but the opportunity becomes less so although we hope to be able to send you Christmas greetings from Antarctica, a merry Christmas to you all as we bid farewell to The Falkland Islands and head south across The Drake.

Dick Pattison

Martin sporting a very nice hat.

FROM THE CREWS QUARTERS:

The Falkland Islands

Having now spent three weeks in the Falkland Islands, one feels able to give a visitor’s appreciation of this unique place. As is often said, the Islands resemble some cross between Dartmoor and the Western Isles, with a military presence that enables our stay here to be conducted in somewhat familiar territory.

Chris and Rob stowing an outboard engine.

Life here has necessarily revolved around getting the yacht and ourselves ready to set sail, with additional training in ropework and some of the technical aspects of the Field Studies programme being conducted as time permitted. As will have been noted, the problems related to Discoverer took longer than was hoped, leaving more time to explore parts of East Falkland.  Some of the expedition set forth for San Carlos and visited the quite moving British Cemetary, while the sailors discussed the prospects for “cruising” the islands, should one be posted here for any length of time.

Jamie and Martin re-packing the container.

The expedition conducted a Battlefield Tour of the Mt Tumbledown area, covering the ground taken by the Scots Guards while being educated by Dick P and then serenaded by Rob Duke by bagpipes on the summit overlooking Stanley.  This was followed by walking down into Stanley and a visit to the fascinating museum (and the pub…). The museum is home to relics and information about everything from the earliest settlers to the 1982 conflict and has adjacent the hut used by Sir Wally Herbert during one of his longer foreys to the region we are attempting to visit in Antarctica.  (Given the number of wrecks documented by the museum, we are all now fully convinced of the need for all the boats instruments to be in full working order!) By staying in Hillside Camp outside the capital city (!) we were able to indulge in a hearty meal en masse, which all enjoyed, without the worry of the return drive to MPA.

Rob Duke practicing his dip and strike for the geological field studies.

Last Sunday saw us enjoy lunch at Darwin, adjacent to the area of Goose Green where 2 Para CO Lt Col H Jones lost his life and gained a VC in the eponymous battle. A very informative, albeit impromptu, tour was conducted by the proprietor of the Lodge and served to enlighten many of the expedition for whom the detail of this battle has been little appreciated.

The mountaineering store.

More refining of kit and equipment and the oh so important load plan has resulted in being able to find more space for humans than was initially envisaged, pleasing everyone I think.  As of Monday, everything is loaded and we await the final boarding call once the skipper gives the go-ahead.

The one and only time the Skipper has been seen on the foredeck.

With the potential for departure moving ever closer, I think all will be glad to move on, mainly because every day here is a day less down in Antarctica.  However it has been interesting to be able to see part of the Islands and although I doubt anyone is clamouring for a posting down here, there are worse places to have to kill the best part of a month…(and my liver).

James Annear