April 16th: Heli ops are go

Macquarie Island has no port or harbour.  All of our supplies are brought in by Helicopter or  boat.  When the swells are too high to land small water craft, the helicopters are our sole means of bringing in our years worth of precious supplies, and of taking out the RTA (Return to Australia) loads of landfill, disused equipment and rubbish back to the ship.
Watching these guys maneuverer their aircraft on and off the narrow isthmus and pitching and rolling ship deck is a sight to behold.  Much respect.


Helis moving cage pallets to and from the ship. Photo: Jacque Comery.

Helicopter picking up a sling load from the Aurora Australis.  Photo Jacque Comery.



Taking off with another pallet to return to Australia, or RTA as we call it.  Photo: Jacque Comery

April 11: Refuelling the station and the beautiful Aurora Australis...not the ship

Jacque Comery and Ben Golden on the isthmus admiring the Aurora Australis (the southern lights). Photo: Justin Chambers

 A whisper went around the mess that there was an aurora starting to appear.  With my tripod still in cargo I ran outside to try to get some shots...to no avail.  Thankfully Justin our chef was prepared armed with his tripod and mad skills, and caught this great shot of Ben and I.  Longest I have stood still not breathing in my life and not giggled!

Aurora Australis over the isthmus. Photo: Justin Chambers

 The Aurora danced around the sky  for over an hour.  It gave us curtains, and halos and all sorts of colours.  I couldn't believe that in just the 2 days since we landed I had been treated to so many amazing sights.

A Gentoo penguin supervises refuelling of the station.  Photo: Jacque Comery

 Refuelling is one of the biggest events on the resupply calendar.  It requires nice cooperative weather to move over 200,000L of fuel from ship to shore by  floating pipeline.  Our successful resupply was the highlight of the day....well until the show stealing Aurora came along.

Transferring a years supply of diesel fuel from the ship to our station via over water pipeline. Photo: Jacque Comery

This picture shows the IRBs (inflatable boats) patrolling the fuel line checking for any signs of leakage, and the helicopter still sling loading cargo from the deck of the AA to keep operations running. Resupplying a sub-Antarctic station is an impressive logistics feat.

April 9: Land ahoy. All aboard the helicopters!

Macquarie Island. First Sighting. Photo: Jacque Comery

A buzz started aboard.  Land ahoy!  To be fair, disappointingly no one actually said that, except me on the inside!  Finally after so much planning and waiting, I laid my eyes on the Green Sponge.  Such a small speck of land out here in the middle of the ocean, thousands of miles from Hobart and half way to Antarctica. This view is out the port hole in the mess...I was making a cuppa at the time.


Macquarie Island and a LARC amphibious vehicle. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

The amphibious LARC is the alternative method to helicopters that we use to move cargo ashore.  Macquarie Island has no port, and all cargo and personnel must be moved via heli flight, or aboard the LARCS. These fine machines are 55 years old and were originally designed for use by the Army. I had the privilege to drive one of these fine ladies in Tasmania. If high winds ground our 4 helicopters the LARCS will be our primary cargo transfer means.  The LARC aboard the Aurora Australis will join the two vehicles already on land.

 

 

On the afternoon of our arrival, the seas were too big to launch the LARCS. The decision came from the Voyage Leader that the Winter crew would fly off by heli to get a head start on handovers.  Notice that I still cant wipe the ridiculous smile off my face.

Jac and Rich Youd (2015 Senior Comms Tech Officer - SCTO) in our survival suits ready to fly off the Aurora.  Photo: Rich Youd.

Awaiting clearance from the HLO to board our heli. Photo: Rich Youd.

Filming my farewell to the Aurora. Photo: Rich Youd.

April 8: Southern Ocean

Southern ocean from the Aurora Australis bridge. Photo: Jacque Comery

Making good progress south in a rolling beam swell. Although it does not looklike  it from this photo, the roll is making working on the computer on the upper decks a little tiresome.  Many of the team have retreated to their bunks with some sea sick pills.
I have never been sea sick in my entire life, but I reckon an icebreaker in a big sea might just break me. Travelling well so far though.  Note the cute Orca wind vein on the mast on the foredeck.  You can also see the barge on deck  that is travelling  down with us to help unload some heavy equipment.

April 7: Aurora Australis

Life buoy aboard Aurora Australis.

Photo: Jacque Comery

April 6th: Farewell Hobart

Voyage management team. Photo: Bridget Payne

All aboard! Left to right. Me (Macquarie Island Station  Leader), Mike Woolridge (Deputy Voyage Leader), Nicki Wicks (Voyage Leader)Voyage management team ready to depart Hobart. Nothing can wipe the smile off my face.




Macquarie Island 2015 Crew (Ranger in charge Andrea is already on the Island.)

 Photo: David Hardman.

Meet the  Macca 2015 crew.

Back row L-R. Lionel (dieso), Mark (sparky), Duncan (BoM tech), Justin (chef), Ben (plumber), Marion (doc), Louise ( BoM observer), Jac (station leader), Rich (comms tech). 

Front row L-R. Nick (chippy), Dan (senior BoM observer), Anna(wildlife ranger).

(BoM = Bureau of Meteorology).





Helideck. Photo: Jacque Comery

On the helideck of the Aurora Australis steaming up the Derwent River, leaving Hobart behind.  Finally , we are on our way.

April 5: The big red ship - Aurora Australis

Big red ship - Aurora Australis. Photo: Jacque Comery

Only 1 more sleep.  Tomorrow we board this lovely lady who will take us safely to our new home...The Green Sponge, Macquarie Island.