Dispatch 30: Steaming South     Print

Gerty Ward

August 15, 2008

After finishing up station work at 72.36N, 144.42W, the LSSL began a 16-hour 293 km steam south to meet a refueling barge. This break in the science work gave everyone time to take breath after the frenetic pace of the past weeks.

Even though we are now receiving satellite TV and are enjoying the Olympics, we decided that we need to stage an event ourselves.

Presenting the LSSL Intergalactic Olympics- The Heli Deck High Dive. The object was to drop a Diver (a small test tube) from the Bridge deck into a red bucket on the flight deck.

Linda White demonstrates the art of Heli Deck High Diving. The object was to drop your Diver into the red bucket below.		These guys are getting psyched up prior to the competition.

Heli Deck High Dive competition was judged by some tough characters: Chief Officer Stan Nunn, Kenny Scozzafava and Jim Dunn.		Third Engineer Wayne Barter checks with the judge before attempting the Heli High Dive.		Waldek Walczowski shows off his High Diver before the competition.

The Try-Athelon competition included a clever timed Pandora's Box competition: objects that had to be put together to match the picture on the lid. One person could actually do the assembling but could receive any verbal instructions.

The Chief Engineer directed Kelly Young to victory in Pandora's Box.		Teams resorted to a variety of techniques to show their spirit.

The co-pilot seatbelt in the helicopter is quite a challenge. Under field conditions, getting in the helicopter requires focus and concentration. The blades are spinning making speech impossible, so it is important that you know what you are doing. Correctly putting on the lifejacket, seatbelt and headset is essential. Our truly wonderful helicopter pilot Chris Swannell has seemingly endless patience with us.

Can John Bray get in the helicopter blindfolded, asks Sarah Zimmermann? Yes her can! He earned extra points for remembering to put on his lifejacket.		Edmand Fok *finally* gets himself strapped into the challenging co-pilot seat in the helicopter.		Ice observer Marie-Claude Bouchard has a lot of helicopter experience. So the judges decided she had to strap herself in backwards. She did, no problem.

While it is important for our mental health to have fun and be silly, work still goes on.

Nes Sutherland tends samples during the competition.