4 October, 1995

Wednesday, October 4, 1995

We are finally on our way, after leaving the dock at Punta Arenas at 1600 hours (4PM) 10-3-95. The wait was worth it immensely, however, a number of people commented about how tired they were immediately after setting sail. We took a pilot aboard and will have him for about six hours. We have an eight hour run out of the Straits of Magellan and then we enter Drake Passage about midnight tonight. I have my own game plan regarding getting my sea legs and will probably head to bed around 9-9:30 PM for about 4-5 hours of sleep. The seas will build after midnight and if the wind is from the north we will have a following sea, but you never know what will happen. I don't want to get up in the morning in unexpected seas and weather so I will get up around midnight, eat a meal and drink liquids and visit the bridge. For me it is easier to gain my sea legs slowly with me in command istead of waking to rough seas and having to invent survival techniques. Old sailing habits don't die. I can sleep more tomorrow.

The sun was absolutely gorgeous this evening and I am still awed by the fact that I am actually doing this. I know that a great many more things and events will happen that will fill me with wonderment, humbleness and apprehension, however, to be here running at 51 degrees longitude is truly amazing. The stars are glittering in the sky under a cloudless evening and I realize that I am looking at constellations that I haven't seen before. There are clouds on the horizon but too far away to tell what is happening. The seas are flat, the temperature is about 42 degrees without the chill factor set in and we are running 10.5 knots out of the straits. I am also apprehensive about writing too much that may sound or appear as a vacation report, however, it seems that this is what it is to everyone onboard. I assure you that the equipment is aboard, the research is being talked about over dinner and meals, and for the time being, until we get to Copa Station, a United States penguin and bird research station, and then to Palmer, nothing can be done, but wait. We have received word of a hurricane over or approaching Florida and are trying to download info about it. A number of people have families there and there is large concern over their well being. This is all part of leaving home and being in a situation where communication is limited.

I hope you received my earlier email. I will constantly try to keep in touch but am leaving for now. We are finally under way for Antarctica on the motor research vessel Polar Duke.

Later and Peace.

George

Wednesday, October 4, 1995

We lost transmission via satellite and hopefully everything I sent you, you received. It seems that everything you have sent may be floating in space. If these problems keep happening, then we have the basis for a new sitcom, MAIL---IN---SPACE. Please send mail Lonely Thank you. Oh, so you don't think this is personal enough, huh? Well this was a generic cut and paste to all of you. Remember the address is duke@atsvax.rsmas.miami.edu and in the subject line put pdsc06 only and then my name in the first line of the message or text. The problems of satellite communications.

Thank you.

George