The trip

Our [tentative] plan: sail from Manta, Ecuador 25 Oct. and arrive in Pape'ete, Tahiti on 22 Dec.

Welcome to the South Pacific 2013 blog! I'm cautiously optimistic about keeping this page going during our sail from Manta, Ecuador to Pape'ete, Tahiti. To get you acquainted with the voyage, here are 7 of the top questions I've been asked lately:



1. How big is the boat?

The R/V Thomas G. Thompson is 274 feet long, which is a little shorter than a football field and about 1/3 the length of a cruise ship.

It's named for Thomas G. Thompson, Ph.D. A professor at University of Washington, he was one of the first chemists to study the ocean (ca. 1930). In addition to his research, he served in both WWI and WWII.


2. How long does it take you to get there?

We will be underway for the better part of 58 days, and we won't be docking between Manta and Pape'ete, although we will be sailing in Peruvian waters (within 12 nautical miles of shore) and might catch a glimpse of land. See the map above for our planned track!


3. That's a long time! Are there phones or internet? How about swimming pools on board?

Cell phones don't work in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, although the crew has access to a satellite phone for emergencies. We do have internet, although it is very slow compared to what most of us are accustomed to (it works through a satellite connection). And no, no swimming pool on board, and no swim calls in the ocean for both safety and time reasons.


4. Whoa, limited internet and no swimming - what are you doing that whole time???

Science! Check back during the trip to hear about the various research projects happening.

My poorly stitched together 270° view of a berth.

 
5. What's the living situation like?

A lot like living in a college dorm!
* We bunk with another scientist
* Bathrooms are shared between 2 bedrooms
* Laundry is down the hall
* Meals are prepared for us





6. Do you get weekends off?

We wish! At a cost of ~$20k per day, there isn't much room for time off on the R/V Thompson! Crew typically work 12 hours on, 12 hours off; scientists work when they need to, which is typically 12 - 18 hours a day.


7. How many people are on board?

There are 36 scientist berths and up to 21 crew members. I'll do my best to make sure you meet all of us in the coming weeks!