In most everything one does, no matter where they are, it is a good idea to be prepared as best you can for the unexpected. When where you are is on a research ship headed to a severe environment like Antarctica, that is particularly true.

So, if you are on a research ship headed to Antarctica, it is a good idea to be very well prepared for delays.

That is what has just happened to us. Our cruise was originally scheduled to leave Punta Arenas yesterday morning (1 March) but we discovered last week that a delay of a little over one day had been added for logistics reasons. We were scheduled to sail today at 2 p.m., but when the crew fired up the engines they discovered a problem with one of them (my understanding is that the bridge controls are not communicating with it normally). So, we have just moved off the dock because our spot was needed and anchored offshore a bit while we wait for a technician to fly down from the States. He or she will be here late tomorrow afternoon. So, we wait here, only about a quarter mile closer to Antarctica than we have been.

Although disappointing, as I said this is a normal part of doing field work. Actually, compared to the delays we would often have because weather prevented our planes from getting into or out of McMurdo Station, taking a ship to Antarctica is much less likely to have delays like this. Fortunately, we have plenty of work to do on scientific journal articles describing our previous research so we will put this unexpected but not completely unanticipated delay time to good use.

The worst part about this is that we do not have access to the World Wide Web from here. We can send and receive e-mail two times per day but, at least for now, will not be able to see the Web site or all your comments and questions until we get to Palmer Station.