16-Feb
We are probably as far south that is possible to go by ship. This point is the closest point to the South Pole that is possible to reach by ship. One to chalk up for my history book.

To mark this occasion of the voyage, the Captain stamps and signs my first day covers with the official ship’s stamp, together with the voyage leader, another trade with Bob, the ice pilot. This first day cover and a map of the Ross Dependency were exchanged for a watercolour painting of the Ross Sea. Thanks Bob, This reminds me that I should really fish out my stamp collection from the attic as I recall having several other Ross Dependency first day covers.
Ross Dependency Postage stamps - a bit of history.

In 1908, New Zealand Post Office overprinted some 23,500 New Zealand postage stamps with King Edward VII Land ( the original name of the Ross Dependency), for use by the 1908 British Antarctic Expedition. Ernest Shackleton was the first postmaster.
In later years, the New Zealand Post Office issued stamps under the name "Ross Dependency". However stamp issues ceased for a time after the Scott Base Post Office closed as part of the 1987 rationalisation, but they were reintroduced again in 1994 due to demand.
A very cold wind was blowing from the south and the whole deck is just frozen up. We have been dealing with a load of scientific equipment not working because of systems freezing, so we have been kept on our frozen toes with all that trying to keep things running. The outside air temperature was about minus 13 and with the sea temperature at minus 1.8.

I experienced something really amazing today. The sea began to freeze around us this morning and this continued for the rest of the day. Minus 1.8 degrees is the freezing point of seawater when ice crystals start to form. The process of sea freezing is that first a slurry mushy mixture called grease ice or frazil forms and this then starts to form little flat furry edged thingies termed “pancakes”. It is an awesome experience to be sailing through this and It is beautiful to watch the swells softly pass through this milky ice porridge. When sections of it are disturbed, map patterns appear. Once this freezing process starts, the sea can be frozen solid in a couple of days, I am informed.

I skidded my way to the bow to peer over the edge and watch the bow plough through this porridge. The sound is amazing. The effect was topped off with a huge wallowing swell trying to prise itself underneath this layer and the ship trying to work its way through it.

We now are making our way back north again, not wishing to be caught in a freezing sea. We have to try to get out of the Ross Sea because the pack ice is closing in on us again and must be out before the sea freezes over properly. This is expected in about a week or so but in the meantime we must continue with more experiments.