Since there has been quite a bit of interest about me going to sea this time I thought I'd try some of this blogging. It means I'll be able to keep in touch with everyone and show you all what I'm upto, so if everyones sitting comftably let me begin.............

This is all a little strange, my whole cabin is creaking and moving! This doesnt happen in the R.F.A much. For the first time in 10 months I am actually at sea and what a shock to the system that is!!!

The last ship I was on was R.F.A Lyme Bay and the thought of returning to that very same grey ship doing the very same job I did last year for 9 months provoked a desire to change my working environment. Luckily for me the position of Second Officer onboard the Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross was available and that is where I am now, sat in my cabin after completing my first 12-4 watch of the trip keeping my fingers cross the lines I put on the charts (my first passage plan) carry us in the right direction, down the North Sea, through the English Channel, out into the North Atlantic then South, South and a little further South to the Falklands.

The James Clark Ross is a Scientific Research ship that operates in the Antarctic durning the months of October to April and the North Atlantic in other months of the year. My main jobs, as Second Officer are to passage plan for the ship and keep a navigational watch on the bridge for 8 hours a day. I also look after the ships stationary and help the Chief Officer with cargo work.

I am going to be on the JRC until the middle of February so there is lots of time to work on my blogging and my Spanish. Hopefully you will be able to see a little bit of the Antarctic thought the blog and may'be, if you're lucky pick up some "sailor speak" so conversations in the pub can be understood a little more!