Journal Entry

Cruise 3118, Antarctica Continent – Commonwealth Bay, 18 nights.

17th December 2007

No amount of being warned about the conditions prepared me for these few days.

I remember the first night, my friend and I fast asleep when we were woken by the sounds of our gear crashing around the cabin, even the heavy drawers went flying out of their chest. The noise of the seas smashing against the porthole was frightening, I was glad they’d locked them shut the day before; but when I came upstairs to start my early morning shift and saw the immense height of the waves our now seemingly small ship was sailing though I began to feel even more alarmed. It doesn’t help that this ship reminds me of the one in the movie Poseidon, and knowing that very recently a ship sank out here from hitting an iceberg. Oh yes, fear had set in!

On duty that morning, there were reports of guests being thrown out of their beds and across their rooms, some of these elderly and frail. The doctor himself had fallen and cracked a rib, some guests and crew had bruised bodies from being thrown about the ship.

The weather kept getting worse. Looking out of the window was a terrifying sight, we were sailing in intense conditions – in the height of the bad weather winds reached 60 knots, with seas of 10-11 metres, a very menacing sight considering the ship is only 103 metres long! The highest roll of the ship was recorded at 40 degrees; it seemed these tumultuous seas were playing with our small ship like a child with a toy, though I do feel in very safe hands with our Captain, but by then the sea-sickness kicked in.

I remember counting down the hours until my duty finished on each shift – longing to be laid down in my bed. The sea-sickness I was suffering from was getting worse and worse – eventually every time I even drank water I would vomit immediately. Many other services on board had shut down, but we could not abandon our station like others as all medical emergencies were channelled through the reception desk. The Doctor eventually decided to give me an injection, which is extreme, but I agreed that I was dehydrated and not holding down any food, water or medication. I just wanted the never ending sick feeling to stop – even for an hour or two.

Well, that injection worked wonders, I slept for 16 hours straight – and woke not feeling sick for once! I was even able to eat two pieces of toast and a cup of tea. That was an accomplishment for me over the recent two and a half days I had brought up anything I’d eaten or drunk straight away. I can’t describe the feeling of relief and happiness, to not feel constantly sick for days on end.

I can only continue praying to God that we aren’t stuck in an area of low pressure like that again; I have 5 more trips to/from Antarctica to survive before this is over.

The tiredness your body feels from the constant struggle to stand straight on this moving vessel can be enduring. However, there are good days as well as bad days; and then there are just fantastic days: the first time I saw white snow petrels, fur seals, whales, sitting on an iceberg watching adelie, king and emperor penguins just centimetres away, and the icebergs! Wildlife is abundent and absolutely everywhere I look every day; it’s a stunning, magical and untouched place!

I am enjoying myself, very happy to be back onboard. Now I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel when it’s rough and it’s definitely worth it to be here, in my snow shoes, now.