Entry 04
February 20 2025
Escorts, sea survival and sea sickness
Not a huge amount of science was done today - everyone gets a day of grace to adjust to the ship's movement, which leaves most feeling at least a little groggy - but let me tell you a little about the experience of leaving port. We headed out to the front deck where we had the optimum view. When you leave a big port like Rio you get a 'Pilot' - someone who knows the way and comes up to the bridge to guide you out. He came on around 0900 and we were off. We sailed past many of Rio’s landmarks – Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf mountain, and, breaching the mouth of Guanabara bay, we were out into the open ocean! It's quite an indescribable feeling really, knowing you won’t see land again for almost two months.
The biggest excitement of the day, apart from three or four planning meetings, was the muster and lifeboat drill. This saw us all gathering in the hangar with our life vests and hard hats before filing up to the lifeboats. We all filed into the boats and sat while we were briefed on what would happen in the event! We spent the evening scheming in anticipation of science beginning in the next few days, and were treated to the most serene first night sunset. I sent a picture home to my supervisor, who replied ‘the happiest place on earth – the aft deck of a research ship’. I’m inclined to agree!
