by Good afternoon, Chris back for two updates…
Diamond Shoals Tower is due east and finally the seas are starting to lay down. Since 0200h EDT the seas steadily increased peaking about 10-12ft around lunch time today. Every one of the STEMSEAS group, except Nat and I, have been sea sick most of today. And that’s not to say that Nat and I didn’t look a little green here and there… but we carried on have been on watch since midnight last night to keep the sampling going every two hours.
That will teach our young scientists to talk about storms and whistle while at sea… Seriously though motion sickness is a real life aspect of becoming a sea-going scientist and knowing how to manage it while you have heavy weather is important to our students’ success.
AND
In the mess of 8-ft building seas late this morning we released our second drifter into the heart of the Gulf Stream. Capt. Jimmy of R/V Hugh R. Sharp (UDel) set us up in the lee, with a nice clearing behind the ship while Nat and I braved the storm-tossed, wave-soaked aft weather deck to launch the drifter from the stern. I will say I was a bit concerned at first when “Corky STEMSEAS,” our aptly named second drifter, didn’t immediately right herself and foundered a bit in the heavy seas. But she took a wave head on, and then settled in for the long day of pounding. As we started steaming away, we watched as she ‘dodged, ducked, dipped, dived, and dodged’ the breaking waves. Be on the lookout tomorrow for updates on the NOAA NEFSC drifter site from both Bob and Corky sailing the Gulf Stream. At last check Bob is north of Port St. Lucie, FL still heading north at more than 2 knots.
