Friday 21st November, on board the Airaha 2.

The ship is sailing to Sorong. For many of us, this will be the last stop before returning to our respective homes. For others, there will be a last stop in Jakarta.

On board, activities are almost the same as on the outward journey: conversation, reading, napping, playing cards… Alas, there are no more crosswords. As a balance, the computers are brought out. Some studious researchers manage to focus, in spite of the surrounding conversations, to enter their data, sort or even begin to analyze it. Each team also has to prepare a summary of their work for the Indonesian ministry of research.

Ibu Yos, specialized in sea fans, prepared a short summary of his work (in English) for us. To read it, click on the icon of the attached PDF:

The sea is beautiful and the weather is mild. Flying-fish are jumping by hundreds at the approach of the boat. A Bryde whale comes to greet us at the bow, before joining his companions in our wake. A frigate bird follows us for a good half hour making large circles at the stern. By late afternoon, the show is wonderful: a gigantic rainbow sky adds a touch of whimsy to a flamboyant sunset.

Sunset from the Airaha 2 on our trip back to Sorong – Copyright : S. Quérouil / IRD

Frigate bird following the Airaha 2 on our way back to Sorong – Copyright : S. Quérouil / IRD

(translated by Mathieu Bourgarel and Justine Richaume, L2 SVC–Life & Earth Sciences–UM2, France)