Where are we at?

Departure from Lyttelton Harbor
We left the dock in Lyttelton
harbor around 7pm on the 27th of
October. Many were enjoying a last
cup of coffee in one of the cafes or
a last glass of beer in one of the
bars in Lyttelton looking down to
where the Nathaniel B. Palmer was
docked. Most of the scientists
gathered on the back deck on the
fourth level to watch the boat take
off (Picture 1). There was a sense
of excitement and everybody had
their cameras ready. The gangway
was heaved onto the same back
deck on the fourth level by crane
and secured by the crew (Picture
2). It takes four men to move the
heavy anchor ropes and we
watched the crew pull in the lines.
The boat left the inner harbor
quickly and stirred towards the
open waters where we saw groups
of dolphins pass by. During the
actual departure from the dock we
were not allowed on the bridge
where the captain and first mate
gave their undivided attention to
maneuvering the Palmer. During
departure from or arrival at a
harbor the captains of large vessels
or research ships are assisted by a
pilot. The pilot helps navigate
through the harbor waters and
leaves the ship after his job is done.
It can be tricky to change back
over to the pilot boat from large
vessels but in our case the pilot
didn't seem to have any trouble at
all (Picture 3). Shortly after we set
sail some of us gathered inside the
bridge sheltered from the wind to
watch the New Zealand landscape
go by (Picture 4). We are on our
way……..

October 30, 2003